Suardiaz and Berzolla claim the 2025 GWA Wingfoil Wave World Titles in Cape Verde
by Gemma Hamaini 15 Mar 2025 09:56 PDT
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Cape Verde 2025 © Lukas K Stiller
The GWA Wingfoil World Cup Cape Verde 2025 commenced at the renowned Ponta Preta break, marking the start of an exhilarating nine-day event featuring world-class wingfoiling action.
This competition saw 27 men and 8 women from 13 different nationalities registered to participate. The event would ultimately determine the 2025 GWA Wingfoil Wave Champions.
Judging criteria
The judges were looking for commitment, power, and maneuvers performed in the critical section of the wave. Difficulty, variety, and wave selection were all crucial elements in scoring. A new inclusion for this year allowed riders to use the power of the wing when performing air tricks.
First rounds
Men's Rounds 1 and 2 took place in classic Ponta Preta conditions to kick off the event. Some athletes made an immediate impact, including Hawaiian newcomer Marley Franco, local athlete Zany Guy, and young Frenchman Arthur Thebault. As the competition progressed into Round 3, pre-seeded athletes took to the water, instantly elevating the level of competition to explosive heights. Canadian Finn Spencer rode a solid heat, advancing to Round 5 with a 13.70 overall score. Malo Guenole, last year's event winner, also advanced, demonstrating great confidence in this location.
Young Axel Gerard and UK rider Leon Schiel also jumped directly to Round 5, but it was 2024 World Champion Cash Berzolla who stole the show with an outstanding 17.03 overall score—the highest score from day one.
Men's round 5 delivered high-level performances from start to finish as athletes battled to secure their spots in the quarter-finals. The wave sets were less consistent than the previous day, making patience key in the wave selection process. Malo Guenole went full throttle, securing one of the highest overall heat scores of 16.37 points. Liam Coralle also impressed, earning 15.70 points in his heat against Ancor Sosa.
As the swell continued to build, so did the level of riding, making the men's quarter-finals nothing short of spectacular. Malo Guenole faced off against South African Nathan Van Vuuren in a dramatic heat, with both riders taking risks and ending up on the rocks with broken wings.
By 3 p.m., the four male semi-finalists were confirmed: Malo Guenole vs. Finn Spencer, and Liam Coralle vs. Cash Berzolla. In the first semi-final, Malo initially seemed to have the heat in the bag with a high score of 9.07, but Finn secured an 8.40-point wave in the final moments, giving him the higher overall score and eliminating the 2024 event winner from the competition. Cash Berzolla, with two solid wave scores in the 8s, locked down his spot in the finals, eliminating Liam Coralle.
Finals
The mini-final saw Malo Guenole shake off his frustration and focus on securing a podium finish. Determined to impress, he delivered the highest wave score of the event—a 9.5-point ride—featuring outstanding flow, style, aerial maneuvers, and a front flip off the lip, leaving the crowd roaring in support. His performance embodied the commitment, risk, and variety the judges sought, earning him a spot on the podium while Liam settled for fourth place.
As the sun set over Cape Verde, one final battle remained: Cash Berzolla vs. Finn Spencer. Cash was determined to put on a show for the spectators at Ponta Preta, and he did not hold back. Finn displayed an impressive surf style with great wave selection, but Cash had already gained an early lead and maintained it until the end. His control and commitment were remarkable, and though Finn closed in on points, it wasn't enough to dethrone Cash. Sailing back to shore, Cash Berzolla celebrated his victory at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Cape Verde, officially claiming the 2025 GWA Wingfoil Wave World Title.
"It feels amazing to be world champion and to win here in Ponta Preta," said Cash Berzolla. "Last year I finished second and came so close. I've always wanted to win this contest, and today it finally happened."
Final Results - Men's Division:
1. Cash Berzolla (USA)
2. Finn Spencer (CAN)
3. Malo Guenole (FRA)
4. Liam Coralle (USA)
Women's Division
The women's division in Cape Verde featured some fresh faces, including Hawaiian Annie Reickert and Cape Verdean Anita Amaro. A notable absence was 2024 World Champion Elena Moreno, who, unfortunately, was unable to arrive in Cabo Verde in time for the start of the competition.
Francesca Maini, a Big Air kite crossover athlete, eliminated experienced competitor Bowien Van Der Linden in Round 3, using superior wave selection and flow to secure her heat win. Moona Whyte had a close heat against Spaniard Mar de Arce but locked in a semi-final spot with a well-chosen final wave.
In the first women's semi-final, Nia Suardiaz relied on her years of experience, posting solid scores to advance over Francesca Maini. Despite being new to wingfoil competition, Maini performed exceptionally well in Ponta Preta's challenging conditions. The second semi-final saw Moona Whyte snatch the win from Annie Reickert in the final moments of the heat, thanks to a 6.95-point wave that gave her the advantage.
The women's mini-final saw Annie Reickert find her rhythm, opening with an impressive 6.63-point wave that showcased her control and flow. Maini followed closely but couldn't surpass Annie's scores, leaving her to settle for fourth place while Annie secured a spot on the podium.
The women's final, held at sunset, pitted Moona Whyte against Nia Suardiaz. Nia opened with a dominant 8.07-point wave, securing an early lead. Moona struggled with wave selection early on and, though she improved towards the end of the heat, it wasn't enough to overtake Nia. Demonstrating great flow and style, Nia capitalized on the new rule allowing air tricks off the wave, finishing with an impressive 17.04 overall score and claiming the 2025 GWA Wingfoil Wave World Title.
"It feels amazing to win the world title here in Ponta Preta," said Nia Suardiaz. "I've been trying to win this event for the last three years. I'm so grateful for everyone's support and to be able to compete here. The conditions were amazing, we had great sets, and it was just perfect."
Final Results - Women's Division:
1. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2. Moona Whyte (USA)
3. Annie Reickert (USA)
4. Francesca Maini (GBR)
The GWA Wingfoil World Cup was a resounding success, wrapping up in just two days in optimal Ponta Preta conditions. The event provided athletes with the perfect stage to showcase the spectacular sport of wingfoiling. Two new World Titles were claimed, and there was no better place to win them than in Cabo Verde.