VietNamNet Bridge – Dutch windsurfer and world No 2 Bjorn Dunkerbeck won the men's slalom event at the 2011 Viet Nam PWA Grand Slam, which wrapped up on Saturday in Mui Ne Bay in the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan.


Slalom trio: Bjorn Dunkerbeck (centre), Antoine Albeau (right) and Jimmy Diaz celebrate following the the 2011 Viet Nam PWA Grand Slam, the first to be held in Mui Ne beach, Binh Thuan Province. (Photo: VNS)
Second place went to world No 1 Antoine Albeau of France and American world No 8 Jimmy Diaz took third place.


"It was a long heavy day and there was a lot of wind. The four races were really good. I won the first race, came in second in the second race and had a shot at the last one as well that pushed me ahead Antoine Albeau on the overall," Dunkerbeck, who now lives in Switzerland, said after the final race.


"It's my first time in Viet Nam, the first time competing in Mui Ne and first place, so everything is perfect," the 41-year-old added. Dunkerbeck, son of a Dutch father and a Danish mother, has won 40 world titles.


"We had five days for competition, in case there was not enough wind on one or two days. Obviously, it is good for windsurfers to have wind every single day."


"Normally, Mui Ne has very strong wind. I believe the PWA event will be a big one again next year, both in freestyle and slalom. I heard that Mui Ne will host the event for at least the next three years. I'll be back here many more times," Dunkerbeck said.


In the women's race, world No 3 Sarah-Quita Offringa from Aruba took the overall title after finishing second in the second race and coming first in the third and final races.


World No 1 Karin Jaggi of Switzerland finished second in spite of a good start with victory in the first race. World No 4 Alice Arutkin of France finished third. "When I arrived here, my goal was to win, but on the first day I did badly, finishing in sixth place. We had three days without enough wind and on the last day, the wind peaked and I got a second chance. I feel really well and super happy now," Offringa said at the medals ceremony.


"The most important thing to win a windsurfing race is to focus, be very very focused." she added.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News