JAMES CAREW & SEBASTIAN RIBEIRO SHARE THE WIN

Round 1 Gets Underway — Then the Waiting Game Begins

Competition began with Round 1 on Day 2 in light, technical conditions. Small swell wrapped into Ponta Preta, and marginal wind immediately put pressure on the riders, requiring grit and tactical intelligence.

Heat winners advanced directly to Round 3 — and Duotone riders wasted no time making their intent clear from the outset.

James Carew set the tone early, posting a 13.23 heat total against his opponent’s 5.73 to take a convincing Round 1 win.

Sebastian Ribeiro also progressed cleanly, managing the tricky conditions with control to claim his Round 1 victory and move straight into Round 3.

On home soil, Matchu Lopes advanced comfortably in the underpowered conditions, drawing confidence from his deep familiarity with the lineup.

With the forecast deteriorating after Round 1, the competition was put on hold. Riders remained on standby, knowing any green light to run heats would likely come in short, unpredictable windows.

By Day 4, the call was made to resume competition with Round 2 despite extremely light wind — a strategic decision to keep the event moving.

Round 3: Momentum Builds as Conditions Slightly Improve

Round 3 finally got underway on the penultimate day of competition. The swell showed signs of improvement, but the wind remained light and inconsistent. Sets were spaced out, making wave selection critical.

Once again, Duotone riders stepped up.

James Carew (AUS) continued his strong run, advancing through his heat against Lorenzo Casati and positioning himself as a serious contender for the podium.

Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) delivered a composed performance, posting a 12.33 heat total to move past local wildcard Robertney Barros’ 4.57 and secure his place in the quarter-finals.

As the draw tightened, the tension among riders and spectators was palpable.

Quarter-Finals: Pressure Rises

In Quarter-Final Heat 2, James Carew (AUS) faced Hendrick Witschi. Carew rode with intensity from the outset, building a solid 15.10 two-wave total to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Next up, Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) met Australian wildcard Woodley Hall. With the heat hanging in the balance in the final minutes, Ribeiro found what he needed — a crucial 6.67-point wave that shifted the scoreboard and secured his place in the semi-finals.

Then came the final heat of the day — and arguably one of the most memorable battles of the event.

Lopes vs Cozzolino — A Cape Verde Classic

Matchu Lopes (ESP) faced Airton Cozzolino as the light began to fade over Ponta Preta.

Two former world champions who grew up here. Two riders deeply connected to this wave. The shoreline packed, the atmosphere electric.

Wave for wave, they traded scores, committing to critical sections regardless of the tricky conditions, milking each ride all the way through to the inside rocks. Airton posted a strong two-wave total, but Matchu found the better opportunities when it mattered most.

As the sun dipped lower and the heat stretched into the final minutes of daylight, Matchu delivered a 7.53 backed up by a 6.10 — enough to secure the win and eliminate Airton in front of a roaring home crowd.

Semi-Finals: High Stakes at Ponta Preta

The swell improved slightly, offering more opportunity across the lineup, but the wind remained light, keeping conditions technical for the remaining four riders.

In the first semi-final, James Carew (AUS) faced Gabriel Benetton. Carew opened strong with a powerful 8.33-point wave, immediately setting the benchmark.

Mid-heat, drama struck as Carew dropped his kite, costing him valuable time. Benetton capitalised, tightening the gap with two solid scores. Once relaunched, Carew regained control, found another scoring wave and secured his place in the final.

The second semi-final saw Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) face Matchu Lopes (ESP) — a heat carrying an extra layer, with two Duotone teammates battling for a place in the final.

Respect and rivalry intertwined, but once the horn sounded, it was all focus.

Ribeiro set the tone early with a strong 7-point ride to establish the lead. Lopes responded, feeding off the energy of the home crowd lining the rocks.

In the closing minutes, Ribeiro committed to a heavy set wave and executed cleanly through the critical section. The judges awarded an outstanding 8.97 — one of the highest single-wave scores of the event. Lopes searched for an answer, but time ran out.

Sebastian Ribeiro advanced.

A Shared Victory to Open 2026

With the semi-finals complete, attention turned to an all-Duotone final — James Carew (AUS) versus Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA).

But as the sun dropped and the breeze faded once more, the final couldn’t be run.

James Carew (AUS) and Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) were crowned joint winners of the Cape Verde stop, while Matchu Lopes (ESP) and Gabriel Benetton secured joint third place.

No Result for the Women in Cape Verde

While 16 women were ready to launch their 2026 campaigns in Cape Verde, persistent light wind ultimately didn’t allow the division to produce a result.

With the men’s competition progressing deep into the draw and running into the final hours of the event window, there was no remaining opportunity to complete the women’s competition.

A frustrating outcome for the athletes — but with four stops still ahead, the season is far from decided.Next stop: The GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Sylt, Germany, in August.

A strategic, hard-fought start to 2026 — and a powerful statement from Team Duotone at one of the most iconic stops on tour.

We’re stoked and proud of the entire Duotone team. Congrats!