World Cup Pozo: A perfect start with freestyle and big air

It was a perfect start to the first Wingfoil World Cup at the top spot of Pozo/Gran Canaria. As usual, the wind blew reliably at just under 30 knots, which meant that the first rounds in the men's surf freestyle discipline could be completed in the afternoon.

It was clear from round 1 where the level was heading - through the roof. The young guns Chris MacDonald (USA) and world champion Malo Guénolé in particular opened their heats, powered by wings of around three square metres, with fireworks: MacDonald, Newly crowned U19 world champion , performed frontside 1080 (10.0 points) and immediately after that a frontflip-frontside360 combination (9.07 points). Guénolé was also not to be outdone and scored the highest score of the day with a total of 26.47 points - including tricks such as backflip frontside 360 (9.60) and a tack frontside 7.

Combination tricks - the licence to score points

While last season it was mainly clean front and backflips that scored the necessary points, in the new season it is trick combinations such as the backflip 360 - jumping off again and rotating into the 360 directly after landing the backflip - that are scored best by the judges. Bastien Escofet, who was on the water for the first time with equipment from his new sponsor Gong, obviously also has these tricks down pat, scoring several individual scores over 9.0 points and also progressing to the next round:

I had two 1080s and a couple of new trick combos on the cards right at the start and I'm happy to be in the next round

And an unwritten law of wingfoiling also came into play again in Pozo: never be too sure if you think you've got an easy opponent. The Spaniard Xavi Corr, who won the 2022 World Cup Tarifa ( HERE you can read the report) in a duel against the 12-year-old supposed nobody Castenskiold from Denmark. Castenskiold scored three high scores above the seven-point mark and progressed to the next round. German starter Benjamin May also faced a relatively unknown but highly talented opponent in 15-year-old Ancor Sosa from Spain and must pin his hopes on the second round.

Big Air - new format at the World Cup Pozo

This year will also see the premiere of the new Big Air discipline in Pozo. The highest jumps and tricks will be judged here. 15 participants will initially battle it out in four qualifying heats, with the Big Air World Champion to be crowned during the course of the event.

There are currently no winners in the individual disciplines. However, as the wind should continue to blow reliably, nothing stands in the way of action-packed days. We'll keep you up to date.