Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

GWA Wingfoil World Cup France 2022 Day 1 - Global appeal

by Holly Keenan 27 Apr 2022 08:21 PDT 26 April - 1 May 2022
GWA Wingfoil World Cup France 2022 Day 1 © Samuel Cardenas / GWA

Day One (yesterday) at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup in Leucate may not have delivered suitable winds for the contest, but it gave us plenty of time to explore the reason some of the amassed 80 competitors decided to make this their first event and travel from so far away.

There's certainly a building anticipation for the rest of the week.

The sport of wingfoiling may be in its infancy, but as you'll hear in these interviews, the rapid evolution has left riders simply wanting to come and push the sport and improve together! These are the times that legends of the future will reminisce about...

Zane Schweitzer
Maui, Hawaii

Zane Schweitzer (28 years old) was born and raised on the island of Hawaii. He is renowned for his big wave surfing and SUPing but, has come to the GWA Wingfoil World Cup in France to progress his level in wingfoil freestyle and learn from the best in the world.

Zane Schweitzer, the Hawaiian legend and all-around watersport phenomenon, travelled halfway across the globe to compete in the GWA Wingfoil World Cup in Leucate. There is nothing this guy hasn't done when it comes to water sports. A two-time SUP world champion, Zane also won the IWT Windsurfing Big Wave Open Pro in 2021 with a monster wave at Jaws. From riding huge waves to throwing freestyle tricks on a wingfoil, Zane is a true master of the ocean.

"I might be considered a sound wave rider on Maui, but I am entirely humbled here, seeing the world level of freestyle wingfoiling. Now I get to embrace that humility and become a student again".

Timma Flanagan, Canada (Living in the USA)

Timma Flanagan, born in Canada but recently moved to Hood River, began her wingfoil journey in the snow. Flanagan ventured from Canada to Leucate with the aspiration of pushing her wingfoil level and sharing the stoke for the sport with many other female riders.

"I actually started wingfoiling for the first time in Canada in the middle of winter. The first wings were available then, so I went for it and learnt in the snow! I got my skis on and we built jumps and ramps to fly off with the wings. It was amazing, and I was completely hooked on this sport. It was quite different from sailing (I sailed 49ers) as winging is an individual sport, so I have more freedom to express myself."

Jeremiah McDonald, New Zealand

New Zealand newcomer, Jeremiah McDonald, has ventured far from his backyard to compete in the GWA Wingfoil World Cup in Leucate. This is the first event for Mcdonald so he is eager to see how his level compares to the best wingfoilers in the world.

"The Wingfoiling freestyle scene in New Zealand is very small. I am the only rider trying these new freestyle tricks in winging in New Zealand, So for me, when I came to Leucate, I wanted to see how my level compared to some of the best riders in the world."

See all interviews and video

This morning (Wednesday) was another bright and sunny day here in Leucate and riders are as eager as ever to get out on the water and throw down their new, improved manoeuvres. The wind is looking light for today but we may get lucky with thermal winds this afternoon. Regardless, the tow-foilng fun continues and we are confident the competition will commence soon!

Make sure to follow the liveticker on the event page.

Related Articles

Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena overall
Grand Finale in Genoa Having departed from Venice on June 1, after 43 days of sailing, the 5th edition of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour (Sailing Tour of Italy) concluded in Genoa in the magnificent setting of the Palazzo Ducale, which hosted the awards ceremony. Posted today at 8:03 am
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 4
Team Aeronautica Militare wins in La Maddalena, now on to the grand finale in Genoa The team of the Aeronautica Militare, after Cagliari, also wins in La Maddalena, preceding the team of the Guardia di Finanza and the team of the Marina Miliatre who came in third. Posted on 8 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena day 3
Perfect weather conditions for a spectacular and exciting inshore race The perfect marine weather conditions offered the public of La Maddalena a spectacular and exciting inshore race. Posted on 7 Jul
GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championship overall
The Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom action rwaps up in Costa Brava The Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom action at the the GWA 2025 Youth Worlds wrapped up after a week of intense action at San Pere Pescador, Spain, with the teenage champions chosen in the U14, U16 and U19 age groups. Posted on 7 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour LaMaddalena day 2
A fantastic second day in La Maddalena. The perfect wind conditions allowed Waszp and Wing to carry out their regatta program, thrilling with their spectacular evolutions in a breathtaking setting among the islands of the archipelago. Posted on 6 Jul
Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport. Posted on 6 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour LaMaddalena day 1
The fleet left Cagliari yesterday to face the 165 miles to La Maddalena The fleet of Figaro3 of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour left Cagliari yesterday to face the 165 miles that will take them to La Maddalena. Posted on 5 Jul
North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds. Posted on 5 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari overall
Team Aeronautica Militare wins The Aeronautica Militare team wins the Cagliari stage, ahead of the Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee team and the Circolo Nautico Sanbenedettese team, which came in third. Posted on 4 Jul
Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour Cagliari day 2
Today in Cagliari, the awards ceremony for the stage winners At the Regatta Village, preparations are under way for the closing ceremony of the Cagliari stage scheduled for this evening at 9:30 pm, preceded by a concert by the Banda della Brigata Sassari. Posted on 2 Jul
Zhik 2024 DecemberArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 Footer