GWA Wingfoil Racing World Cup 2024 in Jericoacoara – Event champions and world titleholders announced
by Ian MacKinnon 2 Dec 10:54 PST
26-30 November 2024
Austrian twins Tomas and Aleksander Acherer made a significant impact on the global stage with an impressive one-two finish on the thrilling final day of the season at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil held in Jericoacoara.
Seventeen-year-old Tomas Acherer executed a flawless 10 for a “world first” Double Backflip during the semi-finals, defeating the newly-crowned world champion, the USA’s Chris MacDonald, and ultimately clinching the Surf-Freestyle event.
“This was my first victory, and I’m incredibly thrilled that I achieved it after all the effort I put in,” said Acherer. “It’s even more special to have my brother standing on the podium with me. It’s unbelievable. We’ve demonstrated that we can excel, and I look forward to more winning moments.”
Spain’s Nia Suardiaz emerged victorious in the women’s Surf-Freestyle event, though she was challenged fiercely by her compatriot, Mar de Arce. This win marked 17-year-old Suardiaz’s fourth consecutive victory of the season and crowned her with back-to-back world championships.
“This event was truly exhilarating,” remarked Suardiaz. “Mar [de Arce] had executed a flawless Frontflip earlier. Although she couldn’t replicate that in the final, I felt the pressure. We’ve had four competitions this year, and I won them all. It’s incredible. I will definitely train hard for next year, as I sense the competition is closing in.”
The final day of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil showcased the decisive heats in the ideal conditions of the Malhada bay, situated right around the bend from Jericoacoara.
Tie-break guidelines
During the women’s quarter-finals, Bowien van der Linden (NED) engaged in a thrilling battle with Leonie Trondl (AUT). Both achieved identical trick scores and exactly the same heat score in the end. Van der Linden narrowly emerged victorious based on a tie-breaker.
France’s Orane Ceris kicked off her heat with her impressive signature Backflip, giving her the upper hand against the young Austrian, Viola Lippitsch. Nonetheless, Lippitsch remained tenacious and overtook the French competitor with a substantial 7.03 out of 10 for a Backloop Spin to progress.
At that stage, Spain’s Mar de Arce was decisively leading her semi-final competitors, showcasing a series of solid moves. A 9.23 for a Frontflip, while not as powerful as her previous effort, solidified her win.
The second semi-final witnessed Nia Suardiaz coming out strong. She started with a Backflip for 7.17, followed by a 7.13 trick that advanced her to the final. Van der Linden was the closest competitor to the teenager, completing some solid moves to secure her place in the final.
The final heat featured Viola Lippitsch, Bowien van der Linden, Mar de Arce, and Nia Suardiaz. Lippitsch seemed to struggle under pressure, failing to land her tricks in challenging conditions. As the heat progressed, van der Linden found her rhythm but ultimately placed third.
The competition between the Spanish athletes was a highlight. Suardiaz struck first with her usual Backflip, scoring 7.33, and further increased her score with a 6.07 for a Backloop Spin.
De Arce was consistently in pursuit. She found her rhythm with a Backloop Spin but needed a higher score. Aiming for another outstanding FrontFlip like her earlier attempts, she managed a score of 6.70 but ultimately fell short.
Overcame challenges
Suardiaz cruised to victory in Brazil, her fourth win in as many events this season. It marked the conclusion of her second consecutive world championship title in grand fashion.
The men’s Surf-Freestyle competition presented some unexpected moments. Italy’s Francesco Cappuzzo, the newly-crowned FreeFly-Slalom world champion, faced a setback in one quarter-final, falling to the French 16-year-old, Axel Gerard.
France’s Bastien Escofet executed a Backloop Spin Frontside3 mid-heat, earning 9.03 points. His compatriot Noé Cuyala maintained the pressure and nearly managed a last-minute win, but Escofet advanced as the second-place finisher. Meanwhile, Aleksander Acherer had already secured a win in the heat.
Twin brother Tomas outperformed in the following heat. He achieved victory with massive tricks, scoring a 9.5 for a new maneuver. France’s Luca Vuillermet topped that with a 9.7 for another innovative move that impressed the judges.
Both athletes advanced, leaving world champion Chris MacDonald behind. He delivered a 9.0 for a Frontside 10, but the ‘goofy’ kickers hindered him, resulting in an unexpected exit, despite already clinching the world title.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to claim my second world championship title,” expressed MacDonald. “Winning it after three consecutive victories is simply fantastic. Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve my best result here. It was quite challenging to remain ‘regular’ with the ‘goofy’ kickers.”
In the first semi-final, Bastien Escofet and Luca Vuillermet couldn’t replicate their prior success. Both had difficult heats marked by falls that led to their elimination. This set the stage for the French pair of Clément Hamon and Axel Gerard, who completed all their tricks in the eight-point range. Gerard just edged ahead, and both athletes qualified for the final.
Heightened competition
In the second semi-final, Aleksander and Tomas Acherer faced each other, alongside their teammate, Britain’s Charlie Loch. Loch seemed poised to separate the twins and advance, but Aleksander Acherer made a strategic move after crashing several times, landing a simple Frontflip that secured his lead over the young Brit.
In contrast, Tomas Acherer was on fire, continuously ramping up the stakes. He was well ahead when he executed the massive Double Backflip, scoring a perfect 10.
The men’s final was an intensely competitive event featuring Clément Hamon against Aleksander Acherer, Axel Gerard, and Tomas Acherer. The competitors delivered remarkable moves, prompting judges to frequently refer to the Innovation category for previously unseen tricks.
France’s Hamon commenced with significant moves and followed up with a 9.50 for a Backmobe 3. However, he found himself trailing and attempted a Double Backflip off a substantial kicker, which he unfortunately crashed, finishing in fourth place.
Gerard engaged in a close contest with Aleksander Acherer. The young Frenchman successfully executed a series of tricks in the long eight-point range but was disappointed to finish third, just behind Aleksander Acherer.
Tomas Acherer was on an entirely different level. He executed several impressive Innovation moves for scores of 9.80 and 9.30 early in the heat. While he couldn’t quite maintain those scores as the heat continued, his strong eights earned him the victory.
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil Surf-Freesyle outcomes
Men
1. Tomas Acherer (AUT)
2. Aleksander Acherer (AUT)
3. Axel Gerard (FRA)
4. Clément Hamon (FRA)
Women
1. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2. Mar de Arce (ESP)
3. Bowien van der Linden (NED)
4. Viola Lippitsch (AUT)
GWA Wingfoil World Tour Surf-Freestyle World Championship 2024
Men
1. Christopher MacDonald (USA)
2. Axel Gerard (FRA)
3. Tomas Acherer (AUT)
Women
1. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2. Mar de Arce (ESP)
3. Bowien van der Linden (NED)
