Overview
“I mean, the wave was just so perfect. I was so excited to be in the water, especially against my really good friend. I mean, at least both had good opportunities. That’s all I ask. Opportunity.”
The 2026 GKA Kitesurf World Cup Cape Verde served as the season opener, taking place at Ponta Preta on Sal Island. The event concluded with a shared victory as the final heat was cancelled due to the whims of nature.
Location and Conditions
Ponta Preta is typically renowned for its perfect right-hand hollow waves and intense trade winds. However, the 2026 edition saw the Atlantic reveal a different side. Instead of firing winds and endless swell, the forecast brought light breezes and inconsistent sets, creating severe conditions that dictated the pace of the competition and ultimately left no time to run the final.
Format and Participating Riders
The men’s division featured James Carew, Sebastian Ribeiro, Gabriel Benetton, and Matchu Lopes, alongside Airton Cozzolino, Artur Morais, Hendrick Witschi, and Woodley Hall. Meanwhile, the women’s division was cancelled, as the deteriorating conditions did not allow their competition to proceed.
Highlights
Sebastian Ribeiro demonstrated incredible dedication leading up to this event. Arriving earlier than anyone else in mid-November, he engaged in rigorous training, stating he had never trained so hard in his career. This preparation paid off in the semifinals against local powerhouse Matchu Lopes. Seb scored a massive 8.97 on a set wave near the end, dominating the heat with a total of 15.97 to 12.17 to advance to the finals.
James Carew emerged victorious from the other semifinal, setting the stage for a highly anticipated final showdown. However, as the wind dropped drastically and sunset approached, the organizers had no time left and were forced to cancel the heat. Consequently, James Carew and Sebastian Ribeiro shared 1st place as joint winners.
During the event, attention was also drawn to the topic of “Motherhood on the tour.” Manuela Jungo addressed the societal double standards mothers face, pointing out that while her partner travels the world year-round without question, she is constantly asked why she isn’t with her family. The stories of these athletes balancing professional competition and motherhood were shared as a powerful message.
Show Detailed Competition Results (Spoiler Alert)
[Men’s Division]
1st: James Carew (AUS) / Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) *Joint Winners
3rd: Gabriel Benetton (BRA) / Matchu Lopes (CPV/ESP) *Joint 3rd
[Women’s Division]
Competition Cancelled
Search Aliases: 2026 GKA Kitesurf World Cup Cape Verde, 2026GKAKitesurfWorldCupCapeVerde