PWA Torbole World Cup Garda - Day 3
by Elena Giolai 12 May 16:40 BST
10-14 May 2023
2023 PWA Torbole World Cup Garda - Day 3 © Crowther / pwaworldtour.com
In Torbole, on Garda Trentino-Italy, the third day of the Italian leg of the PWA Slalom World Cup was once again characterised by rain and races started before 8am in order to take advantage of the northerly wind, which usually blows over the upper lake early in the morning, even in turbulent conditions.
And so it was: for the riders another early morning and 8 heats contested by the men (quarter finals) in fairly good conditions of 12-13 knots and again foil boards as protagonists.
The organisation, entrusted to Circolo Surf Torbole in collaboration with Circolo Vela Torbole, the location for the side events of the races, has thought of the smallest details for the pro racers, who are animating the waters of the lake: just a few metres from the water the best of the world ranking are based with their equipment in the special gazebos positioned in front of the lake, in front of the Circolo Surf Torbole headquarters, which have been invaluable in these rainy days.
From the competitive point of view, the situation is as follows: the second slalom board, technically "elimination ladders", arrived today with a semi-final battery already formed (Italian Dal Pont and the already World Champion Mortefon qualified among the 8), while the quarter-final hit in which the local and Circolo Surf Torbole athlete Bruno Martini and Thursday's winner Cousin, among others, were competing, was interrupted due to lack of wind. At this point, on Saturday the quarter-finals will start again, which will choose the first four semi-finalists, who will then have to face the four already qualified, including the Italian and vice-world champion Matteo Iachino, world champion Rutkowski, Frenchman Merceur and Dutchman Vonk, the winner of last year's One Hour Classic.
Despite the forecast still very variable, if not disturbed, on Saturday it looks like there could be the famous southerly wind, a delight for all surfers, which in these rainy days has arrived in the early afternoon, but still too weak to race.
The event is made possible thanks to the Institutions that supported the realisation of the event: Garda Dolomiti in the person of its President Silvio Rigatti, Trentino Marketing in the person of Maurizio Rossini, the Municipality of Nago-Torbole in the person of the Mayor Gianni Morandi, and with the patronage of the Autonomous Province of Trento, with the Councillor for Promotion, Sport and Tourism Roberto Failoni. Italian Sailing Federation, PWA and World Sailing Special event the sports/technical institutional bodies.
Saturday first possible start at 9:45 a.m., with skipper's meeting at 9:00 a.m.
More information here