The wing elite are currently meeting on the Cape Verde island of Sal for the first Wave World Cup in history - and the kick-off couldn't have gone better. 31 men and ten women from a total of ten nations are taking part in the premiere at the legendary Ponta Preta spot.
The heat duration was set at a generous 20 minutes by the competition organisers. It soon became clear that this would be necessary. If you fall in Ponta Preta, you have to accept the exit over the football-sized lava rocks, then rush around 200 metres to the entry point, overcome a sometimes monstrous shorebreak and then cross back up to the contest zone. 20 minutes then quickly fly by.
New faces at the Wingfoil World Cup
The Wingfoil World Cup in Cape Verde will also feature a number of youngsters such as 15-year-old Frenchman Noe Cuyala and Axel Gerard (14). Cuyala survived the first two rounds and was impressed by the quality of the waves afterwards:
It's probably the best right-hand wave in the world, simply incredible! It's so exciting to see where the sport will go with this new discipline. This is just the beginning.
Julien Bouyer with the high score
The French riders were once again particularly strong, with Julien Bouyer leading the way. With a 9.50-point wave, he secured the highest score of the day and sent his compatriot Chucho Nonnot back to the beach. Even Kauli Seadi, who came second in the PWA World Cup of Windsurfing at the same spot in 2007, was powerless against Bouyer's performance in the end.
Over the course of the day, the sets rolling in cracked the 4 metre mark. There were not only impressive rides and first air manoeuvres on show, but also hard crashes - which often ended in the total loss of the equipment.
Fancy a taste? Then see for yourself!
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Also in the quarter-finals is Hawaiian Zane Schweitzer, who, as expected, feels right at home in conditions with powerful waves and wind from the right. On day three, the wait should also be over for the women.
We'll keep you up to date!
Here are the highlights of the day at the Wingfoil World Cup Cape Verde.
Further information is also available HERE on the GWA website.
