GWA Wingfoil World Cup Dakhla - Day 1 - Highlights

Opening battles of last wave stop in Morocco throw up surprises as top ranked men face fight for survival. The young Corsican rider Noé Cuyala opened the event and his own account in style. The 16-year-old took down Spain’s Xavi Corr and Cape Verdean Hendrick Lopes (SUI). Lopes had the misfortune to be shown the door in round two, though he will battle again in the Kite-Surf world cup. Title contender and Cape Verde event winner, Wesley Brito (CPV), continued the theme, with a big heat that saw him advance straight to round three. Wildcard James Jenkins (USA) caused one of the upsets of the day when his strong surfing was rewarded well by the judges and he took out the second ranked Benoît Carpentier, though he goes again in round two. One of the day’s biggest heats featured world champion Malo Guénolé (FRA). The winner of the last round in Rio de Janeiro’s Saquarema earned the biggest scores of the day, 8.40 out of 10 for one wave, to take his heat total to 16.37.