Season’s fourth Surf-Freestyle stop could be crucial for athletes with title ambitions
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Gran Canaria
5-8 August, 2025 | Playa El Burrero
Reigning two-time Surf-Freestyle world champions, the US’s Chris MacDonald and Spain’s Nia Suardiaz, find themselves under pressure like never before as they press for a hat-trick of crowns in Gran Canaria.
As the Spanish Canary island again hosts the GWA Wingfoil World Cup, this year debuting at El Burrero, the champions found themselves defeated at the tour’s second stop, after opening their accounts with wins at Mondial du Vent, France.
Their showings at the tour stop in late July on neighbouring Fuerteventura will be absolutely crucial as the Gran Canaria World Cup could close out the season and crown the champions if the final stop scheduled for Jericoacoara, Brazil, in December, is not confirmed.
A full roster of 28 men, accompanied by 14 women, from 12 nations around the world, are set to battle at Playa El Burrero, the third successive year that Gran Canaria has hosted a GWA World Cup.
Notoriously windy
It is a mark how important Gran Canaria regards major international sporting events as a driver for windsports’ tourism, and El Burrero just north of the windsurfing mecca of Pozo Izquierdo, is a notoriously windy spot during European summer months.
“Sport is essential to promoting the island which is why we support these fast-growing disciplines with strong global reach,” said Antonio Morales, Gran Canaria council president. “We’re looking at an estimated economic return of €10 million, and a potential global audience of 26 million people.”
The strong north-westerly breezes of late July and early August, teamed with kickers for the athletes to boost off, should be perfect for a spectacular Surf-Freestyle show. The level and complexity of the tricks is still advancing at break-neck pace with every World Cup, and the Canaries’ battles will be no different.
At the second tour stop in Tarifa, Spain, in June, the Danish teenager, Benjamin Castenskiold, landed his first victory. The remarkable Castenskiold, who turned 14 in early July making him eligible to join the senior tour, has put the pressure on MacDonald’s defence of his crown.
Hopes of home fans
The Austrian twins, Aleks and Tomas Acherer, pressed their claim for a title when they took second and third places respectively in Tarifa, their training base. France’s Axel Gerard is hot on their heels in the rankings.
In Gran Canaria, Xavi Corr will be the highest ranked Spaniard, while the rising local star from Fuerteventura, Ancor Sosa, still just 16, will be carrying the hopes of home fans.
Tarifa-based Nia Suardiaz was uncharacteristically beaten on home waters by her friend and compatriot, Mar de Arce, when she took her first World Cup win. De Arce will be eager to cement her title charge in the back-to-back stops in the Canaries.
But both will have to be wary of the new star on the block, 15-year-old Marie Schlittenbauer, from Germany. She took the fourth podium step in Tarifa and won the U19 Surf-Freestyle title at the Youth Worlds in Costa Brava, Spain, in July.
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words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lukas K Stiller
Spot Info: Playa El Burrero, Gran Canaria
Weather
The weather in Gran Canaria, Spain, during August, ranges around 25-30°C with sunrise around 07:15 and sunset at 21:00.
Wind and water
August is a great month for wind in Gran Canaria. The wind regularly blows 20-25+ knots, coming from the north/north-west at El Burrero, which blows cross-onshore. The water is choppy with kickers rolling in with the swell. Water temperature is 23-24°C, so bring a shorty or summer wetsuit.
