Second call of wingfoil Wave tour set for long Dakhla rights as tour leaders seek to build title momentum
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Morocco 2024 powered by Armstrong Foils
29 Sept—06 Oct, 2024 | Oum Lamboiur, Dakhla
The second stop of the GWA Wingfoil World Tour in the pure-surfing Wave discipline is set to return to Dakhla, Morocco, where the first world champions were crowned a year ago.
Wingfoil Wave world champions, the US’s Moona Whyte and Cape Verdean Wesley Brito, took the maiden titles after epic action in the endless right-hander at the Oum Lamboiur break on the edge of the Sahara desert.
But as the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Morocco 2024, powered by Armstrong Foils, returns for the second tour stop of three that will decide this season’s world champions, the landscape has changed dramatically.
Whyte was defeated in the final of the wingfoil Wave season-opener in Ponta Preta, Cape Verde, in February, losing to an on-fire Elena Moreno (ESP) in easily the most dramatic competition ever witnessed.
Moreno, who tops the rankings, will be seeking to build momentum in Dakhla for a world title bid. Whyte said earlier in the year that she would step back from competition after Cape Verde, leaving the door open for others.
Clean-sweep of titles
Moreno is unlikely to have it all her own way. Triple wingfoil world champion, Spain’s Nia Suardiaz, 17, is keen to add the Wave crown to her name to give her a clean-sweep of titles.
Former Surf-Freestyle world champion Bowien van der Linden (NED) is another who will be pushing hard in the smaller waves of Dakhla, ahead of the season finale in Brazil’s Ibiraquera, in October.
Reigning men’s world champion Wesley Brito finds himself in a tough spot after finishing ninth in his native Cape Verde. France’s Malo Guénolé won the stunning final in Ponta Preta by a tiny margin and is ranked world number one.
But Maui-based Cash Berzolla (USA), probably the world’s most exciting wingfoil wave rider, just missed out on the win at the first stop. Berzolla had won the event in Dakhla last year, where the tables were turned when he defeated Guénolé.
Upset old order
It promises to be an enthralling season-long battle between the two, with the next instalment coming in Dakhla. But with pace of change in wingfoil and the sudden rise of new faces, nothing can be guaranteed.
South Africa’s Nathan van Vuuren is ranked world number three thanks to his third place in Cape Verde in his debut competition. Canada’s Finn Spencer, who is also based in Maui, is a force to reckoned with after giving Berzolla a run for his money the last time the two faced-off.
Teenagers like Axel Gerard (FRA) and Corsica’s Noé Cuyala (FRA) no doubt have age on their side and capability to develop their wave game quickly to cause an upset to the old order.
Join us here for all the action in what will certainly be another thriller in the desert.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lukas K Stiller
Event information
- Location: Oum Lamboiur, Dakhla
- Dates: 29 September—06 October, 2024
- All event information here.
Find everything about GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla powered by Armstrong Foils by clicking event news.
- Follow the event page: liveticker and live scoring
- Tune in to our Livestream
- Follow our Instagram and our new Facebook account for behind the scenes action and event updates
- Subscribe to our newsletter for end-of-day reporting
- Check out our youtube channel for the highlights video
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.
