Top men poised for showdown in Abu Dhabi after impressive action in tricky breezes
GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Abu Dhabi
25-30 Oct, 2025 | Fahid Island
Top ranked Hydrofoil Big Air riders, Hugo Wigglesworth and Finn Flügel, showed they meant business in their quest for the crown as they chalked up emphatic heat wins to advance up the order at the closing stop in Abu Dhabi.
New Zealander, Wigglesworth, 19, won the opening round of the tour in Sylt, Germany, on his debut. At the GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Abu Dhabi, Wigglesworth scored the competition’s highest heat total to reach the semi-final.
“My goal for this second stop is to take the win as well,” said Wigglesworth. “That’s the only goal. Winning the title would mean everything to me. Certainly my biggest rival is Finn Flügel.”
The German Flügel was stung when he was pushed into second place on home waters at Sylt. He vowed to do everything in his power to do what he needs in Abu Dhabi to win and take the crown.
“For sure my goal is to take the title after this event,” said Flügel. “I was second in Sylt, so that means I’ve got to get first place. I’m just going to give it my absolute everything and not look at what anyone else is doing.”
Day three of the Fahid Island Waterspsorts Festival, which is hosting the GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Abu Dhabi, saw the men again take to the water after the opening heat on the second day.
Italy’s Leonardo Casati, 16, had progressed when he took that first heat with dominant display of aerial mastery. The US rider, Lucas Halvorson, will join him in the semi-finals after a solid outing.
The New Zealander Wigglesworth came out firing and cruised to the heat win. But Big Air twin-tip world champion, Spain’s Lorenzo Casati was hard on his heels in the heat and racked up a big score for his three counting tricks to advance as well.
The up-and-coming Spaniard, Borja Vellon, stole the third quarter final with a convincing performance. Frederyk Szczesny, competing under the United Arab Emirates flag, also went forward. Unfortunately, fifth seeded Robby James, of Thailand, cut his foot on his foil in a training accident and did not make it to the start of the heat.
Hungary’s Tamas Deak moved up in the closing quarter final when he took second place. But the German 16-year-old Finn Flügel was all business, taking the heat win with some big moves that show he’s gunning for the crown.
The GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite World Championships are balanced on a knife edge with only the women’s final and men’s semis and final to play out before the 2025 title holders are crowned.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova
Spot Info: Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi
Wind
Fahid Island is being developed as a purpose-built watersports’ facility and sits next to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Marina, home of the Formula 1 circuit. The breezes in late October tend to be light-to-moderate, building to between 12 and 18 knots as the day goes on. The wind blows mainly cross-onshore from the north, with the seas remaining mostly flat in the bay sheltered by islands.
Weather
Sea temperatures in October and November are still warm, ranging from 28°C to 31°C, so board shorts and a rashie are all that is necessary on the water. The air temperature ranges from a low of 28°C overnight, to a high of 35°C in the day. Sunrise is at about 06.00 with sunset at about 18.40.
Event information
- Location: Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi
- Dates: 25-30 October
- All event information here.
Find everything about GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Brazil by clicking event news.
- Follow the event page live scoring
- Follow our Instagram and our new TikTok account for behind the scenes action and event updates
- Subscribe to our newsletter for event wrap ups
- Check out our youtube channel for highlight videos
Event highlight video will be published next morning. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.