Overview
From February 29 to March 6, 2020, the season opener of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup was held on Sal Island, Cape Verde. Initially kicking off as a regular season event, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic struck shortly after, making this the only official live competition held for a long time.
Little did we know the Cape Verde event was going to be the last event for a while due to the worldwide pandemic.
Location and Conditions
The event was originally scheduled to take place at Ponta Preta, known for its world-class right-handers. However, due to a lack of swell energy leaving the spot flat, the venue was abruptly moved to Kite Beach on the other side of the island. Kite Beach is primarily a freestyle spot characterized by cross-onshore wind and mushy, crumbly waves. The conditions were so tricky and harsh that commentators described the water as a “washing machine,” demanding extreme adaptability from the riders.
Format and Participating Riders
Despite the move to a freestyle-oriented break, organizers maintained the original event format and strictly applied a “100% Waves” judging criteria. Aerial tricks were not scored; only pure wave-riding technique counted. Riders could catch up to 15 waves per heat, with only their top two wave scores deciding the outcome.
The Men’s division featured top athletes like James Carew, Matchu Lopes,Airton Cozzolino, and Pedro Matos. They were joined by a diverse lineup including 14-year-old Charlie Martin from Reunion Island, Bulgarian RRD rider Nicola Abadjiev, and Italian Francesco Cappuzzo, who had previously secured fourth place at Ponta Preta.
Highlights and Epic Battles
Despite the grueling conditions, the world’s best riders delivered unforgettable performances. A major highlight was the ultimate rivalry heat between Cape Verde locals Matchu Lopes and Airton Cozzolino. Returning from injury and eager to prove his full power, Matchu went head-to-head with his long-time rival Ayrton in a fiercely contested heat that thrilled the local crowd. Airton Cozzolino also stamped his authority on the event by pulling off a massive 360 maneuver in the waves.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Pedro Matos unleashed his pure surf style, thrilling spectators by consistently dropping vertical turns in the power sections to score in the 7-point range. The climax of the event, however, was the epic showdown between James Carew and Matchu Lopes. While Matchu, with his intimate knowledge of the local waves, took an early lead with his smooth flow, James responded with overwhelming power and precise wave selection in the tough conditions. James mounted a late-heat comeback, dropping back-to-back 7-point rides in a historic clash of wills.
Click to reveal detailed competition results (Spoilers)
- Men’s Division
1st: James Carew
2nd: Matchu Lopes
3rd: Airton Cozzolino
4th: Pedro Matos - Women’s Division
1st: Ines Correia
2nd: Peri Roberts
3rd: Carla Herrera Oria
4th: Mikaili Sol
Search Aliases: 2020 GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde, 2020GKAKite-SurfWorldCupCapeVerde