PWA Final Japan: Søe disqualified! Matteo Iachino and Blanca Alabau are world champions

Even without wind and without a race, there was plenty to talk about on the last day of the season. Blanca Alabau and Johan Søe had their first World Championship title as good as secured - but then there was some excitement surrounding the 20-year-old Dane. His sails from Point-7 are said not to have complied with the series, meaning that he could be disqualified. After a period of uncertainty, during which there was no new information either on the ticker or on social media platforms, the confirmation came in the early afternoon local time: Søe is disqualified for the entire event!

This has a massive impact on the annual ranking, as Søe not only has one zero score that he can take as a striker (he wasn't there in Pozo), but two - and slips down to 13th place in the annual ranking. The beneficiary is Matteo Iachino, who moves up to second place behind Amado Vrieswijk, making him the 2023 Slalom World Champion! For the Italian, it is his second title after 2016 and the well-deserved crowning glory of a strong and, above all, consistent season. In contrast to many other racers, he didn't show any weak phases throughout the year and although he didn't win an event, he was never worse than sixth place.

Johan Søe: Sails did not correspond to the series

The tragic figure of the day was Johan Søe. In view of the windless final day, the Dane was almost certain to win his first world championship title at the age of just 20. But when the sails of the top riders were measured, it turned out that at least one of Søe's sails was not up to standard. Rumour has it that a batten on Søe's 7.8 did not correspond to the standard version.

The PWA writes in a statement: "During the checks of the top riders it was unfortunately found that Johan Søe was using a sail that had been modified from the original factory specification and did not comply with the registered specification for the sail, including the tolerances for all measurements.

Therefore, the protest committee had no choice but to disqualify Johan from the final in Japan in accordance with the rules for series material on the PWA Slalom Tour."

It breaks my heart for Johan, but we can't change it."

It continues: "Whilst we sympathise with Johan for losing the world title in these circumstances, the rules are clear and the facts surrounding the modification of the sails and the discrepancy between the registered specifications of the sails and the sails Johan was using are not in question.

The PWA takes the rules for production equipment seriously and respects the efforts of the vast majority of brands and riders to abide by the rules and compete fairly. Therefore, it would have been unacceptable in terms of the fundamental principles of the rules to ignore the use of equipment that was physically modified and did not meet the registered specification."

Tour director Rich Page added a few personal words to surf: "It breaks my heart for Johan, but we can't change it," said Page.

This is what Point-7 says about the sail in question

In a statement on Instagram, Søe's sailing sponsor Point-7 also commented on the disqualification: "We have worked hard with Johan Søe and a complete team to get him to the top of the PWA Tour. We did it by thinking around every possible corner during development. Unfortunately, we were disqualified because of a sail size that didn't perfectly match the specifications and was practically never used in Japan." A later commentary adds that Søe only raced the sail in one of the last heats on Monday, which was then cancelled.

"Johan had managed to take first place in the rankings without having participated in all the events as he had to finish school, so he did a great job either way," Point-7 continues, announcing: "We will continue to proudly reward Johan for his hard work as the greatest talent in racing. We will make sure he is back at the top next season."

Blanca Alabau is world champion, Lina Erzen wins in Japan

As expected, Blanca Alabau celebrated her first World Championship title in the shadow of the Johan Søe sailing thriller. She finished the event in Japan in second place, maintaining the top spot in the annual rankings, which she has held for the entire season. The winner in Japan is the sensational 19-year-old Lina Erzen from Slovenia, who normally rides the iQFoil. Justine Lemeteyer took third place in Japan, finishing runner-up to Marion Mortefon.

Not forgetting Amado Vrieswijk, who, after the end of his iQFoil ambitions, is fully on the attack in the Slalom World Cup and ended the season with two event victories in a row. The man from Bonaire has often proven that he is fast. However, training in the Olympic class has enriched him tactically and brought him further forward, as he reported over the course of the week.

Michele Becker finished the World Cup in Japan in a strong sixth place and is therefore in a strong fifth place in the annual ranking, while Nico Prien is also in the same position in the annual ranking with eighth place in Japan.

Results PWA World Cup Japan

Gents

1. Amado Vrieswijk
2. Matteo Iachino
3. Daniele Benedetti
4. Maciek Rutkowski
5. Bruno Martini
6. Michele Becker
7. Cedric Bordes
8. Nico Prien
9. Pierre Mortefon
10. Alexis Mathis

Ladies

1. Lina Erzen
2. Blanca Alabau
3. Justine Lemeteyer
4. Marion Mortefon
5. Helle Oppedal
6. Sana Seaki
7. Fujiko Onishi
8. Mio Anayama
9. Mae Davico
10. Yuki Sunaga

PWA Slalom Annual Ranking 2023

Gents

1. Matteo Iachino
2. Amado Vrieswijk
3. Maciek Rutkowski
4. Pierre Mortefon
5. Michele Becker
6. Bruno Martini
7. Enrico Marotti
8. Nico Prien
9. Alexandre Cousin
10. Alexis Mathis (Youth World Champion)

Ladies

1. Blanca Alabau
2. Justine Lemeteyer
3. Marion Mortefon
4. Jenna Gibson
5. Femke van der Veen
6. Mae Davico (Youth World Champion)
7. Anna Biagiolini
8. Sarah-Quita Offringa
9. Sarah Jackson
10. Lina Erzen

Also interesting:

• Søe and Alabau on course for the World Championships, Vrieswijk leads the event
• PWA Japan: The top favourites for the World Championship title in slalom
• PWA Japan: Everything open in the title race, impressive debut by Lina Eržen
• F4 Foils becomes a PWA member and has big plans
• Johan Søe - How the Dane puts the fear of God into the World Cup elite