- Cape Verde riders Matchu, Monteiro and Cozzolino lockout podium
- US’s Moona Whyte returns to Ponta Preta wave with repeat win
- Ecstatic home crowds stir deep emotions in local riders
Spain’s Matchu Lopes came from behind to seize victory in a clash for the ages in the opening round of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup on the Cape Verde island of Sal.
Lopes, who calls Cape Verde home, defeated his friend and mentor, Mitu Monteiro, in the final after three days of breath-taking action on the legendary Ponta Preta break.
The duo were joined on the podium by another local legend, Italy’s Airton Cozzolino. For Lopes, his first victory on the world stage on Cape Verde, was highly emotional.
“Winning here, I have no words for it,” said Lopes. “Winning here is the best spot ever that I could have won it—in front of the crowds and all my family. Going in a heat with Mitu, who I’ve admired since I was a kid. I always wanted to be like him, to travel the world and be world champion. It’s priceless”
In the women’s side of the competition, the US’s Moona Whyte returned to Cape Verde and continued where she left off four years ago. She took the win, slaying the waves with commitment and verticality, even in a final that threw up tricky conditions.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “It’s crazy. It feels like just yesterday that I won here before. The final was tough. There weren’t many waves coming through. I don’t even know if we had any big sets. Definitely tough. The wind was a little bit light, but I made it happen.”
Whyte defeated reigning 16-year-old world champion, France’s Capucine Delannoy, in the difficult final. But Delannoy was far from disappointed after facing off against her childhood inspiration.
“It feels really good,” said Delannoy. “It was a good competition, even though the final was tough. The conditions weren’t the best. But Moona deserved this win. I’m so proud. When I started kiting, started competition, she was on the top and now I’m in the final with her. I’m really proud and really happy to be here.”
Men’s Results
1 Matchu Lopes (ESP)
2 Mitu Monteiro (CPV)
3 Airton Cozzolino (ITA)
4 Pedro Matos (BRA)
Women’s Results
1 Moona Whyte (USA)
2 Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
3 Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA)
4 Bruna Kajiya (BRA)
READ FINAL DAY REPORT HERE
