Women Crowned at Historic SFT Surf Foil World Cup in Cape Verde

Shifting swell sidelines men’s final rounds—only women’s division completed

The Surf Foil World Tour kicked off its first-ever SFT Surf Foil World Cup event in the stunning and wave-rich waters of Cape Verde, marking a milestone moment for the sport. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Ponta Preta, the stage was set for an exciting week of high-performance surf foiling—culminating in the crowning of the Tour’s first-ever women’s champion. But while the stoke and energy were there, the swell unfortunately didn’t play along for the men's division.

Despite an early promise of solid conditions, the forecast proved frustratingly inaccurate throughout the event window. The much-anticipated swell toward the end of the holding period veered too far to the point, delivering only sporadic sets. Most of the waves broke small and too close to the rocks, making it a challenge to run fair and safe heats.

With four athletes in the women’s division, Tour Manager Tom Hartmann and Head Judge Alvaro Onieva made the call to run the full women’s competition—crowning the very first SFT World Cup champion in the process. Congratulations to Bowien Van Der Linden (Holland), who claimed the top spot with confident, fluid lines and excellent wave selection. Francesca Maini (Italy) followed in second, showcasing great consistency and speed. Annie Reickert (USA) rounded out the podium in third, while Nia Suardiaz (Spain) took fourth.

By the time the Men's Quarterfinals rolled around, a riders' meeting was held on the beach to assess safety and feasibility. The general consensus from the athletes was clear: the conditions were too dangerous to continue unless there was a marked improvement. With that in mind—and with athlete safety always a top priority—the call was made to end the event before crowning a men’s champion.

Although the conditions proved challenging in Sal, Cape Verde, Round 2 of the men’s division saw some standout performances before the competition was called off due to safety concerns near the rocks. Advancing to Round 3 were Axel Gerard, Marley Franco, Chucho Nonnot, Finn Spencer, Anderson Gallagher, Malo Guénolé, Arthur Thebault, Cash Berzolla, Leon Schiel, Aaron Fryer, Wesley Brito, Jeffrey Spencer, Zany Guy, Benoit Carpentier, Nathan Van Vuuren, and Otis Buckingham. While we weren’t able to crown a men’s champion this time, these athletes showcased the incredible talent and progression defining the sport of surf foiling.

"Cape Verde showed us both the potential and the unpredictability of running foiling events in open ocean surf. We’re proud of what was achieved and incredibly grateful to all the riders, crew, and supporters who made this first-ever SFT World Cup possible." ~ Tom Hartmann, SFT Tour Manager

Have a look at the image gallery below, and be sure to check out our Instagram and YouTube channels for reels and highlights. The stoke is high, and the riders are already looking forward to the next stop on the Surf Foil Tour!