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France’s Malo Guénolé lands his second event win of the season
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First wave event win for Nia Suardiaz after she defeats new champion
Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024
19–26 October, 2024 | Ibiraquera, Brazil
The closing day of the Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Ibiraquera in southern Brazil was one of drama and upset with France’s Malo Guénolé taking his second event win of the season, while Spain’s Nia Suardiaz got her first victory.
Guénolé, who is back to full form after returning from a shoulder dislocation injury, was almost untouchable as he swept aside all-comers to win the final with room to spare in Ibiraquera’s long, left-hand waves and 15 knots of breeze.
“I’m feeling really, really good,” said Guénolé. “All the more because I made a mistake [at the last round] in Morocco where I had some confidence issues with my shoulder and felt a bit shaky. So, now I feel good. Brazil is always welcoming for me. I’ve never lost here.”
Multiple world champion, Suardiaz, still just 17, had arrived in Ibiraquera late from another event in Europe. It did not show as she clinched her first Wave contest win in a final that went down to the wire.
“I got here at the last minute,” said Suardiaz. “I was super-stoked to get here with just two hours’ sleep. I went straight into the water for the first heat of the day. I had a lot of fun in these amazing waves and amazing conditions.”
Shock exit
The fourth day of the third and final Wave stop on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour came after the new world champions, the US’s Cash Berzolla and Spain’s Elena Moreno, were crowned a day earlier.
Both had big enough points’ leads in the standings from victories at the two previous events in Cape Verde, in February, and Morocco, earlier this month, to secure their titles early in Brazil. Berzolla suffered a shock exit when was put out in the quarter-final.
Moreno, who had seemed imperious, suffered a similar fate when Nia Suardiaz got the better of the new world champion in their semi-final on the last day. Suardiaz had scored several big waves and booked her spot in the final.
That set up a match with Bowien van der Linden (NED), who was in her second consecutive final in a matter of weeks. The contest with Suardiaz was fierce, though the young Spaniard had the upper hand for much of the heat.
Van der Linden was hunting the sets, which were few and far between, and found a good one towards the end of the heat that gave her a 5.7 wave score. It was not enough and she lost the heat by 0.01 of a point to take second.
Came back strong
The men’s battles began with the conclusion of the second semi-final, between newcomer Anderson Gallagher (USA) and Axel Gerard (FRA). Gallagher, just 15, is another of the chargers coming out of Maui and he gave Gerard, 16, a run for his money.
But Gerard got the better of the encounter to go to the final. Gallagher came back strong in the run-off for third and fourth places against Brazil’s Vinnicius Martins. The American got the third podium spot in his first GWA competition.
The all-French final between Malo Guénolé and Axel Gerard was an intriguing battle. But Guénolé’s flowing surfy style, mixed with airs and 360s impressed the judges. He netted several big 8-point scores that took him to a total of 17.10 out of 20 for his two counting waves and gave him the win.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova
Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 results
Men
1 Malo Guénolé (FRA)
2 Axel Gerard (FRA)
3 Anderson Gallagher (USA)
4 Vinnicius Martins (BRA)
Women
1 Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2 Bowien van der Linden (NED)
3 Elena Moreno (ESP)
4 Ava Segersten (USA)
GWA Wingfoil Wave World Championships 2024 results
Men
1 Cash Berzolla (USA)
2 Malo Guénolé (FRA)
3 Finn Spencer (CAN)
Women
1 Elena Moreno (ESP)
2 Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3 Bowien van der Linden (NED)
Event information
- Location: Ibiraquera, Brazil
- Dates: 19—26 October, 2024
- All event information here.
Find everything about GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Brazil by clicking event news.
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Liveticker will be updated throughout the day. Event highlight video will be published at the end of the competition. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition day.
Spot Info: Ibiraquera
Ibiraquera has a sandy beach-break that behaves like a point-break. An island in front of the beach shapes the seabed to set up perfect waves that break about 200 metres off-shore. The swell can be big, from 1 to 2.5 metres, that provide big faces all year round. The best months are September to March. The sandy bottom means there are no hazards or rocks downwind.
Weather
Ibiraquera in October has a mixed, mainly dry climate. The air temperature during day can be between a high of 27°C and a low of 20°C. The water temperature is warm, so a shorty wetsuit or board-shorts and lycra is all that is needed. Sunrise is approximately 05.30h and sunset is 18.30h.
Wind
In October the wind blows 22 to 25 knots, predominantly north-easterly, but it can come from the east, south-east and south.
