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New Zealand kitefoiler Hugo Wigglesworth has been crowned Hydrofoil Big Air world champion in his first season on tour, after an electrifying final in Abu Dhabi that saw the 19-year-old edge out Germany’s Finn Flügel in a showdown for the ages.
Wigglesworth, who had already made his mark with a win at the opening stop in Sylt, Germany, sealed the world title with a flawless performance at the GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup, hosted by the Fahid Island Watersports Festival.
"It feels amazing," said Wigglesworth. "It’s also a little bit of relief that Finn was so tight and under so much pressure. I'm glad I got the job done. Super-stoked. I would say it's my best heat here and I'm glad I could do it in the final. I've been on the water for 10 years, so I'm glad with all the training I have some significant achievement to my name."
Hugo Wigglesworth took out the Hydrofoil Big Air world championships in Abu Dhabi. Photos / GKA Kite World Tour
In a closely fought men's final, Wigglesworth lit up the course with a massive Backroll Rodeo that earned a 9.07 from the judges and followed it up with several innovative new tricks. Flügel pushed back with smooth, complex moves and even switched kites mid-heat to attempt an unhooked handlepass - a first in foil competition - but ultimately fell short.
"It was hard," said Flügel. "With the last move I thought I really had it. I think for sure it was the right call to go for a handelpass. It would have been the highest score of my tricks. It's something new. We haven't really seen it with the foil. But the judges saw it differently."
Italy's Leonardo Casati finished fourth after a strong start, while Spain's Borja Vellon claimed third with a clutch final trick.
In the women's division, Switzerland’s Andrea Zust defended her world title after holding off France's Christelle Divry in the lighter Abu Dhabi breezes.
Wigglesworth beat Germany’s Finn Flügel in a dramatic final. Photos / GKA Kite World Tour
"In the final Christelle was a little bit close to me score-wise," said Zust. "I was a little bit surprised. I knew she could do some good tricks, especially with her foil kite. So, I was a little be nervous. To get the world title again is incredible. I didn’t count on it."
Divry, a debutant on the tour and a snow kite champion, used her competition experience to recover from an early deficit and claim second, while Britain’s 16-year-old Annie Branton rallied from a slow start to take third ahead of Czech rider Katerina Salandova.
Full results here. - with GKA Kite World Tour
