Spanish women claim world titles at the Wingfoil World Championship in Gran Canaria
by Gran Canaria Wingfoil World Cup 17 Jul 2023 03:45 PDT
Nia Suardiaz (ESP) during the final heat Surf-Freestyle - 2023 Wingfoil World Championship Gran Canaria © Jesu´sde Leo´n
Pozo Izquierdo witnessed thrilling finals on Sunday, filled with incredible maneuvers and jumps that led Nía Suardiaz and Christopher Macdonald to secure the Surf-Freestyle World Cup titles for Spain and the United States, respectively.
This victory marks Suardiaz's second triumph, following her demonstration as the fastest rider in the Freefly-Slalom races earlier this week. Joining them in the winners' circle is Mar de Arce from Tarifa, who claimed the wingfoil Big Air championship, making her the first-ever world champion.
Nía Suardiaz, a previous junior world champion and runner-up in Slalom and Freestyle, expressed her delight in winning the Freestyle discipline in Gran Canaria. "It was my goal for this summer, and both my family and sponsors are thrilled. Let's see how things go in Fuerteventura," she said after leaving the water. Mar de Arce, on the other hand, had a more challenging day in this discipline. "The wind was very strong today, and being short, it was a bit more difficult for me, but I'm happy to make it to the fifth round," commented the Tarifa rider.
In the women's final, Suardiaz advanced after surpassing Poland's Agata Blach with a total score of 18.14 in the heat, thanks to an impressive backflip that earned her 8.67 points. In the final against one of her main rivals, French athlete Orane Ceris (currently ranked third in the world in Surf-Freestyle, just behind Suardiaz), the Tarifa rider showcased various highly difficult tricks. She received scores of 8.43 for a backflip, 6.73 for a backloop, and 5.50 for a toeside frontside 360 spin.
According to Álvaro Onieva, Head Judge of the GWA, "Nía has shown great consistency in all her heats, always scoring above 20 points with well-executed and valued tricks. This consistency made the difference." The third-place podium finish went to Bowien Van Der Linden from the Netherlands, the current class leader, although tied on points with the Spanish rider. This means Nía could take the lead in Fuerteventura and also top the Freefly-Slalom rankings.
In the men's category, the Surf-Freestyle title was the only one that didn't go to France, as American rider Christopher Macdonald dominated the final against French competitor Axel Gerard, with a significant point difference of exactly 6.54. "Winning feels incredible. I had a good heat in the final against Axel Gerard, who performed exceptionally well. I think I scored 29 points, close to 30," expressed Macdonald.
The young 17-year-old American rider highlighted that it was his first time at this spot before this week and that conditions were improving, with winds reaching 50 knots, practically allowing them to fly off the beach. Another French rider, Alan Fedit, joined Macdonald and Gerard on the podium after the finals.
While Axel Gerard fell short of winning the Surf-Freestyle World Cup on Sunday, Titouan Galea claimed the title in Freefly-Slalom for France on Thursday, and Julien Rattotti was crowned the Big Air world champion in wingfoil on Saturday. During the men's elimination rounds of Surf-Freestyle on Sunday, spectators at Pozo Izquierdo also enjoyed the tricks of other Spanish riders who narrowly missed the semifinals, including Xavier Corr from Tarifa, Ancor Sosa from the Canary Islands, and Jerome Cloetens from Catalonia.
Nía Suardiaz and Julien Rattotti, Red Bull Rockets Champions
The Spanish and French riders emerged as the overall winners in the Red Bull Rockets simultaneous competition, as they achieved the highest jumps, with Suardiaz reaching 6.3 meters and Rattotti soaring to an impressive height of 11.2 meters. This event took place during the Big Air and Freestyle heats, using a specialized app to measure the jump heights.
Wingfoil World Championship concludes with the prize-giving ceremony
Following Sunday's finals, the prize-giving ceremony took place, attended by Julio Ojeda, First Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Sports of the Santa Lucía de Tirajana City Council; Roberto Ramírez, Councilor for Finance; Ofelia Alvarado, Councilor for Solidarity, Early Childhood Education, and Human Resources; José Miguel Vera, Councilor for Public Services; Olga Cáceres, Councilor for Equality and Diversity; Juan Francisco Guedes, Councilor for Primary Sector; Tom Hartmann, GWA Tour Manager; and Björn Dunkerbeck, organizer of the Wingfoil World Championship.
The Councilor for Sports expressed his support for the residents of La Palma Island, who are currently facing a devastating fire, and thanked Björn Dunkerbeck for the international projection he has given to Pozo Izquierdo and the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana.
Björn Dunkerbeck expressed his satisfaction with the success of the inaugural Wingfoil World Championship in Gran Canaria. "It has been an extraordinary week here in Pozo Izquierdo, where the wind has once again showcased its true colors in Santa Lucía de Tirajana," highlighted the organizer.
The GWA Wingfoil World Championship is sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through the Departments of Sports and Tourism, the Tourism Department of the Government of the Canary Islands, the City Council of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, as well as private companies such as Red Bull, Windsurf Journal, DailyDose.de, Jaklar, Poema del Mar, Loro Parque Foundation, Seven Island Film, Surf Magazine, Volkswagen, TVE, WS, WIND, SURF, Folling Magazine, Wing Surf, Wing Magazine Surfers, WING, and AS Acción, among others.
Women's Surf-Freestyle GWA Wingfoil World Cup Gran Canaria Rankings
1. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2. Orane Ceris (NCL)
3. Bowien Van Der Linden (NED)
4. Agata Blach (POL)
Men's Surf-Freestyle GWA Wingfoil World Cup Gran Canaria Rankings
1. Christopher Macdonald (USA)
2. Axel Gerard (FRA)
3. Alan Fedit (FRA)
4. Benjamin May (GER)