Delannoy and Matos claim victory in Cape Verde

New event winners crowned in Ponta Preta as Delannoy and Matos steal the show

GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde
13-21 March, 2025 | Ponta Preta, Sal

The 2025 edition of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde launched with 25 men and 18 women from 15 different nations, all ready to battle it out at the iconic location of Ponta Preta. Renowned as one of the world’s most famous kite-surfing waves, Ponta Preta provided the perfect stage for the opening event of the new season.

Judges made their criteria clear from the outset: power, flow, and speed combined with smart wave selection were key. Control in critical sections, impressive air tricks, smooth floaters, and clean barrels were all factors that would secure top scores.

Women’s division

The women’s competition kicked off in epic Ponta Preta conditions that steadily built throughout the day. In Round 3, veteran competitor Charlotte Carpentier was eliminated by the rising talent from the UK, Katie Evans. Later in the round, freestyle world champion Bruna Kajiya faced Switzerland’s Camille Losserand. Despite showcasing impressive crossover skills, Bruna couldn’t quite match Losserand’s wave-riding expertise.

A notable absence from the quarterfinals was Brazil’s Kesiane Rodrigues, who faced the formidable Moona Whyte in Round 4. Moona delivered an unbeatable performance, scoring two waves in the nine-point range, leaving Rodrigues unable to catch up.

By the time the semi-finals rolled around, the wind had picked up to over 25 knots and the waves were towering at over two meters. France’s Capucine Delannoy took a decisive win against Brazilian Serena Luz, securing her place in the finals. Moona Whyte continued her dominant streak in the second semi-final, defeating Camille Losserand with another clean victory.

The mini-final for third place saw Serena Luz face off against Camille Losserand. Serena struggled after dropping her kite into the waves early in the heat and couldn’t regain momentum. Meanwhile, Losserand kept her composure and focus, sealing the final podium spot.

Historic Cape Verde win

The final was an intense showdown between reigning world champion Capucine Delannoy and last year’s Cape Verde event winner, Moona Whyte. Ponta Preta was firing, and both women gave everything in this dramatic season opener. At the halfway point, Delannoy held a narrow lead as Whyte struggled to recreate the nine-point waves she had scored earlier in the day. In the final moments, Whyte found a promising set and went all in, but the judges awarded her 7.23 points—solid, but not enough. Delannoy, on the other hand, continued to select the best waves and rode with confidence, finishing with an impressive total of 14.97 points to Whyte’s 14.06. With that, the French teenager claimed her first-ever victory in Cape Verde—a milestone moment in her career.

“Im so happy to take the win here,” said Delannoy. “Since I started competing, Ponta Preta has been the competition that I’ve wanted to win the most. Its a legendary stop. I finally made it, and being able to share this final with Moona has been so special. I’ve always looked up to her, she’s the best wave rider out there. This made the final even more special. Now my focus is to keep pushing for the next events, so that I can win the world title once again.” 

Women’s results:

1 Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
2 Moona Whyte (USA)
3 Camille Losserand (SUI)
4 Serena Luz (BRA)

Men’s division

The men’s competition began with powerful performances right from the early rounds. Brazilian riders Artur Morais and Pedro Matos made their intentions clear, while local legends Airton Cozzolino and Mitu Monteiro showed they were ready to defend their home turf. With steady winds of over 25 knots and building swells, Ponta Preta delivered classic conditions for world-class kite-surf action.

By Round 3, the competition truly intensified. Airton Cozzolino set the standard with an outstanding heat, scoring a massive 18.70 points and showing exactly what was possible in these conditions. Drama followed shortly after, as Brazilian Pedro Matos went head-to-head with Cape Verdean hero Mitu Monteiro. The two were neck-and-neck until Matos sealed the deal with an incredible 8.50-point wave, eliminating Monteiro in front of his home crowd.

Bowed out

Nicola Abadjiev, who had shown early promise, faced a tough matchup against current World Champion Gabriel Benetton. Despite a strong performance and a final heat score of 14.0, it wasn’t enough to surpass Benetton’s 14.73, bringing Abadjiev’s campaign to an end.

Big Air specialist Lorenzo Casati, known for pushing boundaries in all disciplines, also bowed out of the competition after being outperformed by 15-year-old rising star Santiago Lima. The young talent advanced to the quarterfinals, showing the depth of the next generation.

One of the event’s most intense moments came in Quarterfinal Heat 2, where James Carew clashed with Sebastian Ribeiro. Both riders opened with moderate scores until Ribeiro delivered an astonishing 9.17-point wave, raising the bar dramatically. Carew fought hard, scouring the lineup for a wave that could match it, but ultimately fell short, exiting the competition earlier than expected.

Outstanding form

The semi-finals brought together a powerhouse lineup: three Brazilians — Sebastian Ribeiro, Pedro Matos, and reigning World Champion Gabriel Benetton — alongside Cape Verde’s own Airton Cozzolino. The clash between Cozzolino and Ribeiro had the beach crowd on their feet. Ribeiro, in outstanding form, held the lead throughout most of the heat. But Airton, with everything on the line, delivered one final, critical wave. The beach fell silent as the judges deliberated before awarding him 8.70 points — just enough to edge past Ribeiro and secure his spot in the final.

The second semi-final saw Gabriel Benetton struggle to find the waves he needed to advance, while Pedro Matos rose to the occasion with composed, powerful riding. Matos earned a clear victory, setting the stage for a thrilling final showdown against Cozzolino.

Fine margins

The final was nothing short of a battle of titans: Airton Cozzolino versus Pedro Matos. The two went wave-for-wave, with fans lining the point, flags waving, and tension in the air. At the halfway mark, only fractions of a point separated them. Both athletes displayed relentless determination, each hungry for victory. Airton was holding a narrow lead, and the Cape Verdean crowd was already on the verge of celebration — but the drama wasn’t over. In the final two minutes, Matos found a flawless wave and rode it with precision and style, desperately seeking to push ahead. The score came in: a massive 9.0 points, enough to propel him into the lead. Cozzolino hunted for one last opportunity, but the clock ran out.

Pedro Matos sailed into shore as the new event winner of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde 2025 — his victory celebrated with cheers, flags, and applause echoing across Ponta Preta.

Men’s results:

1 Pedro Matos (BRA)
2 Airton Cozzolino (ITA)
3 Gabriel Benetton (BRA)
4 Sebastien Ribeiro (BRA)

words: Gemma Hamaini
images: Lukas K Stiller