The thrilling competition schedule continues at the 37th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf Cup, where wind and wave conditions are once again intensifying at Pozo Izquierdo. This led to a vibrant day of action for the Juniors (U18 / U15) and Masters categories, with exciting heats that completed the full single elimination and quarterfinal rounds for the younger competitors.
Kicking off at 11 a.m., the U18 girls opened the day with a three-heat tally determining the winner. From the very start, Belgium’s Sol Degrieck showed clear dominance. The 15-year-old athlete, who ranked fifth in the overall unified 2024 PWA World Tour and took third place in the women’s pro final at this very event (where Daida Ruano claimed victory), left no room for doubt. Degrieck won all three heats, earning the U18 title ahead of Spain’s Lizzlotte Shilling in second place, Germany’s Emma Miron and Frida Miron in third and fourth respectively, and Japan’s Natsuki Wakasa finishing fifth.
“I’m very happy to be back on the podium and still enjoying the great conditions here in Pozo Izquierdo,” said the winner of the U18 female category, who is still due to compete in the final of the women’s pro double elimination on Saturday.
37th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf Cup. Photo Supplied.
Spanish podium
In the U15 male category, the single elimination final took place today, with Spanish riders showing their superiority. Yannik Kolb from Conil de la Frontera entered the water with the confidence of having won his semifinal and maintained his momentum against fellow Spaniard Koa Fabio, who took second place, while another Andalusian, Elías Antolín, secured third.
“Even though the conditions weren’t ideal for me, I managed to land a solid wave that gave me the win,” said Yannik Kolb.
The U18 male category was more crowded, with quarterfinal and semifinal rounds held. Riders from five countries (Denmark, Spain, Japan, Germany, and Italy) battled in the final heats. Despite the drive and determination of Japan’s Haruko Konishi—who was neck and neck in points with the third place contender—it wasn’t enough to reach the final. There, Peter Gobish made a strong start, scoring 4.62 points on his first jump and seamlessly chaining together solid wave rides and forward loops to take the win. Danish rider Bjorn Olesen secured second place, while Tarifa’s Javier Escribano held his ground against the Italian contender Antonio Silvestri.
Notably, in this 37th edition, the Gobish family boasts four standout competitors: Anton placed fourth in the U15 category; Trine awaits the final in the U13 girls’ category; and their father Lars is currently competing in the Masters division.
Later in the day, the quarterfinals for the Masters category were completed, defining the eight veteran competitors who will battle it out in Friday’s semifinals and finals. Among them is Spain’s Michael Friedl.
37th Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf Cup. Photo Supplied.
Educational and leisure activities
In addition to the sporting events, the day featured various educational and leisure activities. A morning first aid workshop drew a large group of young participants, while the Red Bull Party lit up the evening.
This event enjoys strong institutional backing from the Gran Canaria Island Council, through its Departments of Tourism and the Island Sports Institute, the Canary Islands Government via Promotur, and the Santa Lucía de Tirajana City Council. It also benefits from the main sponsorship of Gloria Palace Hotel, whose commitment to active tourism and sustainable development has been key to the championship’s growth.
The 37th edition of the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup is also supported by a wide network of partners, including Promotur, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, 7iFilm.com, Canary Blu, Poema del Mar, Ejove Lab, Bazar Ani, TVE, Bahía Grill, Jaklar, WS, As Acción, Surf Magazine, Wind, Windsurf TV, and Daily Dose.