Matanzas and Topocalma: U21 winner Anton Richter on the World Cup in Chile
SURF Redaktion
· 01.06.2025
The World Cup in Chile is the first 5-star event of the season and many riders' favourite tour stop on the calendar. Everyone who has ever been there is thrilled and beaming when they talk about the fantastic conditions in Matanzas and Topocalma. Originally, the season opener in Chile wasn't even on my annual programme, as the travel costs are quite high. But after hearing from many participants in the U21 classification that they would be flying to Chile, it was clear to me that I couldn't miss out on this opportunity. The decision was made - and in hindsight it proved to be very, very worthwhile.
Almost three and a half weeks before the start of the contest, my journey began at Hamburg airport, together with Maria Behrens. She had decided to fly to Chile at short notice after an injury break. After a short stopover in Paris with a croissant and coffee, we boarded the 14-hour flight to Santiago de Chile. There we were picked up by our flatmate Gregory and taken to Matanzas. The journey through the Chilean countryside was the first major highlight. We drove for over two and a half hours over hilly country roads, past small villages and along sand and gravel tracks to Matanzas, where we were welcomed by Valters Videnieks from Latvia and the Dane Tobias Bjørnaa in a small house on a hillside.
There is not much in Matanzas: a mini market, two small hotels and a few houses on the hillside. However, it is a paradise for surfing enthusiasts. During our stay, there wasn't a single day without waves. So the fact that we had to wait for the wind for the first few days was not so bad. With surfing, surf-foiling and volleyball on the beach, the wind-free days passed quickly.
Core warm-up in Matanzas
The forecast already showed that the first windy day would bring a big south-west swell. Getting into the fast waves of Matanzas was therefore not easy. With great euphoria, we made our way to the beach in the morning to get into the water as quickly as possible. With the 4.7 sail, we took to the water for the first time in light winds. The conditions in Matanzas were more challenging than anything I've ever sailed in. Little pressure in the sail and mast-high waves were something completely new for me, who is more used to onshore wave riding and jumping. It was all the more fun to find my way around the big waves and push myself to the limit.
The atmosphere at the World Cup was incredible from start to finish. The local organisers not only organised the two-week event to the highest sporting standards, but also put together a varied programme for the wind-free days. The opening ceremony began with live music and "Cueca", the Chilean national dance, and a boat trip through the nearby riverbed. In between, meetings and exchanges with children from a nearby school and many get-togethers in the evenings. Finally, there was a successful award ceremony and after-party at the Hotel Surazo. On the first day with wind we started with the first two rounds of the Men Challenger - the qualification for the main field. I was in the first heat and therefore always had to be ready to go. When the go-ahead was given, the wind was still at its lower limit. The waves weren't particularly high that day either, which didn't exactly make the conditions easy. With two solid waves, I ended up in second place and qualified directly for the third round.
Surprise move to Topocalma
Early the next day, we received the news that the Challengers would continue in Topocalma. This was an unexpected decision for us, as it was not communicated in advance that the event could be moved to another location. As a result, we only trained in Matanzas and had never been on the water in Topocalma. So we weren't really happy with the decision. But we didn't realise that it would pay off later.
The conditions in Topocalma were very different to those in Matanzas. However, the wind, which tends to blow offshore compared to Matanzas, and an almost perfect wave make the spot something very special. However, without having ridden there even once, it was difficult to compete against the many locals in the qualifiers. So it was over for me in the third round. Nevertheless, it was a day from which I was able to learn and take away a lot, especially from the sunset session after qualifying had finished. It was one of the best sessions of the trip and prepared me well for the U21 heats, which would also take place later in Topocalma.
Into the U21 final via the Redemption Round
After the women and men raced in Matanzas in the following days, it was finally our turn with the U21 category. Due to the poor wind forecast for Matanzas, all junior categories and the men's and women's finals were to take place in Topocalma. On this day, the spot once again offered us incredibly clean waves and good wind. We started directly with the first heats of the U21. The best two waves in each of the 17-minute heats were to count towards the ranking. I got off to a good start in my first heat and had the lead for a long time with several solid waves until Kymani Laurent, one of the favourites for the title, won the heat with a great wave 360 in the last minute. This meant that I had to fight for a place in the final in the Redemption Round, a kind of hope heat. Not the best start, but anything was still possible.
Things went much better in the Redemption round. With a better wave selection, I managed two good wave rides, which secured me a place in the final. There I was up against Tobias Bjørnaa, Kymani Laurent and Jake Ghiretti for the win. Everything finally went according to plan in the final. After two safe waves at the start, which earned me good points, I was able to take a little more risk, which is always rewarded by the judges. I managed the best wave of the heat with lots of turns in the section and a high aerial, which earned me 7.8 points. This secured me victory with a half-point lead over Kymani. It was my first victory in the U21 category and therefore something very special. The crowning glory of a sensational trip.
The conditions, the landscape and the people made the three weeks an unforgettable stay. I will definitely be back next year. Now it's time for me to start preparing for the next two World Cups in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. I will spend the summer months there and train a lot. My goal is to win the U21 World Championship title this year. First place in Chile was the perfect start to the season.
Text: Anton Richter
