Seven-times world champion, Spain’s Nia Suardiaz, 18, secured her first Wave world title in Cape Verde. It was the one she wanted most of all of them. The US’s Cash Berzolla, 19, got back-to-back world titles at the stand alone world championship in the legendary Ponta Preta break. They talked to Ian MacKinnon about their seasons and explained how they both crave more Wave events on the calendar.
Nia Suardiaz (ESP) 2025 GWA Wave World Champion
Ian MacKinnon: It was quite a year. How do you look at 2025 as a whole for you?
Nia Suardiaz: It has been a good year. Not my best one. But definitely a good year, starting off the year winning the Wave world title. That was the highlight of the year, for sure. And then I had a pretty good season. Still not my best one, but still pretty happy about it.
IM: Let’s just just go back to the Wave one. Why was that the highlight of the year?
NS: I’ve been working really hard to win that world title. I’ve been training. I’ve always come second or third in the waves. So winning the world title was just amazing. Also, because I won in Cape Verde. That’s my favourite competition of the year. The people that I enjoy the most being with are there, so winning it there in front of all the people is incredible.
IM: Did you ever feel that you would get the better of Moona Whyte? She’s such a legend and she’s incredible in the waves. That must be quite something as well?
NS: Yeah, of course, winning against Moona is incredible. She lives on Maui and she has waves every single day. For me to train in waves is a bit harder. But that comp, I went one month before to Cape Verde, riding for three weeks. So I got some good training in I had some good tricks that I knew would score well.
IM: Changing the rules slightly in Wave to use the wing on the wave faces, do you think works to your favour or your advantage?
NS: I don’t think it works to my advantage or disadvantage. I don’t really like the new rule. I mean, the trick parts with no wing I really like. I think it looks really stylish. But I don’t really like the part with the wing. The first reason being that the backside riders cannot use it to their advantage in most competitions. I’m a backside rider and in most of the comps it’s a disadvantage. That’s why I don’t really like the rule, but the tricks by Cash [Berzolla] and Malo [Guénolé] look sick; the 360s are just incredible.
IM: In this case it didn’t really work for you at all. It’s more just about surfing? Do you think that if they are doing that they would need to have more competitions that are a balance of backside and frontside to make it fair?
NS: Yeah, I think if they should do at least two competitions frontside and two backside for regular and goofy riders. A lot of people now are saying, well, just ride switch. But to learn to ride switch as good as regular, it’s gonna take me forever. So I think I’ll never get to the point.
IM: Since it looks live we’ve only got one Wave competition for the season again, it’s not gonna happen?
NS: That one Wave comp [in Cape Verde] was amazing. But I’m actually pretty sad that there’s no more stops. That’s the one I was looking forward to the most. Having another year with just one Wave comp is pretty unfair. I mean winning one competition and being the world champion isn’t quite right. For me it’s OK, I’m on the road a lot, travelling and competing in other disciplines. But for the people that just do Wave riding, having one competition in the year is pretty bad.
Cash Berzolla (USA) | 2025 GWA Wave World Champion
Ian MacKinnon: Congratulations on your world title, the second in a row. How do you feel about that now?
Cash Berzolla: It’s been almost a year but it still feels good. Unfortunately there was only one event this year. But it’s definitely a good feeling to treasure.
IM: Is it a problem for you to have just one event in Wave? Would you like more?
CB: I would for sure. It definitely adds a bit of travel for me. I’m able to travel for other things as well, so it doesn’t affect me quite as much. But I know for other riders that having one event, it’s more of a problem. To call it a World Tour is hard, because it’s just one event. It’s definitely not the best, but we’ll take it. One’s better than none, right?
IM: Do you appreciate the difficulties of staging wingfoil Wave events?
CB: It’s definitely a hard one to run, especially when you do it hand-in-hand with Kite-Surfing. A lot of factors to come in to play in order to run it. You don’t only need waves but you also need wind. It’s really hard to get places with both and have it come together like that and have a short holding-period and make it work. So we got really lucky in the past few years with the competitions we’ve had. But it definitely is a hard one and I think that’s also why that there’s only one event in the last year.
IM: Looking at next year, it appears Ibiraquera is in?
CB: It’s unfortunate, because even though we had one event last year, Cape Verde probably is the best stop just because that wave is so good and it makes for a good show. Ibiraquera is definitely a close second. So I guess we’ll take it.
IM: Are you a parawinger? Where do you see that going?
CB: I’m still a winger and foiler. I haven’t gotten in too much parawinging, but when I do it’s always a blast. I’ve had a really fun time. In July right after the downwind races here in Hawaii, I some fun and I spent the most time on a parawing in Hood River.
IM: Can you see where that’s going in terms of competition?
CB: It’s hard to say where that’s gonna go. In terms of competition, I have no idea. I’m sure you’re gonna see more people doing crazier downwind runs and maybe even stuff in the waves. But I’ve gotten that question for wingfoiling, forever: Where do you think it’s gonna go? I really couldn’t tell you. I think it’s on the up. So it’ll be cool to see where it goes in future.
IM: Do you think it has any relevance to the sort of wingfoil Wave that we’re talking about?
CB: Yes I think there’s definitely potential. But to me it seems closer to kiting. But at the same time, it’s really its own thing. I think you’re gonna see people exploring a lot more with the parawing, just because it’s so accessible and you can pack it away and unpack it so easily. But I don’t know.
images: Lukas K Stiller
