News & Results
Tauranga welcomes top international wingfoil athletes
Top ranked athletes from 15 nations compete against New Zealand qualifiers in the Tip Top
GWA 2023 Wingfoil World Cup, at Mount Maunganui starting 4 March.
The 10-day Global Wingfoiling Association (GWA) event, which kicks off later this week, is
part of a series of world cup competitions held around the globe each year. This will be the
first time a Pacific nation has hosted it.
Event organiser Laurence Carey says professional wingfoil athletes are beginning to arrive
from Germany, United States, Spain, France, Brazil and many other corners of the world. He
says the Mount Maunganui-based event will showcase the world’s fastest-growing water
sport, which has its roots in kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing.
“It’s a real coup for us to be hosting,” Laurence says. “It’s an amazing opportunity to
showcase our city to audiences around the globe, with racing happening beneath our
favourite maunga, on our favourite beach at Mount Maunganui. There are not many places
in the world that can offer a pristine surf beach just steps away from a flat water harbour.”
He says the event allows New Zealand’s best wingfoilers – 13 have qualified so far - to
compete against current world champions, in both men’s and women’s events.
The sport attracts a high calibre of athletes from other disciplines, too. American Fiona
Wylde is a three-times world champion stand up paddleboarder. International surfing legend
Zane Schweitzer is the current ocean decathlon ‘ultimate waterman’ world champion.
Top-ranked New Zealand woman Aimee Bright is the daughter of NZ windsurfing Olympian
Barbara Kendall.
Entries in the Tauranga-based contest include world #1 ranked mens’ freestyle athlete Malo
Guénolé (France) and world #1 ranked mens’ slalom athlete Titouan Galea (France). World
#1 ranked womens’ freestyler Paula Novotna (Czech Republic) is also ranked third in slalom.
The event includes another 25 amateur wingfoil competitors, who will race for the chance to
compete against professionals.
A wider festival, Waterbourne, will feature other water-based events over 10 days. These
include a youth education programme that will offer free wingfoiling and stand up
paddleboard coaching to 100 local high school students.
Who – World’s best wingfoilers from New Zealand and around the globe
What - Competing for global wingfoiling title
When – 4-11 March, 2023
Where – Mount Main Beach and Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui
