Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup 2024 in Jericoacoara, Brazil - Preview
by Ian MacKinnon 25 Nov 2024 21:32 AEDT
26–30 November 2024
Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup © Svetlana Romantsova
The GWA Wingfoil World Tour is set to land in Brazil for the closing call with the title races in the Freefly-Slalom discipline still on the line after the opening rounds.
The Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil will also host the fourth and final stop of the Surf-Freestyle discipline where the champions, Spain's Nia Suardiaz and the US's Christopher MacDonald will be crowned.
Suardiaz and MacDonald won the titles after the last Surf-Freestyle stop in Fuerteventura, Spain, where they each made it three event wins from three, meaning they were guaranteed the 2024 crowns.
For Suardiaz and MacDonald, who are heading into the victory laps in Jericoacoara, Brazil, it means they have won back-to-back Surf-Freestyle world titles.
Big field of riders
The remarkable Suardiaz, still 17, will be looking to make it a repeat of consecutive crowns in FreeFly-Slalom, to add to her GWA Wingfoil Wingfoil World Tour Big Air world title.
A big field of 28 men and 13 women are set to compete in Surf-Freestyle, while at least 30 men and 14 will battle in FreeFly-Slalom. In all, they will represent 20 countries from around the world in the GWA wingfoil debut in Jericoacoara.
The Freefly-Slalom crowns are still up for grabs in Brazil, with reigning world champions Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA) and Nia Suardiaz leading the pack after the first two stops in Leucate, France, in April, and Fuerteventura in July.
But Cappuzzo will have his work cut out for him if he is to realise his dream of making it two titles on the bounce. In Fuerteventura he came from behind in the finals to take the win.
Off the leash
France's Julien Rattotti is breathing down the Italian's neck on the leaderboard, with Bastien Escofet (FRA), Riccardo Zorzi (ITA) and Alessandro Tomasi (ITA) all within touching distance.
In the women's FreeFly-Slalom title race, a clutch of riders are hard on Suardiaz's heels. France's Kylie Belloeuvre is just a few points adrift on the overall leaderboard, while Bowien van der Linden (NED), Mar de Arce (ESP) and Orane Ceris (FRA) could all close the gap in the event that the Spanish world champion makes a slip.
In Jericoacoara's kickers and big winds the Surf-Freestyle competition will be off the leash. And on the flat waters and gusty, strong wind of Jeri's bay, the FreeFly-Slalom will no doubt be full of thrills, spills and drama. Join here for all the action.