Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup - Day 1
by Chris Yates 6 Jul 12:42 BST
5-13 July 2025
Alessio Stillrich tweaks a trademark pushloop on day 1 of the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup © John Carter
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves
The forecast for the opening weekend of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup always looked good on paper, but sometimes those forecasts don't materialise. Well, thankfully this one did as the first day of the contest saw classic extreme Pozo conditions with winds in excess of 50 knots and solid waves on offer, which allowed the world's most radical sailors to deliver one hell of a show. Just to try and give you an idea about how windy it was at times, even some of the big guys were reaching for their 3.4s to try and tame Pozo's wild side. After a full day of action the Men's Single Elimination has been completed, which saw Philip Köster (Severne / Severne Sails) claim a nail-biting final.
Wave
Men's
Philip Köster has put himself in prime position to regain the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup crown for the first time since 2022 after winning one of the closest finals ever against Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC), Marino Gil (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) and Marc Paré (Simmer / Simmer Sails / MFC). In a final where the lead continually changed hands between Köster and the Brazilian, the German eventually came out on top by just 0.06 of a point, such were the minuscule margins between them.
Browne outscored Köster in the air - 19.62 points to 17.3 points - but it was on the wave where the 5-time world champion gained the upper hand as he dropped one wave in the excellent range - 8 points - after landing a flawless one-handed goiter, while he was able to back that score up with a solid 6.38 points to secure the current event lead by winning the single elimination. Köster will now attempt to defend that advantage as he looks to wrap up victory number eight in Pozo.
The final was that close between the top two that it could've almost been decided by a coin flip, but you'd imagine Browne will still be very happy with his days work. The reigning world champion earned the second perfect 10 of the event for a huge double forward in the semi-finals and will now wait for his opportunity in the Double Elimination to stake his claim for the event victory.
Reigning event champion, Marino Gil, had to settle for third in the Single Elimination, but you still wouldn't rule the local boy out from coming back through the double to successfully defend his event crown. The 22-year-old won every heat he sailed leading up to the final - which included posting the second highest score of the day - 31.7 points to Köster's 31.73 points in the semi-finals - but he couldn't quite replicate that in the final. In the dying seconds, Gil launched into a huge stalled double forward, but couldn't quite hold on to the landing, but even if he did, and received 10 points for it, he would've still lost out by 0.01 of a point, which again reiterates the tiny margins we are talking about here.
Marc Paré was the first sailor to earn a perfect 10 in the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup as he stomped a monumental stalled double forward in the opening semi-final. Unfortunately in the final, things didn't really click in the opening stages for the Spaniard, which left him under the cosh as he tried to claw his way back into contention, which he did with a big stalled double forward. However, on this occasion, he could't find the pushloop forward ramp he needed to overhaul Köster. A pushloop forward of 8.99 would've been enough to do just that with his wave scores on 7.25 and 6.5 giving him a solid foundation. Paré was visibly disappointed after the final, but he'll now have time to regroup and comeback even stronger in the double.
Victor Fernandez (Duotone Windsurfing) and Alessio Stillrich (Bruch Boards / Bruch Sails) both share joint fifth in the Single Elimination - with Stillrich coming all the way from the first round into the semifinals. Meanwhile, Miguel Chapuis (Flikka / North Sails) and Moritz Mauch (Simmer / Simmer Sails) finish the Single Elimination in joint 7th, while the top ten is completed by; Germany's Anton Richter (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), Liam Dunkerbeck (Duotone Windsurfing), Adam Warchol (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC) and Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins), who earlier in the day knocked Ricardo Campello out in the second round, which left Campello hugely disappointed.
Mauch's Wave Riding Masterclass
When it comes to wave riding there, Moritz Mauch was in a world of his own today, as he often is when it comes to onshore wave riding. The German earned the highest scoring wave of the day - 8.17 points - while he also claimed four out of the top five wave scores with a variety of explosive frontside 360s, air takas and goiters.
Move of the Day
Move of the day would arguably have to go to Philip Köster for a stunning no-handed goiter in the opening semifinal.
The forecast for Sunday looks very similar to today, although if anything, it could turn out to be even slightly windier, which should mean we are in for another classic Pozo day. The sailors will meet again tomorrow morning at 9am (GMT+1) for the skippers' meeting with the action commencing from 09:30am onwards.
You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Gran Canaria— including the live stream, elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker.
Current Ranking Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup - Men's Wave Single Elimination:
1st Philip Köster (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)
2nd Marcilio Browne (BRA | Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
3rd Marino Gil (ESP | JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
4th Marc Paré (ESP | Simmer / Simmer Sails / MFC)
5th Victor Fernandez (ESP | Duotone Windsurfing)
5th Alessio Stillrich (ESP | Bruch Boards / Bruch Sails)
7th Moritz Mauch (GER | Simmer / Simmer Sails)
7th Miguel Chapuis (ESP | Flikka / North Sails)
9th Anton Richter (GER | JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
9th Liam Dunkerbeck (ESP | Duotone WIndsurfing)
9th Adam Warchol (POL | Quatro / Goya Windsurfing / MFC)
9th Takuma Sugi (JPN | Tabou / GA Sails / Black Project Fins)
Find out more at www.pwaworldtour.com