GWA Wingfoil World Cup France 2024 - Champions celebrate debut wins in Leucate
by GWA Wingfoil World Tour 15 Apr 2024 23:18 AEST
6-14 April 2024
GWA Wingfoil World Cup France 2024 © Samuel Cardenas
The final day of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Leucate has arrived and we have officially crowned our champions. The 27th edition of the Mondial du Vent has once again delivered exceptional conditions here in Leucate.
Competitors faced the formidable winds up to 57 knots, pushing the riders to their limit and separating the strong from the weak.
Featuring 64 riders from twelve nations, this event boasted one of the largest fleets yet, underscoring the ever-evolving nature of wingfoiling as a sport and the young generation. It was exciting to see so many new young faces on the tour at this event.
Men's Surf-Freestyle competition: exceptional talent and unexpected results
Undoubtedly, one of the standout riders in the men's Surf-Freestyle category was the talented young French wingfoiler, Noe Cuyala. Throughout every heat, Cuyala showcased his skill by landing a new trick, the first Backflip to Backflip was landed in competition during the semi-finals. Beyond his exceptional talent, Cuyala consistently radiates positive energy and sports a contagious smile, making him a a great role model for the younger generation.
The current Surf-Freestyle world champion, Chris MacDonald (USA), delivered an unparalleled performance at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Leucate, flawlessly executing every trick in the finals. Despite the formidable tramontane winds, the young talent remained unfazed, continually expanding his repertoire of tricks throughout the competition and in the finals, landing a huge Frontfilp into three consecutive Front 360 rotations. We eagerly anticipate witnessing his new innovations at the upcoming GWA Wingfoil World Cup event in Tarifa.
Malo Guenole (FRA), renowned for his impressive array of tricks and unique style, was also a strong contender for victory in this competition. While he showcased his skill all the way to the finals, Guenole unfortunately couldn't land all the tricks he had planned, resulting in a fourth-place finish. However, following this setback, we anticipate seeing remarkable performances from Guenole in Tarifa.
Men's Surf-Freestyle Podium
1. Chris MacDonald
2. Noe Cuyala
3. Axel Gerard
Women's competition: rising stars and dominant performances
In the women's division we had two French upcoming riders, Enoha Laurent only thirteen and Manon Dupé who is fourteen. They both did a stellar job at handling the tough conditions with Laurent making it to her first ever semi-finals in the Surf-Freestyle discipline at her first ever GWA Wingfoil World Cup.
Mar de Arce (ESP) also put on an incredible performance, and she is definitely hot on Nia's heels. We caught up with Arce to find out how this event went for her.
"This was actually a really great event for me. Even with these crazy conditions I still had a lot of fun. For the next events for sure my goal is to try and catch Nia but we all know she is on another level, but I am trying new moves so hopefully these will go well in the next competition."
Women's Surf-Freestyle Podium
1. Nia Suardiaz
2. Mar de Arce
3. Sofia Marchetti
Arce not only executed some highly technical maneuvers but also showcased impressive height and power in her tricks, which the judges deem crucial.
However, Suardiaz (ESP) once again commanded the spotlight at this event. Her flawlessly executed fully inverted Backflips graced every heat she competed in, without a single misstep. In the Freefly-Slalom discipline, Nia exhibited absolute dominance over the fleet, creating a considerable gap between herself and her competitors. Orane Ceris (FRA) is definently one rider who can challenge Nia as we have seen her land many technical manoeuvres, performing an impressive backflip herself. Orane has only competed in the Freefly-Slalom discipline at this event but, we hope to see her again in the Surf-Freestyle competition soon once she has recovered from her knee injury.
Women's Freefly-Slalom Podium
1. Nia Suardiaz
2. Kylie Belloeuvre
3. Mar de Arce
Cappuzzo crowned champion once more
Bastien Escofet (FRA) proved himself to be one of the most powerful riders in the Surf-Freestyle discipline impressively executing massive Backflips and Frontflips. Additionally, he emerged as a standout competitor in the FreeFly-Slalom discipline, clinching victory in two rounds. Despite faltering in the finals, where precision was paramount, Escofet's setback serves as fuel for his determination to return stronger at the next event in Tarifa.
Italian standout Francesco Cappuzzo demonstrated his adaptability in the new FreeFly-Slalom format. While he faced challenges in the initial rounds, he rallied when it mattered most, seizing victory in the final race. His teammate, Julien Rattotti (FRA), delivered an impressive performance throughout the eliminations, a testament to the off-season training alongside Cappuzzo.
Men's Freefly-Slalom Podium
1. Francesco Cappuzzo
2. Julien Rattotti
3. Riccardo Zorzi
Event conclusion
On the final day of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Leucate we ran the Tow-in Surf Foil competition where four riders went neck and neck to see who could perform the best trick. Yet again Noe Cuyala stole the show with a backflip-to-backflip maneuver. Cuyala took the win at this competition demonstrating that he has a lot to offer in other sports too.
It has been an unforgettable event here in Leucate at the Mondial du Vent and we look forward to returning next year for another epic showdown.