The elite of the wingfoil scene is currently meeting in Leucate, France, for the season opener of the freestyle and slalom disciplines as part of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup. At the traditional "Mondial du Vent" event, the athletes competed in exciting contests in the surf freestyle discipline on the very first day of the competition. Strong Tramontana winds with speeds of up to 40 knots ensured perfect conditions.
Dominant performances in the women's competition
Spain's Nia Suardiaz came out on top in the women's competition, seamlessly continuing her winning streak from 2024. With an impressive heat score of 17.42 points in round 3, she underlined her role as favourite. Suardiaz then gave the competition no chance in the final and secured her third victory in a row at the Mondial du Vent. She was followed by her compatriot Mar de Arce and the Italian Sofia Marchetti. "I'm over the moon to have won here in Leucate again. This is a great start to the season"Suardiaz was delighted after her triumph. "I haven't been training much freestyle recently, so I'm even happier that I was able to land my tricks. The women's level is really high at the moment."
Top-class men's competition with surprises
In the men's event, the participants fought thrilling duels at the highest level. Defending champion Chris MacDonald from the USA once again proved his class and secured victory. In the quarter-finals, he performed a spectacular front flip to frontside 7, which was awarded 9 points. In the final, MacDonald prevailed against strong competition from Austrian twins Tom and Aleks Acherer. "I'm thrilled to have won the first event of the season"explained MacDonald. "I was able to land all my best tricks. It's great to be in the final with these guys, the level was really crazy. Now I'm ready to defend my title this season."
Up-and-coming talent causes a stir
In addition to the established stars, a number of young talents also made a name for themselves. The 13-year-old Dane Benjamin Castenskiold sensationally reached the men's final and ended up in fourth place. In the women's competition, up-and-coming Frenchwoman Manon Dupe put in a strong performance, but narrowly missed out on a place in the final. The successful start in Leucate promises an exciting season. Wingfoil season 2025 hope. The next stages of the World Cup will show whether the dominance of Suardiaz and MacDonald will continue or whether new challengers can position themselves. For the athletes, it is now a question of maintaining their form and preparing optimally for the upcoming events.
Results of the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Leucate 2025
Ladies:
- Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
- Mar de Arce (ESP)
- Sofia Marchetti (ITA)
- Viola Lippitsch (AUT)
Gentlemen:
- Chris MacDonald (USA)
- Tom Acherer (AUT)
- Aleks Acherer (AUT)
- Benjamin Castenskiold (DEN)
