ULSAN PWA World Cup ended with no valid results
Event Summary :
The competition in Korea is over. The PWA race crew started over 10 heats, but there was never constant
enough wind for a valid result.
The Severne team claims three positions in top four in the fun race.
Within the last hours the race committee decided to run a fun slalom race for the crowds on the beach. The "rabbit" start (moving Jet Ski) it was a good show to watch, in those light wind conditions. The lead was changing a few times between Pritchard US 3, Robert F 2000 and Julian FRA 421. In the end it was Julian with great light wind skills taking the win.
Not less than 3 Severne sailors were in the top 4. It was Oliver Tom GER 1001 with no bigger than an 8.3 CODE Red taking 2nd place with excellent light wind skills. Japanese sailor Haruhiko Komura J 57 took 3rd place, and "power house" Paulo BRA 3333 took 4'th place with his CODE Red 10.0.
"It's a shame the wind never got strong enough for racing here in Korea. All the team riders looked really good and fast on the water, it will be very interesting to follow the next PWA Slalom event in Costa Brava." Jesper Orth AUS 10
The closing ceremony was in usual Korean style very impressive with great artists performing on a big stage with fireworks in the end.
Team Severne Korea PWA Slalom
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Day Three : ended with another frustrating day of abandoned heats and no sign of steady winds. All four heats in the first round of the men's elimination were scheduled to begin, but either had to be abandoned shortly after the green flag went up, or were postponed before they could begin as a result of the inconsistent wind.
During the wait, PWA has talked to the race committee's head protest judge, Dirk Kradisch, to discuss some aspects of slalom racing and rules.
Q: What are the general principles behind slalom racing?
DK: "In slalom, sailors race against each other around a course marked out by buoys. The courses can take many different forms depending on the conditions that particular event has. PWA slalom is the fastest windsurfing race format there is."
Q: Why do the sailors have a limit on the amount of equipment they can register to use during the events?
DK: "This means the sailors don't have to travel with so much gear, and it gives newcomers to competition more of an opportunity to get involved as they need less equipment and therefore don't need so much money to compete. Also, the format places greater emphasis on each sailor's ability and tactics rather than advantages through other factors, for example equipment."
Q: Do the equipment limitations cover fins as well?
DK: "No, the sailors can use as many fins as they want over the competition, there are no restrictions on the amount they use, or amount of times they change fins."
Q: What course layout might be utilized for competition here in Korea?
DK: "The course is likely to be a downwind slalom course with four gybe marks, although we could have more gybe marks and different length reaches. It depends on the wind, if the wind is light; we try to make it as simple as possible. If the wind is stronger, and we have more races completed, then we can change the format and perhaps try a long distance race as well."
Q: What are the minimum wind requirements to run a heat?
DK: "The absolute minimum wind speed is seven knots over the entire course, for the duration of the race. If the wind drops below this in a heat, the heat normally has to be abandoned."
Q: What does the 'no rules principle' mean in slalom racing?
DK: "Typically, there are numerous regulations concerning all aspects of racing, like maneuvers at the gybe marks, and rules like right of way. These regulations have been deleted from slalom to make racing more interesting. For example, before it was not allowed to go for the inside line at the gybe mark. This rule has been deleted, it makes things more exciting, and racers can take bigger risks, but to assume there are no rules would be wrong, there are still rules and regulations to racing."
Interview courtesy of PWA/Andrew Buchanan
Day Two : "Today (2'nd day) there was a very gusty breeze over the course. Races was started but the wind stayed to light some place to make it a valid result.
Bad luck stroke early for Jesper Orth AUS 10 receiving 8 stitches on the foot on the first day of practice.
"I was trying to go through the shore break when a wave broke into the sail and broke the extension. The whole rig with the other half of the extension came over my foot and made a deep cut. I came back to the beach and saw a fair amount of blood coming out, - and then I knew that next stop would be the hospital. I will still do a attempt to race, if its safe". - says Jesper
Japanese team rider Akinori Goshi JPN 1 was leading his heat on the Code Red 8.3 when it got canceled and once more later when they did re run the heat, he was in 2'nd position and for sure in the next round. It was excellent sailed from Aki, and he was a bit unlucky that it was not valid result.
Poulo BRA 3333 the new face on the PWA slalom scene also showed his talent holding 2'nd position in his heat with the Code Red 9.0- but unfortunately also this heat got canceled due to lack of constant wind.
Chris Pressler AUT 226 was in the same heat as Paulo and was catching up from behind after a tricky start. With the always positive outlook , -Chris mentioned that the day despite the canceled races was still good practice in light wind.
"Haruhiko Komura J 57 - also showed good skills on the water today", Says Jesper who stayed on the beach to rest his foot all day, and could follow and cheer for the team mates.
Hopefully the wind will be stronger over the next days."
Team Severne PWA Slalom Korea
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Day One : of competition ended without any official results. Despite a promising sunny start, it ended with rain, thunder and lightening and a green flag to signal the abandoning of the 2 heats. All 12 sailors that were to compete in a 4-buoy downwind slalom were sent back to the beach, pretty frustrated that that the wind did not co-operate. Race director Juan Antonio Aragon rightfully called it a day just before heavy downpours and lightening started.
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Registration Date : Although only in it's second year as PWA event, the Ulsan PWA World Cup has the potential to be a great success following it's debut in 2007. Organizers can trust on enormous support from their Korean counterpart who are determined not to safe any cost and effort to make this again an outstanding event. Tropical winds and the onset of the monsoon season together with pleasant water temperatures make this location and ideal set up for a PWA event. The beach of JinHa, a thirty minute drive from Ulsan city is ready to welcome all the top players, man and woman alongside a large number of Asian competitors. Perhaps we can also expect some surprises from new team rider like Paulo dos Reis from Brazil?
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
The Severne team claims three positions in top four in the fun race.
Within the last hours the race committee decided to run a fun slalom race for the crowds on the beach. The "rabbit" start (moving Jet Ski) it was a good show to watch, in those light wind conditions. The lead was changing a few times between Pritchard US 3, Robert F 2000 and Julian FRA 421. In the end it was Julian with great light wind skills taking the win.
Not less than 3 Severne sailors were in the top 4. It was Oliver Tom GER 1001 with no bigger than an 8.3 CODE Red taking 2nd place with excellent light wind skills. Japanese sailor Haruhiko Komura J 57 took 3rd place, and "power house" Paulo BRA 3333 took 4'th place with his CODE Red 10.0.
"It's a shame the wind never got strong enough for racing here in Korea. All the team riders looked really good and fast on the water, it will be very interesting to follow the next PWA Slalom event in Costa Brava." Jesper Orth AUS 10
The closing ceremony was in usual Korean style very impressive with great artists performing on a big stage with fireworks in the end.
Team Severne Korea PWA Slalom
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Day Three : ended with another frustrating day of abandoned heats and no sign of steady winds. All four heats in the first round of the men's elimination were scheduled to begin, but either had to be abandoned shortly after the green flag went up, or were postponed before they could begin as a result of the inconsistent wind.
During the wait, PWA has talked to the race committee's head protest judge, Dirk Kradisch, to discuss some aspects of slalom racing and rules.
Q: What are the general principles behind slalom racing?
DK: "In slalom, sailors race against each other around a course marked out by buoys. The courses can take many different forms depending on the conditions that particular event has. PWA slalom is the fastest windsurfing race format there is."
Q: Why do the sailors have a limit on the amount of equipment they can register to use during the events?
DK: "This means the sailors don't have to travel with so much gear, and it gives newcomers to competition more of an opportunity to get involved as they need less equipment and therefore don't need so much money to compete. Also, the format places greater emphasis on each sailor's ability and tactics rather than advantages through other factors, for example equipment."
Q: Do the equipment limitations cover fins as well?
DK: "No, the sailors can use as many fins as they want over the competition, there are no restrictions on the amount they use, or amount of times they change fins."
Q: What course layout might be utilized for competition here in Korea?
DK: "The course is likely to be a downwind slalom course with four gybe marks, although we could have more gybe marks and different length reaches. It depends on the wind, if the wind is light; we try to make it as simple as possible. If the wind is stronger, and we have more races completed, then we can change the format and perhaps try a long distance race as well."
Q: What are the minimum wind requirements to run a heat?
DK: "The absolute minimum wind speed is seven knots over the entire course, for the duration of the race. If the wind drops below this in a heat, the heat normally has to be abandoned."
Q: What does the 'no rules principle' mean in slalom racing?
DK: "Typically, there are numerous regulations concerning all aspects of racing, like maneuvers at the gybe marks, and rules like right of way. These regulations have been deleted from slalom to make racing more interesting. For example, before it was not allowed to go for the inside line at the gybe mark. This rule has been deleted, it makes things more exciting, and racers can take bigger risks, but to assume there are no rules would be wrong, there are still rules and regulations to racing."
Interview courtesy of PWA/Andrew Buchanan
Day Two : "Today (2'nd day) there was a very gusty breeze over the course. Races was started but the wind stayed to light some place to make it a valid result.
Bad luck stroke early for Jesper Orth AUS 10 receiving 8 stitches on the foot on the first day of practice.
"I was trying to go through the shore break when a wave broke into the sail and broke the extension. The whole rig with the other half of the extension came over my foot and made a deep cut. I came back to the beach and saw a fair amount of blood coming out, - and then I knew that next stop would be the hospital. I will still do a attempt to race, if its safe". - says Jesper
Japanese team rider Akinori Goshi JPN 1 was leading his heat on the Code Red 8.3 when it got canceled and once more later when they did re run the heat, he was in 2'nd position and for sure in the next round. It was excellent sailed from Aki, and he was a bit unlucky that it was not valid result.
Poulo BRA 3333 the new face on the PWA slalom scene also showed his talent holding 2'nd position in his heat with the Code Red 9.0- but unfortunately also this heat got canceled due to lack of constant wind.
Chris Pressler AUT 226 was in the same heat as Paulo and was catching up from behind after a tricky start. With the always positive outlook , -Chris mentioned that the day despite the canceled races was still good practice in light wind.
"Haruhiko Komura J 57 - also showed good skills on the water today", Says Jesper who stayed on the beach to rest his foot all day, and could follow and cheer for the team mates.
Hopefully the wind will be stronger over the next days."
Team Severne PWA Slalom Korea
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Day One : of competition ended without any official results. Despite a promising sunny start, it ended with rain, thunder and lightening and a green flag to signal the abandoning of the 2 heats. All 12 sailors that were to compete in a 4-buoy downwind slalom were sent back to the beach, pretty frustrated that that the wind did not co-operate. Race director Juan Antonio Aragon rightfully called it a day just before heavy downpours and lightening started.
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Registration Date : Although only in it's second year as PWA event, the Ulsan PWA World Cup has the potential to be a great success following it's debut in 2007. Organizers can trust on enormous support from their Korean counterpart who are determined not to safe any cost and effort to make this again an outstanding event. Tropical winds and the onset of the monsoon season together with pleasant water temperatures make this location and ideal set up for a PWA event. The beach of JinHa, a thirty minute drive from Ulsan city is ready to welcome all the top players, man and woman alongside a large number of Asian competitors. Perhaps we can also expect some surprises from new team rider like Paulo dos Reis from Brazil?
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA
Photo : Courtesy of JC/PWA