The second tour stop for the freestyle guild is currently taking place on the famous Valdevaqueros beach in Tarifa. As the wind played along right from the start, there is already a result in the freestyle discipline after the second day: just like almost a month ago in Leucate (HERE is a report) The teenagers in the person of Nia Suardiaz and Chris MacDonald also won this time.
If German-Spanish rider Nia Suardiaz keeps this up, she will soon have more event victories on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour than years of life under her belt! Suardiaz, just 17 years old, took her second victory in the second freestyle event of the season at her home event in Tarifa and is now the undisputed leader of the world rankings. Halfway through the season - the freestylers have four Events on the GWA tour calendar - Suardiaz has his sights firmly set on defending his title.
The conditions in Tarifa were difficult at first - only light winds and gusty conditions required big wings and left little room for big moves. This meant that the 13 women at the start had to make do with basic tricks and reel off a clean programme. Luckily, the wing then stepped up a gear just in time for the quarter and semi-finals and the riders did the same: there were solid 540s, combi moves and front and back flips on show. Out of a possible seven attempts, the best three were recognised. Nia Suardiaz crashed two backflips at the start of the semi-final, but then kept her nerves under control and ultimately secured a place in the final. There she then faced her long-term rivals Bowien Van Der Linden, Spain's Mar de Arce and Italy's Sofia Marchetti. This time, Suardiaz came out of the starting block better, landed a backflip straight away and then pulled off her programme with aplomb - in the end, none of her rivals were within reach with 19.86 points.
To have won here in front of my family and friends is very special for me
Wingfoil World Cup Tarifa - Women's results
- Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
- Bowien van der Linden (NED)
- Mar de Arce (ESP)
- Sofia Marchetti (ITA)
MacDonald remains on course for the title
The men's event was also won by the reigning world champion - 18-year-old Chris MacDonald from the USA. He also continues his 2024 streak - he won the first stop at the Mondial du Vent in Leucate just under a month ago: "In Leucate it was more like 60 knots, here we were lucky if it was 22 knots, so different conditions"said MacDonald. "It was different to drive here and I think everyone did really well. I'm just thrilled that the sport is evolving and I'm happy to win here."
However, MacDonald still had a few obstacles to overcome before the time came. Just how tight the men's competition will be in 2024 was once again evident early on, when co-favourites such as Alan Fedit and the runner-up at the World Cup Leucate, Noé Cuyala, were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Combination moves, 1080s, backmobe combinations - there was no limit to the level this year either. You can watch the day's action again in full length in the livestream:
Wingfoil World Cup Tarifa - Results Men
- Christopher MacDonald (USA)
- Axel Gerard (FRA)
- Bastien Escofet (FRA)
- Xavi Corr (ESP)
The next event will take place at the end of June in La Palma - we will report back.
