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PWA World Tour

Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Valérie Arrighetti win Korea event

vendredi 20 mai 2011Information PWA

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Bjorn Dunkerbeck sails to an emphatic victory on Korea’s notoriously challenging East Sea proving ground, while Valerie Arrighetti defies injury to triumph in the face of adversity and vanquish her rivals en route to a symbolic event win.

Marking the fifth anniversary of the Ulsan PWA World Cup, 2011’s manifestation brimmed with awe-inspiring action, as Korea’s East Sea played host to seven days of vehement slalom encounters.

Climbing the ranks through five full eliminations, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear) negotiated a dramatic route to victory in the men’s fleet, stealing the event title from under the nose of Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) by just a fraction of a point. In the women’s fleet, Valerie Arrighetti commanded the racecourse to top the ranks after four eliminations, with an unequivocal two-point lead over her next closest adversary, Lise Vidal (Exocet / North).

Bjorn Dunkerbeck :

“The event started off really well, the wind was good, and I managed to win the first elimination, then in the second race I had a little accident before the semi finals ; I hit a rope just before the start, and I missed the start. Then I caught up pretty well on the first leg, but got stuck in a hole after the first gybe, so only finished in fifth. In the third one I went over early in the finals, so that wasn’t great ! In the fourth race I won with no problems, and the fifth I was second, so with the one discard I just managed to get ahead of Antoine. It’s good to win here, the fist year I came I was third, last year I was second, and this year I’m first. I’ve won three world cups in a row now, Sylt last year, Vietnam, and now Korea. It’s looking good for 2011.”

Valerie Arrighetti :

“The conditions have been really difficult here, it’s so gusty. It’s a nice place to be, but the thermal wind hasn’t really blown consistently. I’ve won, but it’s been very difficult for me because of my shoulder injury. At the moment I don’t have enough muscle, and I can’t get enough power when I’m racing. I’m really happy to win here, it really helps me mentally. This year I’ve changed sail sponsor to Gaastra, but because of my injury I’ve had no time to test and tune the new sails, so it’s been really hard to come here and have to tune them during a competition. With everything that’s gone on with me over the past winter, this win really means a lot to me.”

- press info Professional Windsurfers Association / www.pwaworldtour.com


Final Event Standings : Men

1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear)

2nd Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde)

3rd Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun Sails / Dakine)

4th Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North)

5th Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic)

Final Event Standings : Women

1st Valerie Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)

2nd Lise Vidal (Exocet / North)

3rd Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)

4th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)

5th Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde)



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