Throughout the competition Fortaleza has delivered the goods needed for running a great WingFoil Championships. The wind may have dropped slightly in strength at times, but each day we’ve been able to run our heats without problem. The swell that came into Praia de Iracema these last days has also been perfect for WingFoiling. It’s an impressive place for a competition, Fortaleza makes a surprisingly beautiful spot for a WingFoil event.
Today we ran a Best Trick/ Best Surf Super Session Competition for our WingFoil athletes, it was the first expression session the GWA have run in Brazil, and we were excited to see what combinations of Freestyle and Surf our WingFoliers would have in store.
The first heat saw Dudu Mazzocato, Fabian Muhmenthaler, Yann Rifflet, Maxime Chabloz and Balz Müller head to the water. Balz and Maxime both rode well. Balz landed a blind to toeside 360 and surfed some nice waves, which he attacked with style. He advanced into the final with a score of 14.13, followed by Maxime, who went into the final with 9.37.
In the second heat we had Levi Lenz, Hendrick Lopes, Michael Näf, Fernando Novaes and Titouan Galea. Fernando tried his best in the swell as did Hendrick, the young Cape Verdean is already showing huge potential in the waves. Michael landed a stylish combination, raley into a front side three, which gave him a freestyle advantage over the other two wave riders. Titouan out rode his fellow competitors, landing a backflip, and a front side three which he rode out of at max speed. He then caught a wave, mixing in some freestyle air which gave him 14.57 points and a place in the finals. Michael went through to the final with 10.27.
We were not so lucky with the wind for the finals, it dropped just as our riders were heading into the water. Swell dropped due to the higher tide, and this combination made for a tricky final heat. Our athletes searched in vain for waves but they were a rarity. Balz had an unlucky heat and didn’t land any tricks. Maxime showed us some nice carving while on the search, and managed to land a nice raley. Michael landed a smooth frontside three which earned him second place, but it was Titouan that caught the best wave and rode it all the way to the shore. He also landed a bigger raley than Maxime’s, giving him that little bit extra needed to secure the win. The scoring in this heat was about as tight as it gets in a competition for the top three due to the conditions.
Final Day 04 GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza
We had two women competing in the female division of this GWA Wing Foil event, Leysa Perotti and Liana Maia. Leysa caught a nice wave which won her the heat.
WingFoil Best Trick / Best Super Session Results:
1st Titouan Galea 8.84 (F-One)
2nd Michael Näf 8.20 (Ensis)
3rd Maxime Chabloz 8.03 (F-One)
4th Balz Müller 3.67 (Ensis)
1st Liana Maia (Duotone)
2nd Leysa Perotti (Duotone)
We were also testing different formats for a Surf Race discipline this afternoon here at the GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza. It’s a fun new experience for everyone involved. Our athletes rode around a course, with specific downwind stretches in which using the wing was forbidden – riders could only pass these downwind stretches of water by pumping or surfing a wave. Titouan’s Kite Racing experience was evident as were Balz Müller’s.
A heartfelt thank you to our event partner SuperFoil Brazil, and their awesome team for organising such an incredible event. It feels great to get the team and athletes together again after such a difficult year, and what a location to do it! Everyone who came now has a special place for Fortaleza and Praia de Iracema in their hearts. Another thank you to all our athletes and GWA crew for making the event such a joyful place to be.
We are excited to report about the next GWA Wing Foil competitions on WINGFOILDAILY!
Words by: Kate Chandler
Global Wing Sports Association (globalwingsportsassociation.org)
Pictures by:
Svetlana Romantsova (romantsovaphoto.com)
SuperFoil Brasil (instagram.com/superfoilbrasil)
Events
Tarifa Wing Pro Day 03
It was another perfect day of poniente wind in Tarifa today for Day 03 at the Tarifa Wing Pro Three of competition. The windspeed increased in the early afternoon, and by 3pm the conditions were suitable to compete, starting with a wing foil race.
Tarifa Wing Pro Day 02
The full men’s elimination was completed today at the Tarifa Wing Pro, with strong conditions gusting up to 35 knots of south wind. In the end Balz Müller was the winner of the competition.
Tarifa Wing Pro Day 01
Balneario beach in Tarifa is the chosen location for this final Wingfoil World Tour event of 2020 – Tarifa Wing Pro, with 19 men and 4 women from 9 different countries ready to battle it out on the water.
Wing Foil Event GWA Tarifa Wing Pro 2020
Tarifa – Europes Capital of Wind – is going to be the next tour stop of the GWA (Global Wingsports Association) Wing Foil Tour 2020 – the Tarifa Wing Pro 2020.
Day 03 GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza
We have the first ever Champion of the GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza. After a action packed day with close heats and a very close final the results are here.
Continue Reading Day 03 GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza
Day 02 GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza
Another great day here in Brazil! We saw the first ever ladies wing foil competition! Well done girls! The men athletes got through two complete rounds of heats.
Continue Reading Day 02 GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam Fortaleza
Read more about wing foiling.
Tarifa Wing Pro Day 03
It was another perfect day of poniente wind in Tarifa today for Day 03 at the Tarifa Wing Pro Three of competition. The windspeed increased in the early afternoon, and by 3pm the conditions were suitable to compete, starting with a wing foil race.
Tarifa Wing Pro Day 02
The full men’s elimination was completed today at the Tarifa Wing Pro, with strong conditions gusting up to 35 knots of south wind. In the end Balz Müller was the winner of the competition.
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