NEWSLETTER What a stunning edition of the UIM AWARDS GIVING GALA!
UIM Newsletter May 2014 UIM NEWS • The UIM Gala in Monaco • SportAccord convention in Belek • The 2013-2014 Yearbook Edition • F1H2O opened in Doha • XCAT started 2014 in UAE • UIM Nations Cup • Aquabike Show in Milan • UIM 2014 RTP Panel • Aquabike GP in Qatar • Out & About
The fifth UIM Awards Giving Gala has been unquestionably a great success. An impressive event, organized at the Salle des Etoiles in the Principality of Monaco, where a remarkable audience gathered to crown the last Powerboating season champions and the prestigious UIM Awards winners. The event has been opened by HSH Prince Albert II in front of 500 guests, which included VIP’s, national authorities, celebrities, and the UIM World Champions and Awards winners. Monaco gave again a warm welcome
to all the Powerboating stakeholders and fans convened from all over the world. Over 60 UIM World Champions from 40 different countries attended the UIM yearly event receiving their well deserved honours. During the Ceremony, the 2013 UIM Environmental Award Winner (Columbus Yachts, 40S Hybrid) and the three UIM Special Mentions (Azimut-Benetti Group, Vripack and VSY) received their recognitions. This year the Stefano Casiraghi Memorial Trophy has been awarded to Her Royal Highness Princess Ann, Royal Yachting Association President. The RYA is the driving force behind the dedicated training and racing section who constantly strive to reach the highest achievements. The UIM Safety Award in the name of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been given to the Bergamo Scuba Angels for their continuous efforts in performing and improving all the rescue operations in Powerboating races.
UIM AWARDS GIVING GALA Sponsors and Partners
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
The UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli stated: “let me thank HSH Prince Albert II that honoured us with his presence at the cocktail reception and the President of SportAccord Mr. Vizer and all the Presidents and authorities of International Sport Federations who were with us at the Night of our World Champions. We will continue to serve all our stakeholders and our sport’s growth and development through values such as loyalty, dedication and passion. Our World Champions are the best ambassadors for our sport and for our values. We are also proud to be a proactive member of our larger sport family, the ARISF, SportAccord and the overall Olympic Movement and that’s why to keep this large family united and successful we need team spirit among sports, among federations among nations and among our athletes who make our values and message tangible for millions of people worldwide. I do believe that we all, together, can build a bright future”.
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
UIM proactively contributed to the success of SPORTACCORD CONVENTION in Belek, Turkey. Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, UIM and ARISF President and SportAccord board member, and the UIM Secretary General, Andrea Dini attended the 12th edition of the SportAccord convention held in Belek / Antalya, Turkey. The SportAccord convention is the world’s top tier annual event at the service of sport, focused on driving positive change within the world sports movement, and dedicated to engaging rights holders, organizing committees, cities, businesses and other organizations in the development of sport. SportAccord convention, in its 12th year, continues as the premier sports gathering involving all of the international sports federation rights holders. Its mission is to nurture and develop the collaborative spirit within the World sport family, and to make SportAccord convention synonymous with connecting people from around
the globe and throughout the entire spectrum of sport. During the Convention, the UIM had several productive meetings. The ARISF / WADA anti-doping session took place on April 10th. At this occasion, Jasmina Glad-Schreven, the UIM Anti-doping Administrator made a presentation on the Implementation of an Effective Testing Program in Powerboating. “We do feel part of a great and united sports family which is continuously growing and we all are very proud of this ” President Chiulli said. Chiulli also added that more than 1.2 billion people are practicing an ARISF sports worldwide. ARISF now consists of 35member Federations, including the recently joined International Ski Mountaineering Federation, International Federation of American Football and the World Baseball Softball Confe-
deration – which is the result of the merge of the International Baseball Federation with the International Softball Federation.
The 2013-2014 edition of the UIM Yearbook has been published.
Another great edition of the UIM Yearbook full of Editorials and pictures featuring the overall UIM activities. The perfect tool to understand who is and what the UIM is doing. Thousands of copies will be worldwide distributed and it will be available on the UIM web site and Ftp server in high definition. From the main photo section to the UIM Awards Giving Gala, the UIM promoters and National Authorities activities, the Photo competitions, results, records and calendars, the champions... everything is included in this spectacular edition... Do not miss it You can read it on the homepage of the UIM website or log in directly here: http://issuu.com/uimpowerboating/docs/2013_-_uim_yearbook_2013-2014_md?e=11714025/7823936 UIM - 1, avenue des Castelans - Stade Louis II - MC 98000 Monaco - Tél. +377 92 05 25 22 - www.uimpowerboating.com
UIM NEWS MAY 2014
Carella Wins For First Time on Home Waters in Doha! The three-time defending World Champion Alex Carella of the Qatar Team vindicated last seasons disappointment by winning mid of march the opening round of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating and taking his first step in chasing history searching for four straight titles at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The 28 year-old driver from Piacenza looked to be watching his teammate Shaun Torrente win for the second
straight year on the home waters of Doha Bay as he sat in second place, but the young Florida driver from Miami had his boat fill with smoke and catch fire briefly when on the 31st lap of the 40 lap event ending his dreams of victory. Shaun's power steering failed him as he was forced to quickly drive the boat off the circuit to the waiting safety personnel along
the launch pontoon to put out the smoke and ending his hopes of glory and putting Torrente in the "hot seat" in his hopes of winning his first title at the same time. Carella, who was leading the race a year ago here before his engine expired with just two laps to go handing the win to Torrente, picked up his ninth career victory and earned 20 points and take the early lead in the championship. "I feel sorry for my teammate Shaun today, but really both of us had a great package and it was nice to see we could run up front and control the race for all forty laps," said Alex. "It's an important day not only for me but for the whole Qatar Team because winning here is important and it's a great kickstart for another successful season with the club." The first round of the 2014 UIM F1 H2O World Championship went to the young Italian Carella as he leads the points to start off the year hoping to tie legend and Hall-of-Fame driver Guido Cappellini's four straight world titles from 1993 to 1996.
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
XCAT DUBAI ROUND 1 Perfect Series Start for Fazza in XCAT Opening in Mina Seyahi The Victory Team outfit reveled in the home conditions to claim the top three starting spots for the first round of the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. The Dubai-based team’s thee boats: Fazza, Skydive Dubai and Victory Team all looked slick out on the water at DIMC – Mina Seyahi as they battled it out in the fight for Emaar Pole Position. And it was 2013 Series champions Fazza (Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi) who were the only boat out of the 15 teams to dip below two minutes 30 seconds, recording the fastest time of the morning. Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi cruised to a comfortable victory in the opening round of the 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series at DIMC – Mina
Seyahi The Fazza team were entirely untroubled as they started in pole position and maintained their lead throughout the 15-lap race. The more intriguing battle was, however, taking place in their wake, as Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed in Victory Team started in second but were eventually overtaken by the Skydive Dubai duo of Sultan Al Dhaheri and Jay Price. Mouawad (Omar Danial and Gary Ballough) meanwhile had a great afternoon. Having started the race in ninth position the Swiss-American combination powered their way through the field to finish in fourth. Thrilled with yet another win in Dubai Fazza driver, Bin Hendi said: “It’s a great honour to win again in Dubai. We finished the
last Series with a win in Dubai and now we came back here and we did a good show. This victory just shows that Fazza is always number one.”
XCAT FUJAIRAH ROUND 2 More honours for faultless Fazza in Fujairah Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi extended their lead at the top of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series standings with a second consecutive win in Fujairah. The Fazza duo led from start to finish in a race that certainly wasn’t without drama, with three boats failing to finish. Team Westerlund (Joakim Kumlin and Daniel Svenson) who started the race in fourth position flipped their boat on a turn in the 10th lap, but emerged unscathed, thanks to a speedy response from Dubai Police Rescue and the WPPA Rescue team. Mouawad (Omar Danial and Gary Ballough) and Team GB (Richard George and Scott Williams) had earlier succumbed to mechanical trouble and returned to the pits. But it was once again a faultless performance from Fazza, who had booked their spot on pole in the morning and maintained their lead throughout.
“I said before today already that the race would be a big fight between six or seven boats, which is was,” said Al Zaffain afterwards. “But I just tried with my best friend, Nadir, from the start to take position number one so I am very happy.” Asked if he was aware of the drama unfolding behind him, Al Zaffain added: “Yes, our radio man always tells us what is happening so I enjoyed what I saw behind us. I’m really happy with what I saw from all the teams – they have really improved from the previous races After this Fujairah GP, Fazza now hold the lead with 800 points. Skydive Dubai are second with 469, #MyDubai third with 450, Six fourth with 313 and Mouawad fifth with 169. XCAT action now moves to Naples, Italy, where the third round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series will take place from 23rd to 25th of May.
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
Belarus won UIM Nations Cup in Doha Italy’s Stefano Paoletti produced two virtuoso performances completing the win-double in two 24-lap Sprint Races. But it was Team Belarus with consistent high points’ scores and podium finishes in the Match and Sprint Races who took overall honours to win the first round of the UIM Nations Cup in Qatar by one point from Italy. The Bin Kadri brothers completed a successful return to the series taking third place overall for Team Malaysia with the younger of the two Mohammad finishing second in both races, Alffian taking two fifths. The performances rounded off an all but perfect three days for the young Italian who posted the fastest time in qualifying and going on to win the Match Race. But with teammate Marco Gambi struggling with technical problems in race 2 and failing to post points, Italy had to settle for second place overall.
AQUABIKES AND MUSIC FESTIVAL READY TO ROCK MILAN - ITALY sport + music + parties = four days of non-stop entertainment From the 5-8 June the world of sport and music will collide when the world’s best Aquabike riders team-up with a host of internationally renowned musicians and up-and-coming DJs to share centre stage in Milan when the city that is widely regarded as a global capital for design, fashion, architecture and sport hosts round 2 of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro World Championship and the first ever Aquabike Music Festival. Organised by H2O Racing and AIM Group International, the four days of spectacular racing, night shows and entertain-
ment in one of the world’s most iconic cities will take place at Idroscalo, an artificial lake originally built as a seaplane airport in 1930 and now a renowned venue for hosting social and sporting events and music festivals with bars and nightclubs. The daytime action on the water for Runabout and Ski GP1 and Freestyle starts with free practice and qualifying on Friday, free practice and Race 1 on Saturday with a final free practice and Race 2 on Sunday and followed by the official podium presentations.
The UIM has published on March 7th the UIM Registered Testing Pool (RTP) for 2014. The selection is based on 2013 results, rankings and other factors determined by the UIM Anti-doping Working Group. The drivers on the RTP are required make themselves available for unannounced Out-of-Competition testing by submitting their Whereabouts (address and 60-minute slot) for each day of the year. Despite the fact that the UIM will focus its Out-of-competition testing on drivers who are included on the RTP, it has been reminded that ALL drivers could be tested anytime and anywhere for both Out-of-competition and In-competition. UIM - 1, avenue des Castelans - Stade Louis II - MC 98000 Monaco - Tél. +377 92 05 25 22 - www.uimpowerboating.com
UIM NEWS MAY 2014
French Riders Complete Clean Sweep in Runabout and ski in Doha, Qatar GP. The French trio of Teddy Pons, Jeremy Poret, Jennifer Menard and Slovenian Rok Florjancic won the second World Championship heats in the Runabout, Ski Division GP1, Ski Ladies GP1 and Freestyle categories at the UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix of Qatar on Doha Bay last march. This meant that Frenchman Cyrille Lemoine, Poret, Menard and Rok Florjancic won the four respective categories when the two heats were added together over the two days of adrenalin-charged action off Doha Corniche. Races were hosted by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which runs under the presidency of His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani. Qatar’s Sultan Al-Kuwari finished third for the second successive day behind the Slovenian Florjancic brothers in Freestyle to claim a similar position in the overall standings. Fellow countryman Waleed Al-Sharshani excelled in the Runabout category by finishing in a superb third position to confirm a similar place in the overall standings. After losing his chance of success with a
black flag disqualification on Friday, Kuwait’s defending world champion Yousef Al-Abdulrazzaq needed a convincing performance in Runabout heat two and even then he was relying on Cyrille Lemoine failing to finish his heat and other front-runners having problems. But it was not to be; Al-Abdulrazzaq pulled out after lap 11 of heat two and second position for Lemoine in that heat was sufficient for the Frenchman to claim the Runabout GP win. Pons won the thrilling heat by just 0.89sec, with Qatar’s Al-Sharshani a mere 3.36sec behind the flying French duo. Qatar’s Ahmad Al-Dawas reached the chequered flag in sixth place and Mohammed Al-Haidus had a disappointing day and was two laps down in unlucky 13th. Jeremy Poret had taken first blood in the Ski Division GP1 category in heat one from American Chris MacClugage and the Frenchman emerged at the front of the pack again after a thrilling nine-lap race on Saturday. His American rival was forced out with one lap to run and Spanish runner-up Nachete Armillas claimed second spot at the UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix of Qatar by a single point from Portugal’s Tiago Sousa when the two heats were
added together. But the Spaniard was later disqualified and his demise handed the position to Sousa. Ludovic Caumont, running in Doha on a Qatar licence, duly finished fourth on the day behind the Italian Alberto Monti. Caumont also confirmed third overall in Ski Division GP1. Jennifer Menard had comfortably beaten rival ladies Estelle Poret and Marta Sorrentino on Friday and she was back at the head of the trio again on Saturday. Menard finished eight laps of the Ski Ladies GP1 race over a circuit ahead of runner-up Poret and Sorrentino to claim victory in Qatar. Nac and Rok Florjancic continued their Freestyle duel in heat two on Saturday. Rok had been the class of the field in heat one and the Slovenian continued where he left off on Friday with another polished salvo of spectacular spins, twists, somersaults and turns to amass a score of 98 points to take victory in Qatar. Brother Nac was the best of the rest with 84 points for second place to confirm the runner-up spot and 81 points was sufficient for Qatar’s Sultan Al-Kuwari to claim third position for the second day. Fahad Al-Hameli, Bader Al-Abdullah and Abdullah Al-Langawi finished the second heat in sixth, eighth and ninth.
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
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UIM NEWS MAY 2014
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