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Sensational Marie Schlittenbauer, 15, blows away field to take first win at second try
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World Champion Chris MacDonald back on top with third successive Fuerte victory
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Fuerteventura | 28 July—2 Aug, 2025 | Playa de Sotavento
The 37th edition of the long-standing Fuerteventura World Cup kicked off with a bang as the GWA Wingfoil World Tour arrived on the windy shores of Sotavento. Known for its consistent and powerful wind conditions, Sotavento proved once again to be the perfect playground for the world’s best wingfoilers, ready to battle it out in both the Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom disciplines.
Action began with the Surf-Freestyle discipline, showcasing the next generation of wingfoiling talent. The youngest athletes on tour wasted no time proving they meant business. A total of 29 men and 17 women hit the water, ready to give it their all in the challenging Sotavento conditions. Each athlete was given six trick attempts, with the best three scores counting. Judges were looking for height, amplitude, and technical difficulty, with clean execution and precise landings being critical for high scores.
Men’s Division
The competition began heating up in Round 3, where some big names stumbled and were forced to fight their way through Round 4. Italy’s Rocco Makana and Austria’s Lukas Lam both delivered strong performances to advance to Round 5, eliminating Noe Cuyala and Francesco Cappuzzo in the process. Local favorite Ancor Sosa and Leo Suardiaz moved forward in a nail-biting heat, edging out Riccardo Zorzi and Xavi Corr.
Nathan Berger and Benjamin May secured spots in the quarterfinals by eliminating Noe Mercier and Martin Tieles. The final two quarterfinal spots went to the UK’s Charlie Loch and current World Champion Chris MacDonald, who landed a jaw-dropping Frontside 14 that earned a perfect 10 points. Ezio Bastianelli and Sacha Pallier were knocked out.
Intense Quarterfinals
Malo Guénolé lit up his quarterfinal, landing a series of high-scoring tricks including an incredible Double Palau that scored 9 points. The judges wanted height and execution—and Malo delivered. Tom Acherer and Chris MacDonald also dominated their heats, eliminating Lukas Lam and Clement Hamon, both of whom rode strongly. The third quarterfinal was a thriller, with all four riders finishing within one point of each other. Charlie Loch took first, but the real drama was between Luca Vuillermet, Aleks Acherer, and Rocco Makana. Vuillermet and Acherer tied, but it was Vuillermet who advanced based on the tie-breaker rule. In the final quarterfinal, tour leader Benjamin Castenskiold struggled initially, crashing his first three tricks. But he made a huge comeback with a Double Palau scoring 9.5, regaining the lead and advancing alongside Benjamin May.
Semi-Finals
In Semi-Final 1, Malo Guénolé and Tomas Acherer took early leads over Benjamin May and Luca Vuillermet. Tomas impressed with superior height and execution, claiming first place, while Malo was thrilled to reach his first Surf-Freestyle final of 2025.
Semi-Final 2 was a spectacular showdown. Axel Gerard, Chris MacDonald, Charlie Loch, and Benjamin Castenskiold pushed the limits in one of the most intense heats in wingfoiling history. With scores in the 9s across the board and a showcase of Frontside 10s, Double Palaus, and Palau Frontside 7s, it was nearly too close to call. Benjamin Castenskiold advanced with a near-perfect 29.20, joined by Chris MacDonald. Gerard and Loch, despite excellent performances, were left just short of the final.
The Men’s Final
The four finalists—Malo Guénolé, Benjamin Castenskiold, Chris MacDonald, and Tomas Acherer—were hungry for victory. The heat began with standout 9-point tricks from MacDonald and Castenskiold. MacDonald opened with his signature Frontside 10, matched by Castenskiold, though Chris’s execution edged out his rival’s. Guénolé stayed close, while Acherer initially struggled but rebounded with a spectacular Palau Frontside 7 that scored 9.43.
The heat stayed tight until the end, but MacDonald’s consistency and style secured him the win. Castenskiold took second, Guénolé third, and Acherer fourth. Yet another competition showcasing incredible trick progression and the evolution of Surf-Freestyle wingfoiling.
Men’s Results:
1 Chris MacDonald (USA)
2 Benjamin Castenskiold (DEN)
3 Malo Guenole (FRA)
4 Tom Acherer (AUT)
Women’s Division
The women’s competition also saw its share of upsets in Round 3. Bowien van der Linden was eliminated by Sofia Marchetti, who narrowly edged her out. Tour leader Mar de Arce also failed to advance, with Zara Maillard and Milla Danguy moving ahead.
In the semi-finals, Kylie Belloeuvre started strong, but it was Manon Dupe who briefly led with a clean Palau. However, Austria’s Viola Lippitsch found her rhythm and climbed to the top, securing a spot in the final along with Dupe. Milla Danguy narrowly missed out, and Kylie finished fourth after multiple crashes. The second women’s semi-final was historic.
Marie Schlittenbauer delivered one of the best female performances ever seen, landing a 9.43 Palau Frontside 3 and a Palau to Palau combo that scored a perfect 10. She even landed the first-ever backmobe in women’s competition—though it scored low due to an unclean landing. While Marie secured her place in the final, the battle raged between Sofia Marchetti, Zara Maillard, and World Champion Nia Suardiaz. Just as Nia looked poised to advance, Zara landed a clean Back Flip scoring 6.17, knocking the reigning champ out and advancing to her first-ever freestyle final.
The Women’s Final
The final took place in lighter wind conditions later in the afternoon. Zara Maillard looked calm and composed in her debut final, clearly enjoying the moment. Meanwhile, Marie Schlittenbauer continued her dominant form, landing another 9.43 and a perfect 10-point combo trick, securing her first GWA podium at just 15 years old—an outstanding achievement in only her second World Cup event. Zara Maillard fought hard to hold off Viola Lippitsch, and narrowly secured second place—her first GWA podium as well. Viola finished third, and Manon Dupe took fourth after a strong event.
Women’s Results:
1 Marie Schlittenbauer (GER)
2 Zara Maillard (SUI)
3 Viola Lippitsch (AUT)
4 Manon Dupé (FRA)
Looking Ahead
The level of riding in both the men’s and women’s divisions has taken a major leap forward. With the next Surf-Freestyle stop in Gran Canaria approaching, expectations are high for more groundbreaking performances and fierce competition. Let the countdown begin!
words: Gemma Hamaini
images: Lukas K Stiller
Spot Info: Playa de Sotavento, Fuerteventura
Weather The weather in Fuerteventura, Spain, during July, ranges around 25-30°C with sunrise around 07:15 and sunset at 21:00.
Wind and water July is a great month for wind in Fuerteventura. The wind regularly blows 20-25+ knots, coming from the north/north-east, which blows side offshore at Sotavento. The water is choppy with occasional kickers rolling in with the swell. Water temperature is 23-24°C, so bring a shorty or summer wetsuit.
