Cappuzzo and Belloeuvre crowned FreeFly-Slalom World Champions in Fuerteventura
by Gemma Hamaini 31 Jul 18:50 BST
27 July - 1 August 2026
Nia Suardiaz - GWA Wingfoil World Cup Fuerteventura © Samuel Cardenas
The GWA returned to Fuerteventura for the final FreeFly-Slalom event of the 2026 season, and it delivered exactly the kind of drama the World Title race deserved.
Twenty men and fourteen women lined up on the water, all fighting for their place at the top of the world rankings, with the legendary Sotavento coastline playing host to the closing chapter of the season.
Heading into the event, Francesco Cappuzzo, Bastien Escofet and Tom Pansard sat close together at the top of the men's standings, setting the stage for a tight battle all the way to the final. On the women's side, Nia Suardiaz arrived full of confidence after a flawless performance at the previous competition, looking every bit the rider to beat.
Eliminations set the tone
Racing got under way through the turquoise waters of Fuerteventura, and the drama started early. Cappuzzo crashed on the final stretch of the first elimination, opening the door for Bastien Escofet to seize the moment and take the win.
In the second elimination, Tom Pansard pushed hard from the start, building an early advantage and controlling the race all the way to the finish to secure the bullet. Escofet, though, wasn't done — he went on to take eliminations three and four as well, putting himself in a commanding position heading into the Super Final.
On the women's side, Nia Suardiaz continued her red-hot form, taking three out of four eliminations and riding with the kind of confidence that comes from having her eye firmly on the title. The one rider to interrupt her run was Kylie Belloeuvre, who broke through to win elimination three.
Women's Super Final: Belloeuvre denies Suardiaz in dramatic fashion
The Super Final kicked off with the top eight men and top six women from the elimination rounds ready for battle. Mar de Arce and Bowien van der Linden climbed the ladder to join Nia Suardiaz and Kylie Belloeuvre in the final showdown.
Suardiaz, already sitting on one bullet, took the early lead in the first race — only to crash. Belloeuvre wasted no time, advancing to take the win and levelling the score: both riders now had one bullet each, with two needed to seal the win.
The second race was just as tight, with Belloeuvre and Suardiaz running neck and neck from start to finish. Then, right before the final gybe, Suardiaz went down. Kylie Belloeuvre crossed the line to claim her first ever GWA victory — and with it, the 2026 World Title. It was a thoroughly deserved win, the culmination of years of dedication and hard-fought campaigns on tour.
Final Event Results Women:
1st Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA)
2nd Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3rd Mar de Arce (ESP)
4th Bowien van der Linden (NED)
Men's Super Final: Cappuzzo seals the title
The men hit the water next, with the title race still wide open. Tom Pansard, still holding onto a mathematical shot at the World Title, was eliminated in the semi-final, while Zorzi and Tomasi fought their way into the top four to meet Escofet and Cappuzzo in the final.
Escofet, already carrying one bullet from the elimination rounds, looked to be in control early. He led the pack in the first run, but Cappuzzo had other plans — a sharp strategic move saw him snatch the lead and claim a bullet of his own, setting up a winner-takes-all second run.
The pressure told. Escofet crashed right after the first mark, and Cappuzzo made no mistake, taking the lead and holding it to the finish. The result secured him not only the event win, but the 2026 FreeFly-Slalom World Title.
Final Event Results Men:
1st Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
2nd Bastien Escofet (FRA)
3rd Alessandro Tomasi (ITA)
4th Sebastiano Zorzi (ITA)
Season Wrap
That brings the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Fuerteventura, and with it the 2026 FreeFly-Slalom season, to a close. Another unforgettable year at one of the sport's most iconic locations, capped off with two hard-earned, well-deserved World Champions in Kylie Belloeuvre and Francesco Cappuzzo.
Overall 2026 FreeFly Slalom Results:
Men:
1st Francesco Cappuzzo (ITA)
2nd Bastien Escofet (FRA)
3rd Sebastiano Zorzi (ITA)
Women:
1st Kylie Belloeuvre (FRA)
2nd Nia Suardiaz (ESP)
3rd Mar de Arce (ESP)