Big upsets mark changing of the guard in Tarifa

• Dane Benjamin Castenskiold, 14, takes first World Cup win at second stop

• Mar de Arce overhauls world champion on home waters to grab first victory

The GWA returned to the iconic location of Tarifa this July for the sixth consecutive year, delivering four days of thrilling Surf-Freestyle action. A total of 17 women and 28 men registered for this second Surf-Freestyle stop of the 2025 season.

Each year, the world’s top wingfoil athletes eagerly anticipate their arrival in Tarifa—renowned for its consistent, powerful winds and its status as Europe’s hub for wind sports.

The competition kicked off with two days of perfect Poniente wind, followed by a final day of strong Levante conditions—ideal for hosting the high-octane finals. Large crowds gathered along Valdevaqueros Beach to witness world-class wingfoiling, as athletes pushed the limits of the sport in optimal wind conditions, creating a truly spectacular show.

GWA Wingfoil World Cup Tarifa
24-27 June, 2025 | Valdevaqueros Beach, Tarifa, Spain

Women’s Division

The women’s competition featured standout performances from new faces on tour. One of the most notable upsets came from German newcomer Marie Schlittenbauer, who managed to defeat reigning World Champion Nia Suardiaz in Round 1. Fortunately for Suardiaz, she had a chance in Round 2, allowing her to battle her way back through the competition.

In the quarterfinals, Nia Suardiaz and Mar de Arce both delivered powerful performances, showcasing their skills at their home spot in Tarifa. However, it was once again Marie Schlittenbauer who stole the spotlight, earning the highest overall score of the round with 20.03 points.

By the final day, the top eight women had advanced to the semi-finals. The first heat featured Kylie Belloeuvre, Manon Dupe, Leoni Trondl, and Nia Suardiaz. Each athlete had eight trick attempts, with their top three scores counting. Nia demonstrated her confidence in Tarifa’s strong wind conditions, cruising into the final. Manon Dupe of France also impressed the judges and joined her in advancing.

The second semi-final saw Sofia Marchetti, Mar de Arce, Bowien van der Linden, and Marie Schlittenbauer go head-to-head. Marie delivered three consistent, high-scoring tricks to secure a spot in the final—an incredible achievement in her debut World Cup event. Mar de Arce joined her, claiming the last place in the finals.

With the wind pumping and the shoreline packed with fans, the women’s final promised a fierce showdown. Nia Suardiaz had her sights set on reclaiming the top spot, trading trick for trick with Mar de Arce. It was a close battle until the very end, but Mar de Arce managed to edge ahead in the final moments, securing her first-ever win in the Surf-Freestyle discipline on home turf in Tarifa. Nia Suardiaz finished in second place, followed by Marie Schlittenbauer in third and Manon Dupé in fourth.

Women’s Final results:

1 Mar de Arce (ESP)
2 Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3 Marie Schlittenbauer (GER)
4 Manon Dupé (FRA)

Men’s Division

The men’s division at the Tarifa Wing Pro saw a wave of new talent, with a host of young riders showcasing exceptional skill and promise.

The competition ramped up with an intense set of quarterfinals. The first heat was final-worthy in its own right, featuring Bastien Escofet, Axel Gerard, Malo Guénolé, and Benjamin Castenskiold—all going all-in with huge tricks. With scores extremely tight and part of the heat needing to be re-run due to a technical issue, it was ultimately Gerard and Castenskiold who advanced to the semi-finals.

In the second quarterfinal, Tomas Acherer impressed with a stunning FS10 that scored 9.2 points, securing his spot in the semis alongside current World Champion Christopher MacDonald.

Aleksander Acherer was unstoppable in the third quarterfinal, racking up an overall score of 26.67 points. He was joined by Charlie Loch, who landed a spectacular Backloop Spin Frontside 7 that scored 9.27 points.

The final quarterfinal heat saw Rocco Makana and Luca Vuillermet clinch the last two spots in the semis, as Nathan Berger and Lukas Lam were eliminated.

Semi-final action unfolded in powerful Levante winds exceeding 30 knots, blasting across Valdevaqueros Beach. In the first heat, Charlie Loch, Luca Vuillermet, Benjamin Castenskiold, and Tomas Acherer battled it out. Tomas sealed the deal with an insane combo that earned him 9.47 points, sending him through to the final along with Castenskiold.

The second semi-final was equally intense, featuring Axel Gerard, Chris MacDonald, Aleksander Acherer, and Rocco Makana. Chris made history by landing the first-ever 1440 seen in competition, but the execution didn’t meet the judges’ criteria for a high score. Though it looked like he might secure a finals spot, Aleks and Rocco had other plans. Aleks landed three solid scores to advance, while Rocco, ecstatic with his performance, secured a place in his first-ever final. The World Champion, Chris MacDonald, would not be in the final this time.

The grand finale took place in the afternoon under blasting wind and a packed beach. It was a final dominated by the next generation of wingfoilers. Despite being a fresh face on tour, 14-year-old Benjamin Castenskiold has quickly made a name for himself. Facing off against Rocco Makana and the Austrian twin brothers Tomas and Aleksander Acherer, the final was a high-energy showcase of young talent.

Each rider delivered huge tricks and high scores, keeping the points incredibly close. Castenskiold then threw down a massive Palau Frontflip, scoring a perfect 10. Aleks matched the trick with excellent execution, just narrowly missing the top score. Tomas Acherer started strong but faltered on his final attempts, while Makana also struggled to stick his last tricks.

In the end, it was Castenskiold who claimed his first-ever World Cup victory with a remarkable 28.43 overall score—an incredible achievement at just 14 years old. Aleksander Acherer finished second, followed by his brother Tomas in third, and Rocco Makana in fourth.

Men’s Final Results:

1 Benjamin Castenskiold (DEN)
2 Aleks Acherer (AUT)
3 Tomas Acherer (AUT)
4 Rocco Makana (ITA)

Once again, everything aligned to deliver an outstanding competition, with a fantastic mix of wind conditions. We witnessed the incredible progression and evolution of wingfoiling—and all we can say is: the future looks bright!