Benjamin Castenskiold crowned men's Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion 2025
by Gabinete de prensa 8 Aug 18:13 BST
Benjamin Castenskiold competing at El Burrero (Ingenio) © Lukas K Stiller
The Global Wingsports Association (GWA) World Tour returned to Gran Canaria for the third consecutive year, but 2025 brought a fresh twist: the vibrant shores of El Burrero in Ingenio, famed for their cross-onshore winds and perfect kickers, made their debut as the competition venue.
- The young Dane snatched the men's World Title from American Chris MacDonald, who finishes the season as Vice World Champion. The El Burrero podium was completed by France's Axel Gerard and Tarifa-based Australian, Xavier Corr
- The women's title is still up for grabs: Tarifa's Nia Suardiaz will defend her crown against compatriot Mar de Arce and other riders still in contention for the World Championship
The conditions proved ideal for Surf-Freestyle action, and it was here that the new World Champion was crowned in record time.
The men's showdown came down to France's Axel Gerard and Denmark's Benjamin Castenskiold. Gerard produced the higher individual trick scores, but Castenskiold delivered unerring consistency. When Gerard crashed on his final attempt, the title slipped from his grasp.
"In the final, Gerard threw a double front flip using the wave's kicker, getting huge height and earning a unanimous 10 from all the judges," explained Javier Ippólito, Head Judge of the competition. "But it wasn't enough to beat Castenskiold, whose top three tricks all scored well above average."
Gerard claimed second place in El Burrero and fifth overall, while Xavier Corr, the Australian based in Tarifa, took third place here and currently sits eighth in the world rankings.
After a thrilling men's competition in which reigning champion Chris MacDonald had been determined to defend his crown, Castenskiold not only took the Gran Canaria event win but also became the new 2025 GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion — a staggering achievement for a 14-year-old in his first full season on the World Tour.
"MacDonald came in as the favourite for the World Title, but he simply couldn't land his tricks with enough consistency, missing the moves we're used to seeing from him," added Ippólito.
Women's title still to be decided
In the women's fleet, defending World Champion Nia Suardiaz (Tarifa) tops the standings, but her main rivals — Mar de Arce (Tarifa) and Germany's Marie Schlittenbauer — remain strong contenders. With the title on the line, El Burrero is the perfect stage for an unforgettable finale to the 2025 Surf-Freestyle season.
"In Round 3, Suardiaz made a bold statement by opening her heat with a clean backflip," noted Ippólito. Schlittenbauer, still riding high from her Fuerteventura win, impressed with a huge Palau Frontside followed by a stylish front flip, scoring 25.87 points in a dominant heat.
The conditions at El Burrero allowed the women to showcase their rapidly evolving skill level. Mar de Arce and France's Manon Dupé advanced straight to the semi-finals.
In Round 4, the Netherlands' Bowien van der Linden rode with precision and control to book her place in the semis, followed by Italy's Allegra Caffi with a steady, consistent performance. Switzerland's Zara Maillard and Austria's Viola Lippitsch also made the cut, completing a high-calibre women's semi-final line-up.
The 2025 GWA Wingfoil World Cup El Burrero, organised by Club Deportivo Canakite Experiences, Club Náutico El Burrero and the Municipality of Ingenio, has been a truly historic edition — marking the rise of new champions and showcasing the relentless progression of technical performance in wingfoil Surf-Freestyle.
The event has been made possible thanks to the support of the Tourism and Sports departments of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands Government's Sports Council, the Royal Canary Sailing Federation, 7UP, and other partners.