El Burrero Beach will host the Gran Canaria GWA WingFoil World Cup for the fourth consecutive year, taking place from July 20 to 25. This event, part of the official circuit of the Global Wingsports Association (GWA), solidifies Gran Canaria as a global hub for wingfoiling and, for the second time, selects the coast of Ingenio as the main venue.
The official presentation occurred on Wednesday, July 15, at the Casa Palacio of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria. The event was attended by the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales; the insular counselor for Sports, Aridany Romero; the mayor of Ingenio, Vanesa Martín; the vice-president of the Royal Canary Sailing Federation, Bernardo Salom; and the organizer and president of the Canakite Experiences Sports Club, Manuel Martínez. Also present were the Councilor for Tourism of Ingenio, Rubén Cruz, and the Councilor for Beaches, Martín García.
Antonio Morales highlighted Gran Canaria's exceptional natural conditions for wingfoiling, emphasizing wind as a key resource for the island, both energetically and athletically. He also underscored the impact of such competitions in projecting the island internationally as a destination for sea and nature sports.
Aridany Romero emphasized the value of these large-scale events for Gran Canaria's economy and for reinforcing its global positioning thanks to its privileged natural environment.
Bernardo Salom and Manuel Martínez expressed their gratitude to the institutions for their support. Martínez stated that Gran Canaria is already a fixed and essential stop on the world circuit and a benchmark for new generations of riders, with plans for event growth and new disciplines.
The mayor of Ingenio, Vanesa Martín, thanked the choice of El Burrero as the venue, a location with ideal conditions. She proudly highlighted the high female participation, representing over 45% of registered individuals, nearly matching male participation. "As a woman and coming from sports, I know how difficult it has often been to compete in traditionally male-dominated spaces. It is a source of pride that this championship has such high female representation," she stated. She invited the public to enjoy the competition and thanked the Cabildo of Gran Canaria for its constant support.
The Councilor for Tourism, Rubén Cruz, noted that the event serves as an opportunity to promote Ingenio internationally, showcasing the municipality as an attractive destination and generating new opportunities for the tourism sector.
The Councilor for Beaches, Martín García, celebrated El Burrero's continued role as a venue, recalling that the first edition already placed the beach on the international wingfoil map and that this continuity reinforces the year-round efforts to enhance this coastal enclave.
The sports program includes three competitions: the Canary Islands Open WingFoil Slalom Cup (July 20, +40 participants), the Gran Canaria WingFoil FreeFly-Slalom World Cup (July 21-22, ~40 participants), and the Gran Canaria WingFoil Surf-Freestyle World Cup (July 23-25, +50 registered). In total, over 120 competitors from 13 different countries, including the United States and New Zealand, are expected.
The world elite in wingfoiling will gather in the Canary Islands, including the world champions of 2025 and the top-ranked athletes of 2026. Notable participants include Spain's Nia Suardiaz, an eight-time world champion, and the USA's Christopher Macdonald, a three-time world champion.
The GWA WingFoil World Cup serves as an international promotion platform for El Burrero, Gran Canaria, and the Canary Islands as a wind sports destination, expanding the positioning achieved with windsurfing and kitesurfing. The event also incorporates a parallel sustainability and training program with environmental talks, beach clean-ups, accident prevention conferences, and introductory courses.
The competition is organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club, the El Burrero Nautical Club, and the Ingenio City Council, with the collaboration of the Royal Canary Sailing Federation and the support of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and the Government of the Canary Islands.
