Home 2022 WORLDS NEW SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN TURKEY

NEW SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN TURKEY

New Slalom World Champions awarded this summer during the Medicana 2022 IFCA Junior, Youth & Masters Slalom World Championships held from 14 to 21 August. 4 great racing days in warm flat waters with a total of 168 heats sailed, a total of 105 athletes from 10 different nations participated and all experienced a great event set up and atmosphere at the ION Club Alacati beach with thanks to Turkey Windsurfing Training and partners. The final competition day saw the crowing of Johan Soe DEN-37 in the Youth Men division, Justine Lemeteyer FRA-171 in the Youth Women division. The Junior Slalom World Champion titles were awarded to Ozan Ozay TUR-905 in the Junior Boys division and Elif Ercan TUR-571 in the Junior Girls division.

The Championships started pretty un-rushed but racing could finally start on the third competition day as the wind finally showed itself after 2 days of absence. The experienced local water crew who are known for running the Turkish Funboard Nationals where comfortable with – setting the racing course and familiar with the wind predictions including the IFCA Class Rules – generating a smooth race management throughout the Championships.

In the Youth division the first Final was accomplished with the focus set on the top performers such as Lohan Jules FRA-1052, Berke Özay TUR-435 and the German Justus Schott GER-29. The disappointment of the first Elimination was whereas the 2 top expected performers from Denmark – Johan Soe DEN-37 scored DNF due to a misunderstanding and Noah Vinther DEN-7777 who actually jumped the line too early -where of with a bad start which also changed their entire mind game for the rest of the event. After 6 completed eliminations and 3 given discards including a redress given for the first day confusion Johan Soe DEN-37 who totally enjoyed the sailing conditions here in Turkey became the MVP of his division sailing in the leading position in all 17 heats. A multiple Champion in slalom this season claiming the Europeans title earlier this June and now a proud World Champion with heaps of future potential. The runner up, a strong sailor from Guadeloupe representing France Lohan Jules FRA-1052 kept it very consistent and quoted:

“This Johan Guy is just so Fast” 

while keeping it all positive with a relaxing laid back attitude during the entire championships and respectfully claiming the Vice World Champion Title in one of the toughest division. The third place went to Neels Pechoux FRA-666 who was never far behind with position 3 in 4 out of the 6 eliminations sailed. Among the top performer, Justus Schott GER-29 was close but not close enough to claim a podium position, missing out by just 2 points. Completing the top 5, Noah Vinther DEN-7777 with only 2 point away from the 4th position. Worth mentioning is the fast Belgium Cyril Evrard BEL-250 an athlete who always fought hard and was definitely exciting to watch during this championships.

The Youth Women division was dominated by the fast Justine Lemeteyer FRA-171 who might not have won the first race of the championship but with 7 out of 12 races she was simply on top and difficult to reach. Justine is also a multiple Champion this season sailing strong on home and international waters. The runner up was the champions team mate, Mae Davico FRA-203 sailing consistently in 2nd position except the 2 last races in the lead. However, the first race victory went to Anna Biagiolini ITA-188 her only bullet during this championship, yet has shown she belongs among the top by securing a well deserved 3rd place on the podium.

In the Junior Boys Tan Tandogan TUR-715 claimed the first victory in elimination 1. But his fellow country men Ozan Ozay TUR-905 stroked back winning 3 out of the the 6 eliminations completed. Tan fought and showed great potential, it was close but claimed Vice World Champion title with only 3 points away. The 3rd position wen to Anton Richter GER-441 who is a name we will likely hear more about in the near future.

The Junior Girls division was dominated by the strong Elif Ercan TUR-571 – a multiple Champion – with also the Slalom European Title achievement earlier – this season. She is fast and furious, imagine never seeing anyone sailing in-front of you. It must have been a unique experience always in the lead from beginning to the end in every single heat sailed she totally had a blast on home waters. The Turkish Italian Mimosa Meroni ITA-827 always right behind Elif with her consistent 2nd place finish throughout the event with no much pressure, it was pretty clear that the Vice World Champion title was going to be hers and hers alone. With a separation by 2 points the most action was found between Damla Kurtdemir TUR-2201 and Cagla Anadol TUR-2608 often swapping positions between 3 and 4th but after 6 eliminations and 2 discards the third place went to Cagla who came out strongest.

The Masters World title is back and we saw pure dominance by the experience Italian Andrea Rosati ITA-0 on brand new gear and going faster. A multiple Slalom Champion in his own right and gratefully adding the 2022 Masters Slalom World Champion title to his list of titles after a flawless performance by winning every single heat sailed during this championship. The runner up one of the Main Organizing committee himself Mr Ercan Morgan TUR-611, one who dreamed of the title – and raced against his friend Andrea finishing in 2nd position on most occasions – and at the end was very happy with the way the event went down and of course his performance and now crowned the Vice World Champion. The third place went to the Italian Massimiliano Brunetti ITA-95 a close call between the Turkish Tayfun Onur TUR-1925 sharing equal points but it all came down to the best discard according to the Class Rules. Tayfun takes 4th and only 2 points away on 5th was Ali Sinan TUR-74.

All in all the bay of Alacati in Cesme Turkey was loved by all athletes, ION Beach Club Alacati and Turkey Windsurfing Training and partners successfully and amazingly provided the amazing event set up and the conditions “warm, flat water and moderate winds” was all perfectly fitted in a wonderful week of a great Slalom World Championship. IFCA thanks them all and looks forward to more future events in the region.

Medicana 2022 IFCA Junior, Youth & Masters Slalom World Championships finalists:

Youth Men Podium

  1. 2022 IFCA SLALOM YOUTH MEN SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION
  2. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Men Slalom Vice World Champion
  3. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Men Slalom 3rd Place

Youth Women Podium

  1. 2022 IFCA SLALOM YOUTH WOMEN SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION
  2. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Women Slalom Vice World Champion
  3. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Women Slalom 3rd Place

 

 Junior Boys Podium

  1. 2022 IFCA SLALOM JUNIOR BOYS SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION
  2. 2022 IFCA Slalom Junior Boys Slalom Vice World Champion
  3. 2022 IFCA Slalom Junior Boys Slalom 3rd Place
 

Junior Girls Podium

  1. 2022 IFCA SLALOM JUNIOR GIRLS SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION
  2. 2022 IFCA Slalom Junior Girls Slalom Vice World Champion
  3. 2022 IFCA Slalom Junior Girls Slalom 3rd Place

 

 

Masters Podium

  1. 2022 IFCA SLALOM MASTERS SLALOM WORLD CHAMPION
  2. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Masters Slalom Vice World Champion
  3. 2022 IFCA Slalom Youth Masters Slalom 3rd Place

Next Up is the Senior 2022 IFCA SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in PAROS GREECE.

The championships will run from 31st of Aug to the 5th of September. The best Athletes from the world are expected to challenge each other for the Slalom World Titles in windsurfing.

SLALOM WORLDS EVENT PAGE

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