PWA Torbole World Cup Garda

PWA Torbole World Cup Garda - Day 2

by Elena Giolai 11 May 2023 16:30 BST 10-14 May 2023

PWA Torbole World Cup Garda - Day 2 © Elena Giolai

After the opening ceremony of the inaugural stage of the 2023 PWA professional slalom circuit, which took place at Circolo Vela Torbole on Sunday, under a gloomy and threatening sky, the weather did not change much over the next two days, but at least on Thursday 11 May the north wind blew since the morning, allowing the entire organisational machine of Circolo Surf Torbole and the PWA (Professional Windsurfing Association) to get to work with the first slalom races of the top riders present in Torbole (61 athletes from 18 nations).

The Italians in the final (Iachino and Martini) run into a disqualification for an early start: among the males the Frenchman Cousin won the first slalom, among the females the Dutchman Van der Veen
The welcome and comment of the provincial councillor for sport and tourism Roberto Failoni

After the severe drought that had been lasting in Italy for two years, it seems that the weather situation has unblocked in this long-awaited World Cup week - an event that has returned after a good 31 years: a situation that could allow racing only with a northerly wind early in the morning, as the famous southerly thermal 'hour' only forms in conditions of high pressure and warm sunshine. Even on Friday morning, the third scheduled day out of five, the start is scheduled for 7.45am, as was the case today.

After Tuesday's null due to a lack of wind, the choice of all the athletes was to race with foil boards, which perform better especially in light winds. Despite the complicated day, the men managed to complete a slalom board (batteries of 8) and the women raced two races. In the men's final there were five disqualifications for an early start, in which the Italian favourites Bruno Martini (holder of the Circolo Surf Torbole, as well as ambassador of Garda Trentino) and the vice-world champion Matteo Iachino (YCItaliano), now at home on Lake Garda, as well as the reigning world champion in the slalom discipline Maciek Rutkowski, also 'fell'. A pity for the Italians, who had shown a 'nice pace' before the final. Among the women, the most regular was the Dutch Van der Veen (3-1); sixth was the Italian Anna Biagiolini.

The presence of an event of this calibre with the best professionals in the speciality is interesting not only from a competitive point of view, but also because it is an opportunity for many businesses that revolve around the world of windsurfing to organise promotional initiatives with autograph signings of athletes and material presentations. For the youngsters too, having a stage with the best athletes in Italy or even at their own club is a great fortune: for some there was even a great opportunity to participate, such as the new talents Jacopo Gavioli (already a national team member in the iQFoil Olympic class) and Tommaso Strazieri, both from the Circolo Surf Torbole competitive team. For everyone, it was an opportunity to see how the athletes prepare their materials, or how they choose boards, sails, foil wings, depending on the wind conditions.

Last but not least, it is also an opportunity for the trade press present to interview the athletes at this start of the sporting season and report live on the event. An event, therefore, that contributes to the local economy and to keeping Torbole one of the centres of reference for international windsurfing, from the very young Techno athletes to the PWA professionals. An event that was only possible thanks to the local institutions, which first believed in the project and then financed the event, which, being with professional athletes, includes a prize money.

Institutions represented by Garda Dolomiti in its President Silvio Rigatti and by the Autonomous Province of Trento with the Councillor for Promotion, Sport and Tourism Roberto Failoni, who welcomed all participants to Trentino and thanked the organising clubs, as well as the mayor of Nago-Torbole Morandi during the opening ceremony and added after this second day: "The organisation of the second day of the PWA World Cup also confirmed the commitment of the clubs of Garda Trentino and the volunteers of the area, who are fundamental during these important events; events of this calibre benefit not only the Garda Trentino area, but Trentino in general."

The opening of the event was also honoured by the presence of the Vice-President of the Italian Sailing Federation Giuseppe d'Amico, the Managing Director of Trentino Marketing Maurizio Rossini, the Mayor of Nago Torbole Gianni Morandi, and of course the two 'hosts', presidents of the hosting clubs, Armando Bronzetti for the Circolo Surf Torbole and Mauro Versini for the Circolo Vela Torbole.

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