The UK’s Zara Davis had her best result ever… 

ISWC World Cup Titles

Cyril Moussilmani (FRA, Fanatic, North) and Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA, Loft Sails) take victory in the 2008 ISWC World Cup Rankings. The Board Manufacturers Ranking is won by Starboard, in the Sail Manufacturers category North Sails takes the crown. The most successful nation in 2008 was again France.

After 12 events, three of them categorized as continental or world championship grade, the actual ISWC world ranking incorporates a total of 394 sailors from 22 nations, representing 3 continents.

With four events sailed, Cyril Moussilmani was able to defeat Ben van der Steen (NED) and reigning world champion Antoine Albeau (FRA, Starboard). In the ladies division, Valerie Ghibaudo discarded the last event of the season in Dungarvan and still took victory over Zara Davis (GBR) and Marion Raisi (FRA).

This is Zara’s highest placing in the speed rankings, and is particulalry impressive as she has come back from major injury sustained in competition last year.

Starboard was able to win its first constructors title due to the change of European Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck (SUI, Starboard, Proof, North Sails) from Thommen eralier in the year, Fanatic in second with two sailors in the top five, then T1, benefitting from the points Bjorn collected earlier in the season.

For the fourth time in a row, North takes the crown in the sail manufacturers category, including the ISA contructors titles from the former years. Loft Sails and KA Sails jumped up high in the ranking due to the performances of their top sailors.

The top speedsailing nation 2008 has been France for another time, with Netherlands in second, closely beating Germany in third.

The ISWC world ranking is a “rolling ranking”, which includes the results of every competitor in the past 12 month and reflects the current status of each sailor and brand. With more national events to be included to the world ranking in 2009, the challenge for the 2009 world cup title will become even more thrilling.

Standings after 12 events in 2008:

Mens Category:
1. Cyril Moussilmani (FRA, Fanatic, North) 749.683 points
2. Ben van der Steen (NED), 676.632 points
3. Bjorn Dunkerbeck (SUI, Starboard, Proof, North) 668.569 points
4. Antoine Albeau (FRA, Starboard) 548.261 points
5. Philip Adamidis (GRE, Fanatic) 537.600 points

Womens Category:
1. Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA, Loft Sails), 614.125 points
2. Zara Davis (GBR), 431.875 points
3. Marion Raisi (FRA), 337.083 points
4. Karin Jaggi (SUI, North Sails), 335.000 points
5. Birgit Hoefer (GER), 316.875 points

Board Manufacturers Category:
1. Starboard, 1812.421 points
2. Fanatic, 1687.947 points
3. Thommen, 901.132 points
4. Carbon Art, 844.953 points
5. Exocet, 676.632 points

Sail Manufacturers Category:
1. North Sails, 2226.758 points
2. Loft Sails, 1660.934 points
3. KA Sails, 693.134 points
4. Simmer Sails, 676.632 points
5. Neil Pryde, 548.261 points

Nations Category:
1. France, 2447.227 points
2. Netherlands, 1612.719 points
3. Germany, 1509.458 points
4. Switzerland, 1377.090 points
5. Greece, 1063.119 points

Speed:World:Cup is the officially sanctioned world tour of the International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) and the Professional Kite Riders Association (PKRA)

The Speed:World:Cup events go from exceptional action in Namibia to more cosmopolitan spots such as Fuerteventura – the historical European Speedsurfing Capital, to huge shows of extreme conditions on small islands like Karpathos. In total, there are 200 to 300 competitors at the same time, from places like Australia or Brasil, to Germany or Norway.

The Tour has to offer: dynamic, thrilling action, and bring the most visually dynamic aquatic sports to the audience, making it a perfect vehicle to locate sponsors logos; a sport that is set outdoors, healthy and environmental friendly.

Superb action on the water, combined with an interactive and exciting life experience, that creates an atmosphere where the fans and the media are face to face with the most radical and intense competition and the biggest personalities of the sport.
Besides being a sport of radical action, Windsurfing and Kiteboarding is a way of life. This type of life is formed by several elements to which many aspire, but that few can really achieve. Most of, if not even all of these aspects of the sport are represented in the Speed:World:Cup.

The Speed:World:Cup is entitled to hold World, Continental and National Championships and is always looking for partners, local organizers as well as national associations, to propagate this exciting and thrilling discipline all over the world.

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.speedworldcup.com