After the first rounds of surf freestyle and the qualifying heats for the big air discipline were held yesterday ( HERE you can read the report here), the first slalom eliminations were on the programme for day 2 of the Wingfoil World Cup Pozo. The regatta organisers had laid out a course that was as interesting as it was challenging: After the start and a first gybe, it was off to a free-foil passage almost 500 metres long. Here, the participants are not allowed to use their wings as propulsion and have to pump across the course using only the foil by skilfully pumping on the swell waves. A second free foil section and a few short sections with fast jibes followed after a longer space wind section. Tactics and pumping endurance were therefore required in addition to pure top speed.
Italy's Francesco Cappuzzo got off to an ideal start and took victory in the first elimination - then it was Titouan Galea's time. Galea had missed the first elimination due to delays on his journey. He shook off his cold start in elimination 2 impressively - he won all three subsequent races and leads the rankings after day 2.
Suardiaz dominates at the World Cup Pozo
The German-Spanish athlete Nia Suardiaz completely dominated the 14 women's races in Pozo on this day. She won seven of the eight races held. She was able to cope with the crash at the start in the last elimination thanks to the two cancelled results.
They were followed by the two French riders Flora Artzner and Orane Ceris, who had not yet found any real answers to Suardiaz's speed advantages. Suardiaz used a comparatively large front wing with 800 cm2 for her races: "That's important to avoid parking on the long pump sections," said the 16-year-old, explaining her tactics. The coming days also promise plenty of action at the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Pozo. You can watch the highlight clip from day 2 here.
