The 2022 GWA Wingfoil World Tour season has been firing, with three world cup events and a GWA Race Class European Championship already in the bag, there’s loads to catch up on so far ahead of the next events in Tarifa (12-16th October) and Brazil (16-20th November). Here are some choice highlights
GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP FRANCE
LEUCATE: 25 April – 01 May 2022
Photos: Samuel Cardenas
Leucate was the first GWA World Cup tour stop for this season and all athletes traveled to the south of France to compete in both Surf-Freestyle and Surf Slalom. Balz Müller (CHE) managed to win the Surf-Freestyle beating friend and old windsurf rival Gollito Estredo (VEN). A highlight moment for Müller as he takes his first tour win. On the slalom side, Titouan Galea (NCL) won after a show-stopping performance with multiple elimination wins under his belt – he sure was the quickest man out there.
Over on the women’s side, Nia Suardiaz (ESP) edged ahead of Paula Novotna (CZE) taking her first freestyle win and maximum points. The young 15-year-old is fresh on the tour this year and showing amazing potential to the more experienced riders. Over in the Surf-Slalom discipline, Flora Artzner (FRA) came out as the fastest female during the event showcasing speedy and efficient racing in the majority of her heats.
GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP SWITZERLAND
ENGADINWING, SILVAPLANA: 14 – 19 June 2022
Photos: Sailing Energy/Engadinwing
The famous lake of Silvaplana was where the GWA Wingfoil World Tour parked itself for stop two of the 2022 season. A prime location for both Surf-Freestyle and Surf-Slalom disciplines with regular afternoon thermals, over 60 riders registered for the event that delivered new champions up on the podium.
Paula Novotna (CZE) managed to grab her first tour win in Switzerland. She would face Nia Suardiaz (ESP) once again, but from start to finish Novotna put on show-stopping performances that were too much to handle. It was a close final between the pair with Paula scoring 21.8 with Nia just short on 19. Here you can see Paula mid trick showing great height.
Young gun Christopher MacDonald (USA) was dialing in his tricks throughout the course of the competition showing impressive height and variation in all heats. His signature front flip was scoring big and managed to wipe out Stefan Speissberger (AUT) in the final. MacDonald scored a whopping 32.93 leaving Speissberger’s 25.17 in the shadows but it was great to see some fresh new faces in the final.
In Surf-Slalom, Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA) and Flora Artnzer (FRA) struck gold showing impressive pace throughout the eliminations. This brought Cappuzzo his first tour win while Artzner continues to be the quickest woman with back-to-back event wins.
ENGADINWING – SWITZERLAND RESULTS:
MEN’S SURF-FREESTYLE
1. Christopher MacDonald (USA)
2. Stefan Spiessberger (AUT)
3. Titouan Galea (NCL)
WOMEN’S SURF-FREESTYLE
1. Paula Novotna (CZE)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Flora Artzner (FRA)
MEN’S SURF-SLALOM
1. Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
2. Titouan Galea (NCL)
3. Camille Bouyer (FRA)
WOMEN’S SURF-SLALOM
1. Flora Artzner (FRA)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Paula Novotna (CZE)
GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP LANZAROTE – SURF-FREESTYLE
COSTA TEGUISE: 06 – 09 JULY 2022
Photos: Svetlana Romantsova
Lanzarote was an event like no other. A location that offered the first taste of wave riding this season and consistent wind allowed athletes to use this swell to their advantage. Every trick was bigger and better than previous events and with pumping wind during days one and two the competition well and truly fired from the start of the window.
Gollito Estredo (VEN) grasped his first tour win after a nail-biting final against Malo Guenole (FRA). With back flips and front flips nailed by both competitors, it came down to the overall impression where Gollito’s moves edged the young 16-year-old. Estredo scored an impressive 37.79 with Guenole falling short with 34.50 which now puts Gollito at the top of the World Tour Rankings heading into the next event – Tarifa, 12 – 16th October.
Paula Novotna (CZE) gained another tour win in Costa Teguise. Novotna and Suardiaz have battled it out at every competition so far and for the second time running Paula landed impressive tricks which scored high to rake in maximum points. A toeside frontside 360 wing pass was the nail in the coffin and a highlight move in the women’s division as Paula scored 23.50 whilst Nia locked in 21.40.
LANZAROTE SURF-FREESTYLE RESULTS:
MEN
1. Gollito Estredo (VEN)
2. Malo Guenole (FRA)
3. Balz Müller (CHE)
WOMEN
1. Paula Novotna (CZE)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Flora Artzner (FRA)
GWA WINGFOIL WORLD TOUR 2022
CURRENT RANKINGS
MEN SURF-FREESTYLE
1. Jose “Gollito” Estredo Perez (VEN)
2. Balz Müller (CHE)
3. Christopher Wolfe MacDonald (USA)
4. Stefan Spiessberger (AUT)
5. Xavier Corr (ESP)
WOMEN SURF-FREESTYLE
1. Paula Novotna (CZE)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Flora Artzner (FRA)
4. Orane Ceris (FRA)
5. Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA)
MEN SURF-SLALOM
1. Titouan Galea (FRA)
2. Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
3. Camille Bouyer (FRA)
4. Mathis Ghio (FRA)
5. Alessandri Tomassi (ITA)
WOMEN SURF-SLALOM
1. Flora Artzner (FRA)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Paula Novotna (CZE)
4. Orange Ceris (FRA)
5. Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA)
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SEASON RANKINGS
GWA WINGFOIL RACE CLASS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
RHODES, GREECE: 14 – 17 JULY
Photos: John Markantonis / Andromedas
After close battles throughout the event, it was Mathis Ghio (FRA) and Nia Suardiaz (ESP) who propelled themselves to victory at the GWA Race Class European Championships on the Greek island of Rhodes, Greece.
Mathis has shown great speed in previous events and came into his element winning numerous eliminations at this event. Suardiaz and Novotna were neck and neck for quite some time only until Nia snatched the win in the women’s final eliminations.
The GWA Wingfoil Race European Championship event was a one off, leading to these official final rankings for 2022:
GWA WINGFOIL RACE CLASS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022
FINAL RESULTS
MEN
1. Mathis Ghio (FRA) (European Champion)
2. Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
3. Bastien Escofet (FRA)
4. Luca Franchi (ITA)
5. Riccardo Zorzi (ITA)
6. Clement Colmas (FRA)
7. Tom Auber (FRA)
8. Alan Fedit (FRA)
9. Mateo Dussarps (FRA)
10. Xavier Corr (ESP
WOMEN
1. Nia Suardiaz (ESP) (European Champion)
2. Paula Novotna (CZE)
3. Kylie Belleouvre (FRA)
4. Mathilde Lovadina (FRA)
5. Marion Mattia (FRA)
6. Aimilia Kosti (GRC)
OUTRO:
The GWA Wingfoil World Tour hits Tarifa for the next round 12-16th October and then the final event of the season will run 16 – 20th November in Taiba, Brazil.
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