Artzner and Galea Fire France to Yet More World Championships in the Surf-Slalom

Tight Surf-Slalom action on day five brings the Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil to an exciting climax.

After five action packed days in Taiba at the Copa Kitley GWA Wingfoil World Cup Brazil we finally arrived at the deciding heats of the 2022 Surf Slalom championship.

Although the mathematical scenarios were complicated, if tour leader Titouan Galea could essentially stay ahead of his nearest rival, Francesco Cappuzzo, the title would be his.

In a huge shock to proceedings, Titouan lost his grip in the semi final of the third elimination.

Cappuzzo capitalised in the final that would have given Galea the title. The Italian crossed the line in third behind Alan Fedit Mathis Ghio who look hot in first. That was solid points in the bag.

It all came down to the fourth and final elimination.

MEN’S FOURTH ELIMINATION SURF-SLALOM FINAL

Cappuzzo was closest to Galea, but to claim the title he now needed to finish four positions higher than Galea in the final race.

Galea got an awful start as Ghio and Tomassi steamed off at the front with Cappuzzo giving chase.

Galea once again decided to take his first tack widest on the course, but it was Ghio, Tomassi and Bouyer who rounded the top buoy ahead, as Cappuzzo and Galea scrambled for position behind.

At the pump track Galea was still way down but he’d been strong at this section all event.

He pumped wide and by the time he powered his wing up around the bottom buoy he was into third with just three buoys to go.

He could finally smell victory.

Ghio won another race, Tomassi took second, Bouyer third and, crucially, Titouan crossed the line in fourth ahead of Cappuzzo and that was it!

WOMEN’S SURF-SLALOM SUMMARY

After six straight wins the previous day, Nia Suardiaz had been doing all she could to try to catch women’s tour leader, Flora Artzner, who only needed to finish in fourth or better at this event to claim her first title.

Artzner played it cool and stayed in and around the positions she needed to be in each of the eleven races completed by the women over two days Surf-Slalom heats.

In the final race, the French ridersmade a great start, but was chased down by Suardiaz. At the end of the downwind section, Suardiaz was once again in front, but Artzner indeed crossed the line in fourth, giving her third position overall here in Brazil and first at the end of the season.

Nia Suardiaz dominantly won the event, but Flora Artzner is the 2022 GWA Wingfoil Surf-Slalom World Champion!

COPA KITLEY GWA WINGFOIL WORLD CUP BRAZIL 
SURF-SLALOM WOMEN
1 Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
2 Paula Novotna (CZE) 
3 Flora Artzner (FRA) 

SURF-SLALOM MEN
1 Mathis Ghio (FRA)
2 Titouan Galea (FRA) 
3 Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA) 

FINAL STANDINGS 2022 
GWA WINGFOIL SURF-SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

WOMEN:
1 Flora Artzner (FRA) 
2 Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3 Paula Novotna (CZE) 

MEN: 
1 Titouan Galea (FRA)
2 Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
3 Camille Bouyer (FRA)

And that is it after an amazing season. Congratulations also to Malo Guenole and Paula Novotna who won the Surf-Freestyle championships earlier in the week.

The South American Surf-Slalom Championships also ran over the last two days. 
Men’s winner: Vinnicious Martins, 2nd Dudu Mazzocato, 3rd Mauro Luiz
Women’s winner: Rocio Reigert, 2nd Roberta Sullini, 3rd Lidiane Sanders

Look out for an overview feature from this event coming soon.

Meanwhile, the GWA Wingfoil World Tour 2023 calendar is now online and we kick-off the year with an new location in New Zealand, running from early March!

See heat eliminations and more results on the event page here