IFWC approved new calendar of 2003 Women Cup and it is here officially published.
2003 WOMEN CUP CALENDAR
26.04. – 30.04. EC Malcesine/Lake Garda, Italy
03-08.05 Europeans, Douarnenez, Brittany, France
June, Sardinia, Italy TBC
09.07. – 13.07. EC Miedzyzdroje, Poland
24.07-27.07 Canadian Championships TBC
12.08.-15.08 Silvaplana, Switzerland
October, World Championships, Sardinia, Italy
“The last year’s introduced formula of 7 ranked events, silver fleet concept and other special requirements of women fleet proved to be right direction towards popularizing racing among female part of the sport. The 2002 Women Cup ranking reached 31 women participating in competition. And the level of competition has been constantly improving throughout the year, often making silver fleet concept only a back-up option. What’s most important last year’s racing changed the spirit and attitude of women racers and gained much more interest of media world wide.
This years edition again covers 7 events, but this time we will include a non-European based event. We are going to Canada in July aiming on stimulating Women’s windsurfing growth on the other side of Atlantic. It will be exciting to see new faces and see different perspective on formula racing. The goal for the next years is to establish one America and one Asia women’s event and this way bring formula closer to other centers of the World.
Last year’s edition was a very good experience and the outcome of 2003 schedule is the result of many weeks discussion between women sailors themselves and their opinion on organization, weather conditions, etc. It all shaped the general view on the needs of women’s racing. We are hoping that the calendar will be suitable to everyone interested to join Women Cup circut.”
Dorota Staszewska
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Some quotes on 2003 schedule.
Carrie Strangway, Canada
“I think the list looks great and I hope many of you will support the proposed event in Canada as a first North American WOMENS Cup. It will be of great benefit for us “THE GIRLS” as well as for sport of windsurfing worldwide. We need you to endorse this to bring an international level of competition to North America (…)Racing was huge in Canada and the U.S. but it died out a few years ago and is just beginning to resurge. We have a lot of talented women sailors and the chance for funding and media. Sports in North America and the money behind it is also huge. In Canada we are in the process of bidding for the 2010 Olympics so there is also a interest in women’s athlete and sports. I can’t tell you the number of women/sports magazines we have here and they need to be introduced to the exciting world of Womens Formula Racing. It will benefit all of us with the hope that we recieve recognition similar to tennis athletes, skiiers, snowboarders etc.”
Verena Fauster, Italy
“Last year I participated in 3 races in Poland: Miedzyzdroje, Jurata, Leba. The organisation was great!!! Organisation on beach (there was a speaker, we had a big place on the beach for our gear which was controlled whole time by guards, we got every day something to eat, we got drinking water as much as we want…), on water, by prize giving, we girls get special discount on entry fee and more price money then designed in the general rules… . You saw the photos in internet? How many people were on the beach watching our races? We had the races right near the beach and the speaker explained what we were doing, so people could watch and understand our races. You saw the photos of price giving, how big party was? I never get so much acknowledgement as an athlete. I felt something special in Poland and I enjoy going there again this year.”
Simona Ferrari, Italy
“I live i Sardinia sine few years. The place is great for us girls. Flat water when the wind is offshore and also if winds get at a stronger intensity. If we have onshore conditions the wind is never over 20 knots. I normaly use 10.4 in most cases. The weather is never cold. Today January 25th we had 20 degrees and 18knots. In october you need nothing more than a shorty. We have beautiful sandy beaches and a great club.”
