Wingfoil world champions: Nia Suardiaz and Bastien Escofet look back on the season

18-year-old Spaniard Nia Suardiaz and 27-year-old Frenchman Bastien Escofet are the new FreeFly Slalom World Champions of the GWA Wingfoil World Tour 2025. While Suardiaz triumphed for the third time in a row, underlining her dominance in this discipline, Escofet celebrated his first World Championship title after two third places in previous years. The decision was made at the third and final stop of the season in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where both athletes spoke about their successes and the challenges of the season in an interview with Ian MacKinnon.

Suardiaz' seventh world championship title despite a mixed season

For Nia Suardiaz, 2025 was another successful year, even if she herself admitted that it wasn't her best season. "It was a good year. Not my best, but definitely a good year. The start with winning the wave world title was definitely the highlight," explained the young Spaniard in an interview. However, she continued to dominate the FreeFly slalom rankings and won every single event of the season.

It's getting tougher." (Nia Suardiaz)

Nevertheless, Suardiaz feels the growing pressure from the competition: "It's getting tougher. Kylie [Belloeuvre] really wants the title, I can see that. But I'm still winning, so I'm happy." The 18-year-old was particularly pleased with the new venues this season, including Abu Dhabi, even though the light wind conditions there presented a challenge.

Mental strength as the key to success

In Abu Dhabi, Suardiaz experienced a difficult start with unfamiliar light wind conditions. "It was a bit stressful because I'm not used to these light winds. I'm not that good in them either. I messed up two races on the first day. I've never been this bad before," she admitted. But the Spaniard showed mental strength and was able to refocus: "I tried not to concentrate too much and not to let other people get to me. A relaxed afternoon, dinner and just being ready for the next day - that helps me."

This ability to bounce back after setbacks was also evident in her attitude towards the titles she missed out on in the surf freestyle discipline. Although many expect her to win everything, Suardiaz remains realistic: "I can't win everything forever. It's not so bad for me if I don't win. I still trained and did my best."

Escofet's long road to his first title

For Bastien Escofet, the world championship title was the culmination of years of hard work. "I'm really thrilled. I've been working for this for the last three years and always just missed it," explained the 27-year-old Frenchman. After two third places in previous years, he has now finally hit the big time.

Escofet has worked intensively on his equipment and technique: "I've worked a lot on the equipment and also on myself: on my training and everything. I looked for consistency in the starts and tried to be as good as possible on both sides, in tacking and jibing and in speed."

Consistency as the key to the world championship title

The 2025 season was not without its ups and downs for Escofet. In Leucate, France, he finished third, which was below his own expectations. In Fuerteventura, he led at times, but lost the lead in the final race and finished second. "After Francesco [Cappuzzo] won the first two events, I thought the title had slipped through my hands again," admitted Escofet.

But the tide turned in Abu Dhabi. Escofet had trained intensively for the light wind conditions and was ready for the challenges of the final event. "The weather is very hot there, and working hard in 40°C is difficult," he explained. His efforts paid off when he took the decisive second place, while his main rival Cappuzzo missed out on the final.

Dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi

The final day of competition in Abu Dhabi was hard to beat in terms of drama. "There were a lot of ups and downs with me and Julien Rattotti, who would have been level on points if Francesco [Cappuzzo] hadn't been there," said Escofet, describing the situation. "It was a long day. At first I wasn't in the final. In the fourth race, everyone except Alan Fedit crossed the start line too early and was disqualified. That was the first bit of luck on my side. That's how I got into the final. It was a crazy, crazy day."

The pressure in this crucial phase was enormous: "My legs were shaking in Abu Dhabi," admitted Escofet. For the future, he has resolved to be even better prepared and not to rely on luck: "I was really well prepared this year, for pretty much all conditions and everything. But I will prepare even more. The goal is always to get better. So I'll be training a lot and tuning my equipment. Just be ready and go for another title."

Looking to the future: focus on Wave

While Escofet wants to defend his title next year, Suardiaz has reprioritised. In view of the strong competition in the surf freestyle discipline, particularly from Marie Schlittenbauer, who impressed with powerful tricks at the highest level, the Spaniard is focussing on other goals: "Marie is a really good rider. She has tricks that no other girl has. She rides with power. I would say I don't have the power. I can't keep up with her, so it will be difficult for me to win another freestyle title."

Instead, Suardiaz wants to defend her wave title: "I will still try. But winning is no longer my main priority. I want to win the wave title again. I think it will be another good season and if I'm on the podium in freestyle, I'll be happy."