Desert Showdown

With 24 men and 13 women in the lineup, the Oum Lamboiur point break came alive under powerful Atlantic swell and the desert’s infamous, shifty winds. The five-day window opened with promising forecasts, 20–25 knots and waves around 1.5 metres, and competition began without delay.

Riders were given ten wave attempts per 17-minute heat, with their best two counting: a pure surf format rewarding wave selection, flow, powerful turns, commitment to the critical section, speed, and innovative manoeuvres. As the sets rolled through and the right-handers peeled down the point, the Duotone team quickly made their mark.

Carew on Fire – Highest Scores of the Event

Australia’s James Carew came out swinging, eliminating reigning World Champion Gabriel Benetton in one of the event’s most dramatic early-round clashes. His determination paid off with a 9.13 on his fifth wave — a display of raw power, deep rail engagement, and a committed hit in the critical section that sent spray flying and the crowd cheering. That heat would stand as the highest-scoring of the entire event, earning Carew both the top single-wave score and best total heat score in Dakhla.

Duotone Dominates Dakhla

As the rounds tightened, Duotone’s dominance only grew clearer. By the semifinals, three of the four remaining riders — Pedro Matos (BRA), Sebastian Ribeiro (FRA), and James Carew (AUS) — were flying the Duotone flag.

In the first semifinal, Carew faced off against Airton Cozzolino, who opened strong and set the bar high early. Carew answered with two powerful scoring waves but narrowly missed the points needed to advance, bowing out with a strong fourth-place finish after one of the event’s most charged heats.  The second semifinal brought an all-Brazilian Duotone showdown between Pedro Matos and Sebastian Ribeiro, in a nail-biter that could have gone either way. Both riding in flawless form, the pair traded clean, powerful turns in head-to-head fashion, with Matos just edging ahead in the closing minutes. Ribeiro’s impeccable technique and effortless flow secured him third place overall, reinforcing his position as one of the most refined stylists on tour, while Matos advanced to the final.

Matchu Lopes (ESP) also showed strong form in the early rounds, linking stylish hits and creative lines that reflected his trademark flow and finesse before being edged out in a tight heat.

Final Showdown in Golden Light

As the sun sank behind the desert dunes, the stage was set for an epic finale between Matos and Cozzolino. Both riders entered the water after a long day of heats, the light turning golden across Dakhla’s endless right-hander. The two remained neck-and-neck through most of the heat until Cozzolino’s final ride — a clean 7.30 that tipped the balance.

With that, Pedro Matos claimed an impressive second place, leading a Duotone trio that swept positions two, three, and four — a powerful reminder of the team’s unmatched calibre in wave riding.

Women’s Division

In the women’s draw, Capucine Delannoy clinched the 2025 World Championship title, while Astrid Cheylus from Duotone France — who’s also a professional freeride skier when not kiting — impressed with an outstanding performance and exceptional wave-riding skills, securing fourth place overall and narrowly missing the podium.

Duotone’s Camille Losserand (SUI) showed strong potential but faced an early exit after a tightly contested heat.

Congrats to all the riders for their performances in Dakhla and for pushing wave kitesurfing forward — a discipline we truly love!

Next kite-surf stop: Taíba, Brazil, where the world title race will reach its climax in full tropical style — and on home waters for several of our team riders.