GWA Wing Foil World Cup Lanzarote. Tour stop number three

[Toby]

We are in Lanzarote for the third stop on the GWA Wingfoil World Tour and the action has just begun on day one. The crew and riders are excited about the variety of conditions expected during the competition this week. This stop is focused on Surf-Freestyle with the hope that wave riding will also make an appearance.

48 of the most accomplished Surf-Freestyle riders have registered for this week's event. There are plenty of points up for grabs that could throw spanners in the works for new tour leaders by the weekend!

Round two at Silvaplana was only a short few weeks ago and stirred up the rankings from Leucate at the start of the year! Paula Novotna (CZE) gained on her team mate Nia Suardiaz (ESP). They now sit at joint first on 1870 points with Flora Artzner (FRA) eager to close the gap while she sits on a comfortable 1570.

Over on the men’s side, we have a similar scenario taking place. Balz Müller (CHE) and Christopher Macdonald (USA) are both on 1580 points while Gollito Estredo (VEN) is lurking behind on 1570.

We will be streaming the nail-biting action each and every day. Alongside the stream be sure to keep up with our live ticker during the event, our highlight videos, newsletters, and daily articles providing the most up-to-date information before, during, and after the event days. Find it all by hitting the button below!

https://www.wingfoilworldtour.com/event ... rote-2022/



WATCH THE LIVESTREAM ACTION HERE:

[Toby]

DAY ONE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Check out all the action from day one in the highlight video below! Yesterday saw the completion of Women's Surf-Freestyle where we crowned the champion along with round one and two of the men's division.





WOMENS SURF-FREESTYLE

The rankings were tight and it was all to fight for coming into Lanzarote! It was Paula Novotna who prevailed beating teammate and rival Nia Suardiaz (ESP) in a close battle in which the lead swayed between the two riders from start to finish. The seesaw rocked from one end to the next while the pair were firing from both cylinders. Trick after trick, wave after wave it was full throttle until the buzzer went, and with an overall impression score to follow it went right to the wire with Paula scoring 23.50 and Nia 21.40!

For the mini-final, we had a French fight on our hands between Orane Ceris (FRA) and Flora Artnzer (FRA). It was Flora who grasped third place with a 17.28 over Orane’s 13 but great to witness both ladies pushing the limits and going all out. Orane went for multiple backflip attempts but unfortunately couldn't land one whilst Flora managed to stomp a Toeside Frontside 360 along with another frontside 360.

WINGFOIL WORLD CUP LANZAROTE WOMEN’S SURF-FREESTYLE RESULTS:

1. Paula Novotna (CZE)
2. Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3. Flora Artzner (FRA)
4. Orane Ceris (FRA)

MENS SURF-FREESTYLE

42 men lined up and the crew fired through round one and five heats of round two. Round one focused on three scoring tricks with an overall impression score. As the higher tide pushed in over the afternoon the judges wanted to provide athletes with a wave scoring opportunity. Heat times were extended to 12 minutes with three scoring freestyle tricks, one wave riding score, and an overall impression to conclude.

As the day finished some highlight performances came from Jeremy Burlando (ESP) who got the highest score in round one with 26.46. Local rider Jorge Padilla (ESP) also scored a whopping 8.07 on what was the highest-scoring wave of the day.

Similar conditions are lining up for today so it’ll be an action-packed day of men's heats, incorporating both freestyle and wave riding.

[Toby]

Day Two Livestream:

[Toby]

[Toby]

After completing round one and half of round two in the men's division Wednesday, the competition continued yesterday with an earlier start. A large 42-rider fleet meant the judges and crew were eager to start the competition at the earliest convenience.

It was a day no one will forget with exceptional heats from start to finish. Venezuelan powerhouse Gollito Estredo is the new GWA Wingfoil World Cup Lanzarote men’s surf-freestyle champion!

MEN'S SURF-FREESTYLE

A solid 24 knots blew throughout the majority of Thursday's action and every heat was like a final with riders going bigger than ever before. Christopher Macdonald (USA) and Balz Müller (CHE) came into the competition as joint leaders but it was Gollito Estredo (VEN) that took the win and those all-important points at this stage in the tour rankings.

Big names were ejected early on and the competition was well and truly up for grabs. Riders were looking to make a name for themselves at this hotly contested event.

When the final came around Gollito Estredo (VEN) was up against Malo Guenole (FRA) who hadn’t put a single foot wrong all competition. Gollito started off the heat with two huge scores both in the nines. A 9.10 back loop closely followed up with a 9.23 front loop sent Estredo into orbit! Malo fired the shot back with a front flip scoring 9 and a frontside 720 putting another 7.43 points on the card.

As Gollito looked to be winning Malo pulled the trigger and rocked a huge 8.60 back flip which sent the crowd into carnage towards the end of the heat! It came down to the all-important impression score, which often made the difference in these gripping heats!

It was a patient wait on the beach before Gollito Estredo grasped his first-ever GWA tour win, but certainly one he’s been promising this season,, and boy did he celebrate. His crazy 37.79 was the score of the day, and needed to get the better of Malo’s 34.50.

The mini-final produced a thrilling 8 minutes. Xavier Corr (ESP) faced Balz Müller (CHE) in a heat that had it all. Big scores from both riders got thrown with Balz Müller getting the highest from a back loop 7 scoring 8.43. In the end, Müller edged the win after missing out on Malo in the semis.

GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP LANZAROTE MEN’S SURF-FREESTYLE PODIUMS

1. Gollito Estredo (VEN)
2. Malo Guenole (FRA)
3. Balz Müller (CHE)
4. Xavier Corr (ESP)

A day for the history books at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Lanzarote. Crazy maneuvers, unparalleled height, multiple rotations, and tight scores put everyone on their feet! A huge congratulations to Gollito Estredo for taking the win and stirring up the rankings! The final witness yesterday has to be the best we’ve seen on the tour to date.

[Toby]

The official competition has finished here at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup in Lanzarote. The crew pushed through men and women surf-freestyle on the event's first two days. Trade winds have been blowing from start to finish and with two days of mind-blowing competition, it was now a chance to showcase our various disciplines on the tour. Yesterday the focus was on Surf-Slalom with riders putting on a show with local competitors also being able to join the roster.

SURF-SLALOM SHOW

32 men registered for an afternoon of surf-slalom. Local riders also joined the party with it not being an exclusive show for registered GWA riders. After two elimination rounds, it was Hugo Marin (FRA) who took the first and Titouan Galea (NCL) took the second. Both F-One riders going to war with a final elimination to follow.

It was Titouan Galea who prevailed against his teammate in the final elimination. After missing a win in the first round he showcased elegant riding, gliding around the buoys and using every wave possible on the pumping track.

Over in the women's heats, it was Nia Suardiaz (ESP) who gave a show-stopping performance winning all four of the race heats. Today she was too quick for rival Paula Novotna (CZE) and displayed effortless control throughout the course. Paula taking the surf-freestyle win back on Wednesday, and some race wins for Nia, regardless of it being for the show, will still be a big confidence boost heading into the next event.

GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP LANZAROTE MEN’S and WOMEN'S SURF-SLALOM SHOW PODIUMS

Men

Titouan Galea (NCL)

Women

Nia Suardiaz (ESP)

Slalom racing is always good to watch, especially on the GWA tour. When racing gets tight it can come down to the final corner and it's been great to demonstrate this by bringing the best of the best here to Costa Teguise, Lanzarote.