The Big Air discipline was organised for the first time in Gran Canaria. The height of the jump (measured) counts for 80 per cent, while the technical difficulty of the jump counts for 20 per cent. Pozo provided the ideal conditions for this type of contest, with wind peaks of up to 45 knots being measured today. The men went to the start with wings between three and four square metres, the ladies around favourite Nia Suardiaz with wings around 2.5 square metres.
Young Benjamin May had also secured his place in the final via the qualifying rounds of the previous days and was allowed to fight against Julian Rattotti and Titouan Galea today for the first World Championship title in this new discipline. The level on the water went through the roof in the truest sense of the word. The 18-year-old May had already distanced his rival Galea by the end of the heat with a front flip almost eight metres high and already had one hand on the title. Towards the end of the heat, however, the third finalist in the group, Julien Rattotti, turned the result around with two jumps over the 11 metre mark (!) and can now call himself Big Air World Champion.
The young German was nevertheless happy: "I can hardly describe my feelings, it's crazy," said May. "I had two massive front flips with clean landings. When I came off the water, someone told me that the flips were eight metres high and I'm proud to have managed them like that. It will be exciting to see how wingfoiling evolves."
Arce Sanchez Big Air World Champion in the women's category
After her victory in the FreeFly slalom, Nia Suardiaz in particular went into the women's Big Air final with plenty of tailwind. Here she was up against Spain's Mar de Arce Sanchez and Poland's Agata Blach. The women's competition was also high, fuelled by over 40 knots and 2.5 square metre wings. With jumps to the 7 metre mark, it was the previously completely unknown Spaniard Arce Sanchez who secured the World Cup title - the World Cup Pozo was her first ever international competition.
As the conditions after the Big Air finals were still far too good to finish the day, the next rounds were held in the Surf Freestyle discipline. Here, too, Benjamin May surprised spectators and judges - and perhaps even himself a little. The 18-year-old eliminated Lasse Harbacek, Giulio Gasperini and, in round 6, none other than world champion Malo Guénolé with his trademark front flips. May is now in the semi-finals and has a good chance of making it onto the podium of the World Cup Pozo in surf freestyle. On Sunday, the last day of the event, the decision will be made.
Stay tuned!
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
