GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils wraps up
by Ian MacKinnon 5 Oct 10:55 PDT
29 September – 6 October 2024
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils © Zakaria Taberkant / Chris Besson
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils © Zakaria Taberkant / Chris Besson
Spain’s Elena Moreno and the United States’ Cash Berzolla emerged as the winners in the women’s and men’s categories at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla in Morocco, concluding an exhilarating day of competition in the consistent waves of Oum Lamboiur.
Moreno’s victory marked her consecutive win on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour in the Wave discipline, placing her at the top of the rankings ahead of the season’s final event in Brazil later this month. Nevertheless, she was still processing the win.
“Honestly, I’m not taking anything for granted,” she said immediately after. “In the moment, you don’t have time to analyze. I’ll review the footage later. But I can’t wait to go to Brazil. Everyone says it’s incredible, though I’ve never been.”
Based in Maui, Berzolla proved to be sensational once more, claiming his second consecutive victory in Dakhla. He achieved a perfect 10-point wave during his heats and posted an impressive 18.96 out of 20 in the final based on his two best scores.
“[Winning] is indescribable,” Berzolla expressed. “Competing in the final against my best friend from Maui makes this win even more special. I never anticipated getting a 10. I just try my hardest and hope for the best when a wave comes.”
Fully prepared
The fourth day of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils possibly marked the final day of contestable waves. The race director opted for overlapping heats to expedite the competition.
The 24 men and 11 women from 12 nations were ready to compete after several days of fluctuating conditions, which brought the men to Round 2 and the women to the semifinals.
The men’s heats commenced, and a notable upset in Round 3 occurred when France’s Malo Guénolé, who won the opening round in Cape Verde in February, was eliminated by newcomer Liam Coralle (USA).
In another quarterfinal match, Cash Berzolla faced his close friend and Maui training partner Finn Spencer (CAN). The competition intensified, and Berzolla dominated with a perfect 10, bringing his heat total to 19.63, the highest of the event.
Berzolla met Vinnicius Martins (BRA) in the first semifinal. Despite Martins’ impressive run against formidable opponents leading up to the semifinal, he couldn’t match Berzolla and ended up in the mini-final for third place.
Exciting final
The youngest competitor in the world cup, 14-year-old Leon Schiel from Britain, made his way to the semifinals, where he faced Otis Buckingham. Schiel’s lack of experience proved challenging, and he was defeated.
However, in the mini-final, Schiel outperformed Brazil’s Martins early on with a significant wave score, despite falling in a wave and struggling against the light wind conditions. It marked a historic win for the young athlete.
The final was thrilling. Berzolla approached the competition with intensity, maintaining his momentum. His ‘airs’ on the wave faces and foil slides were formidable, leading to multiple scores above 9, making him virtually unbeatable.
Buckingham, his rival and friend from Maui’s North Shore, endeavored to keep pace, showcasing some impressive wave scores, but fell short in the end, though he was thrilled to reach his first final.
“It felt just like a regular session out there,” he shared. “The wind picked up, and the waves began to pulse, creating incredible barrels. We were having an absolute blast.”
Tense encounter
In the women’s semifinals, Francesca Maini from Great Britain, a top kiteboarding Big Air competitor, faced setbacks after a promising performance in her initial GWA competition. In the mini-final, she battled against Nia Suardiaz (ESP), but the Spaniard won the third podium position in a close matchup.
The women’s final presented a tight contest between Bowien van der Linden (NED) and Elena Moreno. The Spaniard started slowly, trailing initially but secured the win with a significant wave.
Van der Linden began strongly with solid scores but found herself unable to respond adequately, leaving her several points behind. Nonetheless, she was pleased with her performance and another final experience in Dakhla.
“I’ve reached the final twice in Dakhla, so I was really hoping for a third chance,” she remarked. “I enjoyed the conditions immensely. I love the waves here, and I feel I’ve improved. I’m extremely happy with my performance. I’ll be back next year to showcase my skills.”
Meanwhile, the next stop is Brazil later this month. See you there.
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 results
Men
1. Cash Berzolla (USA)
2. Otis Buckingham (USA)
3. Leon Schiel (GBR)
4. Vinnicius Martins (BRA)
Women
1. Elena Moreno (ESP)
2. Bowien van der Linden (NED)
3. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
4. Francesca Maini (GBR)
