Even though we’re still finding our feet with this new sport of wing foiling, the competitions have kicked off in super style and 2020 has shown some promising results!
Wing Foil Tour 2020
This comp kicked off this year with a national championship across different venues in Italy, to determine who would be crowned the Italian champion. There was originally talk of four events, however, with all the Covid-19 issues this resulted in only three being announced, and the last of these had to be cancelled. But the first two events were well attended and had plenty of races to windle down to an overall winner.
Race I
Location: Cecina Mare, Tuscany
Date: 5-6 September 2020
Out of 10 riders, it was 14 year old Riccardo Zorzi who flew easily to the finish line, winning the first ever podium on the Italian Wing Foil Championship.
Rankings:
1st: Riccardo Zorzi (Ensis / Moses Hydrofoil / MB Boards)
2nd: Paolo Migliorini (RRD)
3rd: Roberto Ricci (RRD)
Race II
Location: Malcesine, Lake Garda
Date: 19-20 September 2020
Dominating in all disciplines, Balz Muller’s technical level was impressive, demonstrating an infinite quantity and quality of maneuvers giving us a view of the future of this sport.
Rankings:
1st: Balz Müller (Ensis /Moses/MB Boards)
2nd: Riccardo Zorzi (Ensis/Moses/MB Boards)
3rd: Paolo Migliorini (RRD)
Race III
Location: Porto Pollo, Sardinia
Date: 31 October – 1 November 2020
CANCELLED
Italian Wing Foil Championship 2020 Overall Standings
- Riccardo Zorzi
- Paolo Migliorini
- Balz Müller
- Roberto Ricci
- Andrea Fazio
- Matteo Guazzoni
- Giuseppe Airoldi
- Edoardo Vivian
- Paolo Mariotti
- Mattias Muller
Next season
A second national championship has been announced for next year as well as a new international event for 2021, which will see races taking place in South Africa, Europe, France, Italy and Brazil!
Read more on Wing Foil Tour
Global Wingsports Association (GWA)
The world’s first international wingsports association with founding members Airush, Cabrinha, Duotone, Fanatic, F-One, Manera, North, Ocean Rodeo and Slingshot. These guys aim to develop guidelines and provide information, as well as develop an international competition format for the multiple disciplines of wing-foiling.
EngadinWind
The first event kicked off at EngadinWind, held on the beautiful Lake Silvaplana in the Swiss Alps on 16-17 August, with two full days focussed on racing and freestyle madness.
With a diverse field of riders representing four nations (the youngest rider aged 12) it was foiling veteran Balz Müller who claimed victory in the race discipline on day one.
Day two was packed with freestyle action, dominated by Swiss national Michael Näf.
The overall results over the two days:
1st: Balz Müller
2nd: Michael Näf
3rd: Henning Nockel
King of the Wing
The second event was held in at Altmühlsee lake in Germany on 2-3 October, again seeing race and freestyle disciplines.
With dwindling winds for the freestyle comp on day two, the organisers quickly reacted to switch the format to a Super Session so competitors could show their best riding and most innovative tricks.
This saw three categories including Best Glide, which went to Linus Pünder, Best Style, which was won by newcomer and youngest competitor Finn Flügel (12 years old), and Best Jump was claimed by Henning Nockel, securing his overall win and new title: King of the Wing 2020!
Test stations were also set up by Duotone, Fanatic and Starboard which allowed riders and spectators a chance to test the newest gear and have a chat with the pros.
Overall rankings:
1st: Henning Nockel
2nd: David Martin
3rd: Linus Pünder
SuperFoil Fortaleza: GWA Wing Foil Super Grand Slam
The third event was the recent SuperFoil Fortaleza in Brazil on 10-14 November. This four day event saw surf freestyle and super session heats. Balz Muller put in a hero’s effort across all disciplines, but it was Frenchman Titouan Galea who took the first ever GWA WingFoil Surf Freestyle Champion title.
Best Super Session Results:
MENS
1st Titouan Galea (F-One)
2nd Michael Näf (Ensis)
3rd Maxime Chabloz (F-One)
4th Balz Müller (Ensis)
WOMENS
1st Liana Maia (Duotone)
2nd Leysa Perotti (Duotone)
Overall rankings:
MENS FREESTYLE
1st: Titouan Galea
2nd: Balz Muller
3rd: Fernando Novaes
WOMENS FREESTYLE
1st: Leysla Perotti
2nd: Paula Novotna
3rd: Layla Maia
The next round is coming up on 27-30 December in Tarifa, Spain and we are looking forward to the coverage and action!
Read more on Global Wingsports Association
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