GWA Wingfoil World Cup: Surf-Freestyle
(27th July - 1st August 2026)

GWA Wingfoil World Cup Fuerteventura: Surf-Freestyle / World Championship Titles (Men and Women)

Benjamin Castenskiold (DEN) and Nia Suardiaz (ESP) were crowned the new world champions in the wingfoil discipline of Surf-Freestyle on Fuerteventura. The 16-year-old American Zoe Trudeau beat Nia Suardiaz to win the event ranking on Fuerteventura.

Fuerteventura is treating the professional wing foilers to the very best conditions at the World Championships on the Canary Island. With steady winds, the world championship titles in the Surf-Freestyle discipline were up for grabs at this final event of the GWA World Tour.

In the Surf-Freestyle discipline, the best tricks and jumps count. Judges evaluate the performances as competitors face off in a knockout system. As a young sport, wingfoiling is evolving very rapidly. The tricks are becoming increasingly complex, faster, and higher.

In the men’s division, the title race remained wide open following the World Cups in Leucate (France) and the Spanish events in Tarifa and Gran Canaria.

The top riders were closely matched in the world rankings by points, so the result in Fuerteventura would be the deciding factor.

In Fuerteventura, the competition saw a string of upsets among the favorites. Neither Thomas Acherer (AUT), who had been ranked first in the world up to that point, nor Christopher Macdonald (USA), who had been ranked second, made it to the final.

The beneficiary in this case was Denmark’s Benjamin Castenskiold. He won the final on Fuerteventura, jumped from third to first place in the world rankings, and thus snatched the world championship title away from Acherer. Acherer ultimately finished in second place. Christopher Macdonald had to settle for third place.

In the women’s competition, Marie Schlittenbauer’s injury prior to the final event on Fuerteventura had dashed all German hopes for the title. The Spanish surfer Nia Suardiaz, however, was all the more delighted. She had won the World Cups in Leucate and Gran Canaria, thereby securing the world championship title for Spain ahead of schedule. On Fuerteventura, however, the world champion was defeated. The 16-year-old American Zoe Trudeau, however, left her competition in the dust. Even the new world champion, Nia Suardiaz, was no match for the young up-and-coming surfer’s talent, scoring 18.94 points to her 25.46.

The World Championship titles in the FreeFly Slalom discipline will be awarded on Fuerteventura through August 1.

GWA Surf-Freestyle
FINAL World Championship Standings
1 Benjamin Castenskiold (DEN) – World Champion 2026
2 Tomas Acherer (AUT) - Vice World Champion 2026
3 Christopher Macdonald (USA)

GWA Surf-Freestyle
Final World Championship Standings
1 Nia Suardiaz (ESP) – World Champion 2026
2 Viola Lippitsch (AUT) - Vice World Champion 2026
3 Sofia Ginzinger (ESP)

Countdown to the Finals

July 29, 2026 – The competition took an exciting turn today. The men’s and women’s semifinal heats were held in the late afternoon, and there were a few surprises.

In the men’s division, two favorites—Chris Macdonald and Tom Acherer—were eliminated, while in the women’s division, American Zoe Trudeau made a big impression with the day’s highest score.

Let’s start with the men: Chris Macdonald didn’t have a great heat, messing up a total of five of his eight attempts, but he managed to jump from fourth to second place at one point with his clean Palau Frontside 1080 (9.2 points).

Then, on his final trick, Axel Gerard pulled off a wet-landed frontside 1440, securing his spot in the final—a decision that wasn’t without controversy, as the Frenchman needed two attempts and appeared to have already exceeded the time limit.

Chris Macdonald had a feeling about his fate given his less-than-ideal heat, but the certainty didn’t set in until the ride back to the beach. The American missed his chance to compete for the world championship title tomorrow by 0.4 points.

One heat later, the current leader of the 2026 Tour standings also fell short. Tomas Acherer ultimately fell 0.83 points short of advancing to the final. Rocco Makana secured his spot in the final—and with it, a chance at the world championship title.

However, his chances are slim, as the top contender is reigning champion Benjamin Castenskiold. In the overall standings—which take into account four event results and one discard—the Dane already has more points (2,570) than Tomas Acherer (2,470) and Chris Macdonald (2,450).

Only Rocco Makana can still dethrone Benjamin Castenskiold in the final; for that to happen, Rocco would have to win and Benjamin would have to finish no higher than fourth.

With this result, Rocco Makana would be the event winner and Surf Freestyle World Champion; in any other scenario, he would even miss the World Championship podium, and Benjamin Castenskiold would be the reigning and new Surf Freestyle World Champion.

Benjamin underscored his claim to the title today, posting the day’s highest score of 25.83 points.

What tactics will we see tomorrow? A conservative heat to secure the world title, or an aggressive heat to win here on Fuerteventura as well? After all, prize money is also at stake alongside the event victory.

In the final, both will face Luca Vuillermet and Axel Gerard—who have no chance at the world title but are eager to win the GWA event at Sotavento Beach.

In the women’s division, Nia Suardiaz has already been crowned world champion. But behind her, Sofia Ginzinger and Viola Lippitsch still have a chance at the runner-up title. Both reached the final today.

Nia Suardiaz is also in the final. And American Zoe Trudeau, who put on a similar show on the water today as Marie Schlittenbauer did a year ago.

Zoe Trudeau landed her moves with style, scoring 10 points for the first flawlessly executed frontside 720 in the women’s competition. Combined with a palau frontside 360 and a backflip into frontside 360, her total score came to 24.57 points. Another heat like that tomorrow, and the top spot on the podium would be hers.

Wingfoil Action on Turquoise-Blue Waters

July 28, 2026 – 26 men and 17 women are competing on Fuerteventura to determine the world champions in the surf freestyle discipline. The GWA tour stop at Sotavento Beach is the fourth event of the year, with Tomas Acherer and Nia Suardiaz leading the overall standings.

With a win, however, former world champion Chris Macdonald and reigning champion Benjamin Castenskiold still have a chance at the title in the men’s division. In the women’s division, Nia Suardiaz is mathematically all but assured of the title, though official confirmation has not yet been given. The battle for the remaining spots will be exciting, with Sofia Ginzinger and Viola Lippitsch currently in second and third place, respectively.

On Monday, the competition began at noon to take advantage of the currently strong winds, which are expected to die down as the week progresses.

In the men’s division, 12 of the 16 round-of-16 competitors have already been determined. Christopher Macdonald, Benjamin Castenskiold, Malo Guenole, and Luca Vuillermet made the best impressions during training and competition today. Palau backflips, Raley backflips, Palau frontside 1080s, and frontside 1440s were already on display.

In the women’s division, the 16 competitors for the round of 16 heats have been determined. All female wing foilers who still have a chance to make the podium in the World Championship standings are still in the running.

The outcome could be decided as early as Tuesday; until then, there are still 7 heats remaining in the women’s division. In the men’s division, 9 more heats are needed before the event winner and world champion are determined.