Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 - Benetton lands first title on home waters

by Ian MacKinnon 30 Oct 00:23 NZDT 19-26 October 2024

Brazil's Gabriel Benetton won his first Qatar Airways GKA Kite-Surf World Championship crown on the final day of the last event of the season on home waters.

Benetton secured the crown when he won the semi-final at the Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera as other title contenders fell by the wayside in earlier heats.

"I know this spot really well and I knew there was an opportunity for me to get the title here," said Benetton. "in the end everything worked out. It was crazy. Like when Guilly [Brandao] knocked out Airton Cozzolino, who was running for the title. Everything went my way. Really crazy. Really special."

Benetton was defeated by Spain's Matchu Lopes in the final to take the win. Lopes banished his chequered season with stunning performances that set him a class apart and finally gave him his first victory of the season.

"It was a crazy year for me, I kept on getting fifth, or ninth," said Lopes. "I still can't believe it. I'd not won an event this year. It makes it very, very nice. Getting a win here feels amazing. It makes me wake up again after such hard and long year."

Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

On a mission

The final day of the Ibiraquera world cup saw the men take to the water on a new beach slightly to the north after the wind shifted southerly. The aspect meant that the left-hand waves of the opening days were swopped for 'rights'.

Almost immediately one of the biggest heats of the year was on the water. Australia's James Carew, the winner of the previous two stops and hungry for another world title, was up against the Brazilian, Pedro Matos.

Matos opened with two big wave scores that put pressure on Carew, who knew an exit so early would severely dent his title chances. But Matos was relentless and netted the biggest wave score of the competition—8.93 from 10—to get the win.

In the quarter-final Matos, another title contender and ranked third going into Ibiraquera, met his match in Matchu Lopes. Lopes was on a mission and his 16.73 for his two counting waves left Matos floundering.

Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

Shock exit

Another quarter-final saw Guilly Brandao, a Brazilian three-times world champion who lives and trains in Ibiraquera, up against Airton Cozzolino (ITA). Reigning world champion Cozzolino could not match Brandao and was sent out in a shock exit.

Brandao faced the immovable object that was Matchu Lopes in one semi-final. Lopes' riding was next level. Its sheer verticality and invention, with his 360s and reverses, were rewarded highly by the judges. Now it was Brandao who had no answers, though he went on to win the mini-final and take third place.

Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

In the another semi-final Gabriel Benetton came up against fellow countryman Artur Morais, the Brazilian number two. As the wind picked up to 22 to 25 knots, Benetton was just too strong with several 7-point plus waves that won him the heat and secured the world title thanks to his showings at earlier tour stops.

After all the fireworks of the previous heats, the final was almost a quiet affair. Gabriel Benetton gave it a good go, but Matchu Lopes was as implacable as ever. Two big 7-point waves towards the end gave Lopes the clear win and some redemption.

"The gods today made the waves open up for me," said Lopes. "The wind was perfect. I love Brazil."