GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Dakhla (Men’s) 2024 – Comeback Champion Carew Claims Consecutive Wins
by Ian MacKinnon 6 Oct 02:04 PDT
29 September – 6 October 2024
GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Dakhla 2024 © Zakaria Taberkant / Chris Besson
Australia’s James Carew dominated the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Dakhla, Morocco, achieving a remarkable comeback with back-to-back wins after an 18-month injury hiatus.
Carew triumphed in the slightly uneven final at the Oum Lamboiur break following an extensive day of competitive heats. He was thrilled to add this victory to his win in Sylt, Germany, last August, significantly boosting his chances of securing a third world title.
“I feel incredible,” Carew stated. “Two wins consecutively. I’ve dreamed of this for ages. I was a bit off today. Before the final, I told myself to ‘relax.’ Once I hit the water and caught two phenomenal waves, it eased the pressure. I’m feeling much more confident about the title now. I aim to finish on top this year.”
The runner-up, Brazil’s Pedro Matos, last year’s Dakhla champion, showcased exceptional talent on his way to the final but felt disappointed to fall short against Carew.
“Of course, I’m pleased, but I wanted first place,” Matos expressed. “I had a tough draw against top athletes. It felt like every heat was a final. Unfortunately, I couldn’t clinch the last one. Still, I’m happy with my performance and my scores. Onward to the next!”
Day three of the competition presented the best swell and wind conditions during a challenging week, prompting race officials to commence the men’s heats early to expedite the competition.
Local Talents Shine
In the day’s early rounds, several Moroccan athletes excelled, leveraging their local knowledge of the tricky break and offshore winds to deliver impressive performances.
Mounim Maji (MOR) performed well but fell to Cape Verde’s Hendrick Lopes (SUI). Mohamed Ali Beqqali (MOR) advanced through heats but lost to James Carew, despite wearing the incorrect lycra color and receiving no scores for his rides.
Matchu Lopes (ESP) from Cape Verde, who started ranked fourth on the tour and won two stops last year, faced a formidable Pedro Matos in an early heat and was eliminated.
The quarter-finals featured exciting match-ups. Bulgaria’s Nicola Abadjiev, seeking to build on his fourth place finish in Sylt, faced misfortune, losing to Brazil’s Gabriel Benetton in a close contest.
The quarter-final clash between Brazilians Sebastian Ribeiro and Pedro Matos thrilled spectators. Ribeiro had earlier achieved the highest wave score of the day—9.4 out of 10—and the highest heat total. He battled Matos intensely but fell short by just 0.04 points with his last wave.
Gray Foster from the US also had an impressive run, reaching the quarter-finals thanks to strong rides. However, his journey ended against tour leader and world champion Airton Cozzolino (ITA).
Challenging Battles
Although James Carew was ultimately victorious, it was not a straightforward path. Gabriel Benetton challenged him fiercely in the first semi-final, with Carew edging out by a narrow margin.
The second semi-final featured Airton Cozzolino against Pedro Matos. As the sun set, Matos found better waves and secured the heat victory.
In the battle for third place, Cozzolino faced young Brazilian Benetton. Despite tough conditions, Cozzolino scored an impressive 8.2 with a well-timed cover-up late in the heat, earning him third overall and keeping his title defense hopes alive.
“The mini-final was fantastic,” Cozzolino remarked. “The conditions were excellent. I gave it my all. I’m thrilled with third place; it feels like a win. Onward to the next event.”
The final match between James Carew and Pedro Matos kicked off with intensity. Carew scored big with 8.7 and 8.47, expertly navigating Dakhla’s right-hand breaks. Matos struggled to find his rhythm, resulting in a final score of 17.17 for Carew and a commendable second place for Matos.
GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Dakhla – Men’s Results:
1 James Carew (AUS)
2 Pedro Matos (BRA)
3 Airton Cozzolino (ITA)
4 Gabriel Benetton (BRA)
