The Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup concluded on Sunday in Pozo Izquierdo after nine days devoted exclusively to the wave discipline. The organisers completed the professional, youth, Masters and Grand Masters competitions, as well as the Spanish Cup, despite the Saharan dust haze and changing wind conditions that affected several days. More than 120 windsurfers took part, bringing together the international elite and competitors ranging from under-13s to athletes aged over 55.
The event occupied the highest tier of the unified structure operated by the World Windsurf Tour -WWT- and the Professional Windsurfers Association -PWA-, as a five-star Major awarding 100 per cent of the available world ranking points. The PWA was responsible for competition rules and professional athlete representation, while the WWT managed the rankings, digital platform and international distribution. The awards ceremony was held at the Gloria Palace San Agustín, attended by Julio Ojeda, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Physical Activity, Sports and Youth at Santa Lucía de Tirajana Town Council; representatives of Gloria Palace, Monte Feliz-powered by Playitas and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles; and event director Björn Dunkerbeck.
Gran Canaria maintains a fixture with a 38-edition history
The competition was supported by Canary Islands Tourism, the Gran Canaria Island Council —through Gran Canaria Tourism and its Sports Department— and the Santa Lucía de Tirajana Town Council. During the official presentation, Island Council president Antonio Morales highlighted its international reach: “The Pozo Izquierdo championship has earned international recognition that has helped shape the history of windsurfing in the Canary Islands and project Gran Canaria’s image around the world, conveying values such as sustainability and respect for the sea and the territory.”
Julio Ojeda described the championship as Santa Lucía de Tirajana’s main international showcase and attributed its continuity over almost four decades to cooperation between public authorities, sponsors, partner organisations and the event organisers. The programme also included a day devoted to Canarian traditions, an educational and heritage visit to the Tenefé Salt Pans, a beach clean-up, first-aid training, children’s workshops, music and local food tastings.
The Spanish Cup and youth categories share the stage with the elite
The sporting programme featured professional men’s and women’s draws; under-13, under-15, under-18 and under-21 categories; the Masters division for competitors aged over 45; and the Grand Masters division for those over 55. Staging the Spanish Cup alongside the World Cup integrated the national competition into the international event. Ángel Sabroso, Deputy Sports Minister of the Canary Islands Government, highlighted the opportunity for young athletes from the archipelago to compete at home against leading international specialists: “This event makes an enormous contribution to the development of grassroots windsurfing by allowing our young athletes to compete at home against the world’s elite.”
Daida Ruano Moreno secured her 23rd victory at Pozo Izquierdo after progressing to the professional draw through the Challenger round and finishing ahead of 28-time world champion Sarah-Quita Offringa. Philip Köster retained the men’s title by 0.61 points over reigning world champion Marc Paré, with Miguel Chapuis third and Liam Dunkerbeck fourth. The age-group winners included Belgium’s Sol Degrieck in the women’s under-21 competition, Japan’s Natsuki Wakasa in the women’s under-18s, Greece’s Gregory Stathopoulos in the men’s under-21s and Germany’s Trine Gobisch in the women’s under-15s, while Lars Gobisch and Michael Friedl won the Masters and Grand Masters titles respectively.
WWT Digital HUB expands the championship’s coverage
Every heat was streamed live through the WWT Digital HUB, which brought together results, scores and competitor profiles, with Windsurf AI supporting real-time data analysis. The World Wave Tour system organises its events within a pyramid ranging from one-star local competitions and two-star national events to three-star qualifiers, four-star Challengers and five-star Majors. The top tier is reserved for events offering maximum world ranking points, international broadcast production and higher judging and infrastructure standards.
Björn Dunkerbeck highlighted the work undertaken to adapt the programme to the weather conditions: “It has been a week with difficult conditions at times but, thanks to smart decision-making and everyone’s goodwill, we managed to complete every category in this international event, as well as the Spanish Cup.” The calendar in the Canary Islands will continue with the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, beginning on Friday and running until 26 July, where Yentel Caers will defend his freestyle title, before the wave discipline returns for the Tenerife World Cup from 31 July to 9 August.
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