A perfect four firsts from four races gave Antoine Albeau a decisive slalom victory at the 2018 PWA Fuerteventura Grand Slam. Antoine’s track record in Sotavento’s choppy waters is phenomenal, winning eleven out of the last twelve years, a unique record from the twenty-four-time world champion! John Carter went round the pits to ask his rivals and the big man himself what gives him the edge over his peers at this legendary location!
MATTEO IACHINO
Somehow Albeau has won so many times in Fuerteventura. As I have said before, I think the difference of speed between the rest of the sailors these days is less. He was amazing as usual but the rest of us made many mistakes. So I guess that was the real difference. On the first day Questel crashed in front of me and I had to avoid him. I stopped and Albeau overtook. In the second final I went over early in the final with two other guys. There were only five guys in the final which made it much easier for Antoine. When he builds confidence like that he is hard to stop. For a sportsman this is the best thing that can happen. Everything comes easier. You are free with your mind and the pressure is off. When I had two bad results, I could not afford to take too many chances so settled for seconds in the final two rounds. Our mistakes made it easier for him this year. I actually think I have seen him sail better here! He did not even have to do his best. I heard he didn’t even get his hair wet in the four rounds! We let him have it. The fight through the year has been amazing. I was happy to win in Portugal in strong winds. I have never won a strong wind event against him before. I am happy with second after my mistakes on the first day. It was the best I could do and sets us up for a showdown in Sylt!
TATY FRANS
This story is from the ISSUE 380 - OCTOBER 2018 edition of Windsurf.
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This story is from the ISSUE 380 - OCTOBER 2018 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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