Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil 2022 - Day 1
by Liam Dredge and Jim Gaunt 18 Nov 2022 00:45 AEDT
16-20 November 2022
This is the final event of the year on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour for both the Surf-Freestyle and Surf-Slalom disciplines. The World Championship titles left to be decided will reach their climax at this event, running in Taiba, 12th-16th November.
Paula Novotna sealed the deal on her first world title in the women's Surf-Freestyle. Find out about the championship winning scenarios for the title contenders in this feature.
The stunning spot of Taiba is a big draw and the morning's registration saw rider amass for the Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil from all over the world. 33 men and 12 women signed-up for Surf-Freestyle, while Surf-Slalom saw an increase of 41 Men and 14 women who will battle it out around the courses later in the week.
Men's Surf-Freestyle
Everyone’s been having some training days before the first day it’s very clear Taiba isn't the easiest spot. Showcasing a challenging shore dump and consistent waves, it can be a paddle battle to get out on the foil. The local repair shop has been busy with athletes already need some repairs.
The men's surf-freestylers were first to play and the other fleets were released for the day. Full focus turned to the shoreline and one of the most challenging competition environments seen on tour this year.
As this is the final round with the world championships on the line, there are a number of grudge battles to come, but the early rounds saw the higher seeded riders mostly proceed safe and sound directly from round one into round three.
Winner of the last event in Tarifa, Xavier Corr was, however, unfortunate to draw Brazilian ex windsurfing world champion, Kauli Seadi, who was ready to expertly deflect the advances of the 16 year old Spaniard in round one.
Seadi went through to round three, but Corr had a bye in the second round and will also ride again in the third round.
Winners of round one have the better seeding into round three, but all riders are still in the competition with round two being mostly made up of bye heats due to how the fleet of 33 riders worked into the elimination.
In Balz Muller's absence at this event, the tour's second ranked rider, Venezuelan highly decorated windsurfing world champion, Gollito Estredo, holds the points lead and will be aiming to fend off the advances of riders like Malo Guenole, who has the best chance of catching him.
The French teen put on the performance of the day in round one, making his intentions clear by showing an incredible comfort in the conditions. Malo really does have the full riding package of progressive wave riding and aggressive freestyle.
Christopher MacDonald's chances of taking the title are a little more complicated, but if either of those two guys trip up, the young American will always be ready to take advantage.