TEAM NEWS: A HIGH-FLYING FINALE IN GRAN CANARIA!

The 2024 Big Air World Title was decided in a 4-way final between the event's favorites!

For the second edition of this World Cup dedicated to airborne performances, the organizers of the event have proposed a format which gives more importance to the technicality of the rider’s jumps. Last year’s objective was pretty obvious for the competitors, send a stratospheric jump, which was measured. This is how you would collect the most points. This year's regulations gave a greater share, from 10% to 30% of the total score, to the technical difficulty of the jump or its innovative character. That is still 70% of the points which reward the height and commitment of the rider. A significant modification of the format, therefore of the expected performances, and a redistribution of cards for the title race.

Wing foiler: Malo, GONG team rider, with a Droid UPE Aramid, Stunt FSP Pro, HM85 mast, Ypra Surf-Freestyle front wing and Freestyle stab.

Premiers rounds

From the first round, the favorites of the event stood out from the pack with Malo, Julien, reigning World Champion, and Bastien, authors of the three highest scores. A solid performance from the GONG team riders who all reached the semi-finals. A level of competition in which Julien, outgoing Champion, saw his dream of repeating his title slipping away from him. Though he achieved the highest jumps of the event, his “simple” airs were lacking the technicality to score big. He would have needed more wind to be able to make the difference solely on the height of his jumps. Indeed, though the event took place in pretty decent conditions, the strength of the wind did not allow for a stunning performance in terms of height. However, he comes out with his head held high with a solid dominance of the skies thanks to his speed and an incredibly long hang time.

The final

In the final, we find our team riders Malo and Bastien, the only goofy footer still in the mix, showing impressive performance despite not facing the kickers to jump. They share the final scene with Benjamin May and Chris McDonald. The first series of jumps gives the advantage to the GONG team with two spectacular front loops from Malo and Bastien, both close to 10m high, respectively rewarded with scores of 9.50 and 9.27 out of 10 possible points (two jumps count for the final score with 10 attempts each). In response, Chris sends two double backflips in quick succession, a first in competition, at almost 6m high each, rated 9.47 and 9.77. Malo, author as in the semis of a one foot front loop at 9m+, and Bastien, always as spectacular and powerful, in height, but also in length in his front loops on the reach back to the shore at more than 10m, catch up with the american’s heat total. But fall just a few tenths of a point short from the title which rewards the innovation, and not the height (6m), of Chris.

GONG would like to congratulate all the competitors for the huge commitment in their jumps, and it takes a lot to send jumps over 10m! The potential consequences are no joke. Our team rider Clément can unfortunately bear witness to this with one foot in a cast following a violent landing during practice. Special mentions for Julien, the Racer who flies the highest, Malo who scores the highest heat total of the competition with 19.40, and Bastien, first goofy footer of the event, by far.

Our UPE Aramid wings in the hands of our Team made a clear difference in height.

Follow them all in Fuerte from July 19 for the Surf-Freestyle and Freefly-Slalom events.