GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championships kicks off in La Palma
by Ian MacKinnon 30 Jun 2023 08:50 PDT
29 June - 2 July 2023
2023 GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championships day 1 © Samuel Cardenas
The GWA is gearing up for the year's biggest event for up-and-coming young wingfoilers, with the world championships in FreeFly-Slalom and Surf-Freestyle to be staged in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
The GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championships that run from 29 June to 2 July will crown winners in the U14, U16 and U19 age groups across the disciplines.
Forty-two young athletes from around the globe are set to do battle in their age classes in the Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom divisions, with most competing in both disciplines.
The much-anticipated event boasts a starry roster of riders who have already made it to the top of the senior GWA Wingfoil World Tour, a reflection the young sport's mushrooming growth and popularity.
Defending crowns
Spain's wingfoil sensation, Nia Suardiaz, will be on hand to defend her titles. Still just 16 years old, she holds the U19 crowns in Surf-Freestyle and Surf-Slalom, now renamed FreeFly-Slalom. She currently leads the senior rankings in FreeFly-Slalom and sits second in Surf-Slalom.
Another 16-year-old, Chris MacDonald (USA) will be eager to defend his U19 Surf-Freestyle world title in La Palma. He also sits second in the senior rankings in Surf-Freestyle.
But France's Malo Guénolé, 17, the reigning senior GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion, will probably pose a big threat to the young American. The French teenager is also the U19 GWA Youth Wingfoil Surf-Slalom World Champion and will push hard to make it a repeat in FreeFly-Slalom.
In the U16 boys' category France's Axel Gerard will be one to watch in both disciplines, especially as he is currently ranked 11th in the senior Surf-Freestyle discipline. But France's Noé Cuyala and U14 FreeFly-Slalom world champion, Luca Vuillermet (USA), will no doubt test Gerard.
Top watersports' venue
La Palma is a great watersports' hub offering prime conditions for both disciplines. Playa de Bajamar, located on the east side of the island near the harbour, will be the location's competition spot. It is bathed by consistent north-easterly winds that will ensure the young riders can push wingfoiling to new levels.
To be eligible for each age category, the young athletes must be below the age threshold for the whole of this year.
For instance, to gain entry to the U14 age group, the rider must be 13 years old or below for the whole of 2023. For U16, they must be 15 or below all of this year, and in the U19, they must be 18 or less all throughout this calendar year.
It promises to be an enthralling contest in La Palma as wingfoiling's rising stars battle for honours. Follow all the action here.