The recent GWA Wave World Cup events have brought exciting action to destinations across the world, including Dakhla, Morocco, and Ibiraquera, Brazil. In Dakhla, the consistent north-westerly swells and side-offshore winds create ideal conditions for wave riding. F-One’s wave riders, Liam Coralle and 14-year-old Leon Schiel, have made their mark, with Liam advancing to the quarterfinals and Leon landing his first podium finish in wave riding. Ibiraquera’s sandy beach break in Southern Brazil also provides a challenging but rewarding venue for these skilled competitors.
ALL IMAGES: @romantsovaphoto & @chris.besson
At just 14 years old, Leon Schiel earned his first podium finish, taking 3rd place in the wave category. Competing in smaller conditions, he displayed impressive skills and maturity beyond his age, making a strong impact in the GWA event.
Before getting into wing foiling, Leon first learned to surf and quickly became comfortable in the water and able to read the wave. Under his father’s guidance, he then started to windsurf, including windsurf foiling at the age of 10. Finally, at 11, he discovered wing foiling, and has been hooked ever since. When he’s not in school, he can almost always be found in the water.
In 2022 and at only 12 years old, he won a spot at the F-ONE Next Generation wing foil camp through a social media contest, thanks to his video entry of him sending it in Mauritius. After a successful camp, he officially became part of F-ONE’s team and has been making the most of it ever since, continuously improving and pushing his limits.
In his first-ever GWA event, Liam Coralle delivered an impressive performance, pulling off a major upset by defeating Malo Guenole in heat 8 with a score of 13.40. His consistent high-scoring waves advanced him to the quarterfinals, where he narrowly lost to Otis by just 0.05 points.
Reflecting on the experience, Liam noted, “It felt amazing to compete in a GWA wave event for the first time. I was really dialed on my 750 Skate, 500 liter Rocket S Carbon board, and my 4.5 Strike wing. So stoked for the incredible gear and support from F-One!”
Liam, the 17yo out of Maui, began his wingfoil career back in 2020 and has been shredding ever since.
Another huge congratulations to our young wave athletes! For more information, photos, and updates, make sure to check out @wingfoilworldtour!