Tenerife, Tarifa, southern France and South Africa - slalom racers all over the world have been preparing for the new World Cup season over the winter. Now everyone is getting their feet wet and eager for the first showdown in the 2023 PWA Slalom World Cup. For most of them, the spot is new territory, at least as a World Cup destination. The last time a World Cup was held on Lake Garda was eleven years ago. Nevertheless, most worldcuppers know the lake in Trentino from countless training sessions and regattas such as the One Hour. The Circolo Surf in Torbole offers the PWA World Cup from 10 to 14 May not only a perfect environment but also the experience of hundreds of major regattas.
Vento and Ora: double the chance of wind
Lake Garda in northern Italy is not only known for its beauty, but also for its reliable thermal winds (Vento/Pelér and Ora). In the morning the Vento/Pelér blows from the north and from midday the Ora takes over from the south. At the moment, however, the weather conditions for the next few days at the Slalom World Cup look anything but favourable for the otherwise reliable wind. But experienced Lago surfers know that the lake is always good for a surprise.
The favourites at the PWA Slalom World Cup Torbole
The top women
A total of 53 men and eleven women have registered for the World Cup on Lake Garda. As Delphine Cousin Questel and Sarah-Quita Offringa, who both have several slalom titles in their quiver, are not competing, defending champion Marion Mortefon is the only world champion in the women's field, which makes her the clear favourite in Italy. The 31-year-old won her second world title at the end of last year in Japan with an almost flawless performance and will also be difficult to stop on the Lago.
It looks as if Mortefon will come under pressure from last year's runner-up Justine Lemeteyer in particular. She impressed on her debut last year - in none of the five eliminations she completed at the Slalom World Cup did she finish outside the top 5.
The Spaniard Blanca Alabau and the British duo Sarah Jackson and Jenna Gibson also want to fight for a place on the podium at Lake Garda.
The top men
With only 200 points separating first and fourth place last year, it's incredibly difficult to predict who will come out on top in the men's event. That's one of the reasons why the Slalom World Cup is so exciting at the moment. Reigning world champion Maciek Rutkowski is hoping for a good start in his mission to defend his title. But the competition is fierce. The Pole had to endure an emotional rollercoaster ride on the way to his first world title last year, which should put him in a good starting position for whatever comes his way.
One man who is guaranteed to be gunning for the title is Matteo Iachino, who was the only one to finish on the podium at both events in the PWA Slalom World Cup in 2022. The Italian narrowly missed out on his second world title and is hoping for a strong start to the season in his home country.
Enrico Marotti ended 2022 on a high note as the Croatian secured his first World Tour victory and the final spot on the overall podium with a storming finish to the event in Japan, where he won two of the last three eliminations. If Marotti can pick up where he left off, he could be a force to be reckoned with next season.
Former freestyle world champion Amado Vrieswijk has shifted his focus to racing. After winning a foil event in Costa Brava in 2018, the man from Bonaire proved his qualities once again last year when he won the Sylt Windsurf World Cup in dramatic fashion, taking the title from Maciek Rutkowski in the final elimination of the event. Had things gone a little better for the 27-year-old, a first world title would not have been far away, as a 5th place in Japan would have been enough to secure him the crown - but he narrowly missed out with a 7th place finish. It should be clear that Amado will be back on the attack in the Slalom World Cup this year.
2021 PWA World Champion Nicolas Goyard wasn't quite at his best at the World Cup in Sylt when he only finished 9th, but the Frenchman found his rhythm again in Japan and secured a solid second place. He should also be back at the front in 2023. One of the top favourites of recent years will no longer be competing on Lake Garda: Antoine Albeau - the series world champion of the last decade ended his PWA career last year.
Other names among the favourites include last year's world number six Mateus Isaac and 2019 world champion Pierre Mortefon, who is looking to bounce back after missing out on a place in the top three of the overall rankings for the first time in seven years. Young Dane Johan Soe had an outstanding first season on the PWA Tour in 2022 - with two top 10 finishes (5th and 7th respectively) and 8th overall. Flying Dutchman Jordy Vonk and Frenchman Alexandre Cousin will be hoping to finish in the top 10 at the Slalom World Cup opener in Torbole, as will William Huppert.
And the German starters?
Eight Germans take part in the Slalom World Cup in Torbole
While there is no German starter in the women's field, eight Germans will be competing in the men's event. The focus is on three starters in particular. Michele Becker, winner of the inaugural German Windsurf Cup in Ahlbeck and overall DWC winner in 2022, also wants to go all out in the World Cup this year. The Cup on Lake Garda will be an important test for him. This certainly also applies to Nico Prien, who has concentrated more on his job as a developer at Starboard in recent years, but wants to go full throttle again in the World Cup this year. Vincent Langer is also always good for a top result. The veteran from Kiel is simply always fast and his experience helps him in stressful situations. The German-Italian Malte Reuscher is also always good for great races, but usually lacks consistency. Sebastian Kördel, who is definitely good for a top 10 result in the PWA, is missing from Lake Garda. He is currently trying to become European champion in the iQFOiL class in Patras after his world championship title.
The other German starters will either gain experience on Lake Garda or, like regatta veteran Markus Steinlein, throw their decades of experience into the ring. The other starters: Benedikt Emser, Maxi Räuchle, Erik Telser
All in all, the next five days promise to be an exciting start to the season, provided the wind plays ball. On the PWA Website you can find all the information and, above all, the livestream with Ben Proffitt.
