MARIGOT--St. Martin-based Julien Quentel recently won the Alacati, Turkey, leg of the 2014 Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) world tour held August 26 to 31, marking his first ever event victory on the tour. Sarah Quita Offringa won the women's slalom event for the third year in a row.
Wind conditions were excellent in Turkey for the Pegasus Airlines slalom event, allowing for nine races to be sailed over six days in both men's and women's fleets. Quentel (28), who was third last year in this event, won two races outright for the first time to hold off reigning world champion Antoine Albeau, who settled for second overall, but still leads the slalom world rankings.
Quentel (RRD/ Neil Pryde) was back to the consistent form he showed in 2013 after a disappointing season so far in 2014, with only one top 10 finish in Fuertaventura.
"I was calm and motivated going into Turkey," Quentel told the online windsurf journal.com. "I had fins to test out, but we had good wind before the competition which allowed me to make the right choice of fin. The beginning of the season was not easy, but my team and sponsors have supported me through all the events. This victory is also their victory."
He added: "I was well trained in Brest before the stage in Turkey. I took the time to test my boards, fins and sails. On site, we had really good conditions, the best since the start of the season. I felt comfortable with my gear namely my RRD X-Fire 122 and Neil Pryde RS:Racing EVO6 8.6 m². I sailed over 90 per cent of the time with this combination, the 10 per cent remaining with the RRD 114 and 98 and my 7.8 m²."
Julien Quentel is currently 10th in the world rankings out of a 100 – notably two positions higher than former world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck – but that position will rise after his win in Turkey. St. Barths' pro board sailor Antoine Questel is 20th in the world rankings.
