Top-ranked riders open their accounts in style as Dakhla’s tricky waves challenge even the best surfers
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils
29 Sept—06 Oct, 2024 | Oum Lamboiur, Dakhla
The leading riders opened their accounts at the second call of the GWA Wingfoil World Tour in the pure surfing Wave discipline when the action kicked off in the right-hand point-break of Dakhla, Morocco.
The first day of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils opened with small swells that tested the riders to the maximum, with some pushing the limits and ending with their foils in the sand in the shallows.
But the best athletes, like last year’s winner in Dakhla, Cash Berzolla (USA), and multiple world champion, 17-year-old Nia Suardiaz (ESP), showed their class even in the tricky conditions, throwing down the gauntlet to rivals.
The return to Dakhla, the longest wave on the tour, marks the Oum Lamboiur spot out as a favourite with the riders. Dakhla was one of the first calls on the wingfoil world tour and is fast-becoming becoming a regular fixture.
Twenty-four men and 10 women from 12 nations in all corners of the globe journeyed to the venue on the edge of the Sahara desert. Competition to win a spot in the limited men’s fleet was more intense than ever in the fast-growing sport, and riders were chosen by world ranking, video entries and wildcards.
New faces
The women kicked off the action and, like the men’s roster, there were a number of new faces. Britain’s Francesca Maini, better known for her Big Air kiteboarding prowess, made her wingfoil tour debut and beat the winner of the first stop, Spain’s Elena Moreno, in the process.
The first round was a non-elimination round and Moreno, who was devastating in the huge waves of Cape Verde, will get another chance. Former Surf-Freestyle world champion Bowien van der Linden was taking no chances and advanced convincingly.
Spain’s Mar de Arce came up against her compatriot Nia Suardiaz in another early heat. The fast-improving De Arce ran Suardiaz close, but the teenager did enough to take the win and progress in first place.
In the men’s contest, reigning Wave world champion, Wesley Brito (CPV), was pushed hard by the youngest rider in the line-up, Britain’s Leon Schiel, just 14. But Brito got the win with a wave towards the end of the heat. Big wave surfer Austin Kalama (USA) was third in the heat, but will get another chance.
‘Best time possible’
The Maui-based Canadian, Finn Spencer, was another standout when he took down the charging 16-year-old, Axel Gerard (FRA), who has already notched up numerous podiums in his short career.
Cash Berzolla, ranked number two in the world after his runner-up placing in Cape Verde in February, was thrilled to be back in Morocco, the scene of last year’s victory.
“It feels really good to be in second place [overall] and to be here in Dakhla,” he said, ahead of his heat. “I’m really enjoying pushing the sport right now. A lot of it is just having fun. That’s when I do my best. So the goal for the heat is to go out and have the best time possible.”
True to his word, Berzolla tore up the heat. He got the biggest wave score of the day, 8.93, and the highest heat total of 16.66 for his two counting attempts.
It all sets up intriguing battles for the coming days, with the swell forecast improving, accompanied by good wind predictions. Join us for all the action.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Zakaria Taberkant
Event information
- Location: Oum Lamboiur, Dakhla
- Dates: 29 September—06 October, 2024
- All event information here.
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Liveticker will be updated throughout the day. Event highlight video will be published next morning. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition day.
Spot Info: Dakhla, Oum Lamboiur
Dakhla Oum Lamboiur set at the point where the Westpoint hotel is situated. The town sits on the edge of the Sahara desert. North-westerly swells wrap around the point producing a long right-handed break with hollow sections that run into the sandy bay. The northerly breezes can be tricky under the point, but punchy and strong on the inside towards the beach. Westpoint is on the end of a long promontory at the head of Dakhla’s shallow, flatwater lagoon, which gets breezes of 20 to 30 knots nearly all year round
Weather
Dakhla at the end of September/early October has a dry climate. The air temperature during day can be between 24°C the highest temperatures and lowest of 18°C. The water temperature of the sea is around 20°C, so bringing a wetsuit is recommended. Sunrise is approximately 08.00 and sunset is 20.00.
Wind
North winds blow side offshore at Westpoint with 15 to 25 knots.
