GWA Wingfoil World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 – Preview
by Ian MacKinnon 18 Oct 09:11 PDT
19-26 October 2024
Bowien Van Der Linden © Svetlana Romantsova
The final and third round of the GWA Wingfoil World Tour in the pure surfing Wave discipline will make its return to Brazil, where the world champions will be determined at the end of the event.
A fleet of 30 competitors from 10 different countries will vie for the men’s and women’s world titles during the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Ibiraquera’s inaugural event.
After the second event in Dakhla, Morocco, France’s Malo Guénolé dropped to second place in the rankings following a surprising loss in Round 3. Cash Berzolla (USA), who was defeated by Guénolé in the final of the season opener in Cape Verde, won in Dakhla and currently leads the standings.
Challenging situation
Defending world champion Wesley Brito from Cape Verde finds himself in a difficult position regarding title retention after a sluggish start in familiar waters. He faced an early exit again in Dakhla, making another title look unattainable.
Finn Spencer, a Canadian based in Maui, rose to third overall after a strong performance in Dakhla. However, numerous other seasoned athletes, such as the French trio of Benoit Carpentier, Hugo Marin, and Tom Auber, possess the potential to disrupt the top three, adding intensity to the Ibiraquera event.
Also, 16-year-old French competitor Axel Gerard has demonstrated the potential to shake things up. Corsican Noé Cuyala (FRA) is another competitor likely to feature prominently if conditions align favorably.
Focus on victory
On the women’s side, Spain’s Elena Moreno stands atop the rankings after achieving two victories in two events, including a win at the first Wave stop in Cape Verde. During this, she defeated reigning world champion Moona Whyte (USA), who will miss the remainder of the season as she has chosen to withdraw from competition following Cape Verde.
Former Surf-Freestyle world champion Bowien van der Linden (NED) has ascended to the second position in the rankings after finishing as the runner-up in Dakhla and is expected to be a strong contender in the Ibiraquera finale.
Another Spanish competitor, 17-year-old Nia Suardiaz, who holds three wingfoil world titles, is eyeing another championship. She is currently positioned third overall following her podium finish in Dakhla.
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