SFT E-foil finale kicks of at Abu Dhabi debut

The Surf Foil World Tour's E-Foil world title race is set to reach its climax on the final day of the Fahid Island Watersports Festival after making its debut in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The US's Justin Chait is in pole position after topping the men's order on the opening day of competition on the Gulf's pristine waters that were the stage for the festival, presented by Aldar.

Sweden's Agnes Wicander, led the women's rankings going into Abu Dhabi and continued her speedy streak to head the order after the opening day of competition.

Day one in Abu Dhabi saw all 26 athletes from 11 nations complete two timed laps of a course. The times seeded the riders for the next rounds of head-to-head action on the closing day.

Three groups—the eight women, Pro men and the Open division—will battle in a head-to-head, single elimination format, a thriller for the spectators just metres away on the beach.

The sixth and final stop of the E-Foil tour will see the fastest man crowned the first World Champion, while the fastest woman will lift SFT E-Foil World Cup Abu Dhabi title.

Ahead of racing on the opening day, Chait reflected on his season so far, but acknowledged he still had a tough road ahead if he is to lift the crown.

"Right now I'm leading the rankings," said Chait. "In competitions it's been a good year for me. It's getting tougher and tougher. But it's going well. I've been training going through the trees of the Everglades, really pushing the E-Foil to its boundaries. It helps on courses with fewer variables."

Austria's Clemens Kresser is second place and breathing down the American's neck after the qualification round. Arpa Zuriguel Manel is just a few seconds adrift of the leader. Another American, Jacob Ranney, is also within touching distance.

In the women's competition Agnes Wicander leads the order in Abu Dhabi after challenging many of the fastest men in the qualification rounds. But she realised that with more women coming in she faces new challenges.

"In the first competition there were maybe two or three girls and the level was not that high," said Wicander. "But now, a few races in, the women are just a few seconds behind me. So, I feel the pressure already and I've been E-Foiling for five years. It's so fun to see more women getting into the sport."
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova