Slalom 4 Girls
by Agnese Paci
- Finally a SLALOM Girls Camp!
- Organised by Verena Fauster (Circolo
Surf Torbole) and dedicated to murdered Italian windgirl Dalia Saiani.

Monday morning (June 2007) we all
arrived at the Circolo at Lake Garda, Italy. We were 10 girls coming from all Italy.
There, the Fauster family was waiting for us: Verena, Thomas, our trainer, and their
parents. Verena organized the Girls Camp with the help of Circolo Surf and her family. The
sponsor F2, Exocet, Gaastra and Nautica Urban offered slalom materials for all the girls.
As soon as the Ora started to blow, we rigged the sails and went to the water. Mr Fauster
and Francesco Prati followed us with the safe boat, taking pictures and videos which, at
the end of the day, we wached all together in order to recognize mistakes of surfing (as
jibe) and understand what we had to improve and correct.
The day after, at 9.00 am, we met
again at circolo. The Ora, was curiously
already strong, and it increased up to reach 35 knots! With this critical condition was
impossible to have our lessons. So, we decided to postpone the camp for one day. Despite of it, we didnt waste time! The wind
conditions were perfect for the Freestyle and Wave equipment! At the end of the day we
were really tired but still enthusiastic to be here!

Unfortunately, Wednesday, the wind
went down. So we decided to dedicate the day to streching (really usefull after such a day
of strong wind!). We also took many photos wearing the Urban t-shirts and the F2 lycras.
Doing that, we were able to drawn the attention of the CST members even though the day
wasnt very good for windsurfing, playing soccer between the sails and playing with
Birillo, Cristinas dog and our mascot!
As the previous evenings, we went out
for dinner all together, a wonderful way to know each other better and in complete quiet.
Thursday, the last day camp, the Ora
blew in the way we are used, so, all in the water with Thomas!
We made starts and we tried to correct
the mistakes we watched on the videos the days before. Each of us adjusted the harness
lines and tried the lay down jibe, as Thomas taught us. Not everybody was able to do that,
but we will try again, in our home spot, remembering the nice days we spent in the water
with all the other girls, an extraordinary experience for all of us who are usually used
to compete with men. A group of women has been created. Women who are determinated and
passionate for this sport and who want to meet again in the water! So small improvements
for all of us, but a big step ahead for female windsurfing!

We really were able to undertake the
project which began the last year when seven girls met in Alghero and participated at the
slalom regatta. Dalia urged us to do that. We dedicated this camp to
Dalia, of which, she surely would be very happy, as she is happy to see us planing every
day better!
The participants: Agnese Paci, Christina Nicolis, Denise Trapin,
Emanuela Giorni, Greta Benvenuti, Greta Mayer, Laura Raguso, Sara Menegatti, Simona
Mascellani, Verena Fauster. |