The GWA Wingfoil World Cup will be coming to Tauranga next year.

The NZ World Cup event will be the first event of the 2023 World Tour, where men and women will be able to compete in the freestyle and racing disciplines on March 4-11, 2023.

The GWA World Tour is the highest level of wingfoiling in the world, attracting athletes from around the globe to be crowned world champion in both freestyle and race.

'Being able to host both the freestyle and race world cup in Tauranga at the same time is a huge milestone for the sport in New Zealand,” says event director Laurence Carey.

'This will provide a huge opportunity to see the sport for its full potential, whilst showing how amazing Tauranga is for beach lovers.

'Wingfoiling is the fastest growing watersport in the world, so to provide local riders the opportunity to compete against the top 100 men and women wingfoilers in Tauranga, will be very special for the sport in New Zealand.”

It is because of this rapid growth over the last three years that it is predicted the sport will become olympic event in the near future (2028).

Laurence says they are seeing renowned NZ athletes taking up the sport including like Peter Burling (Olympic Gold Medalist), Jo Aleh (Olympic Gold Medalist) and many more.

Currently on the world tour, there is one New Zealand athlete in Jeremiah McDonald, who is currently ranked 21st in the world.

'I am so excited to show how awesome Mt Maunganui is in New Zealand, where it has some nice waves and flat water options for all wind directions,” says McDonald.

'This event is huge for the sport and it's exciting to see so many young guys and girls getting into the sport both in New Zealand and around the world.”

'We are thrilled to be hosting Waterborne Beach Festival in Tauranga this March,” says Tauranga City Council venues and events manager Nelita Byrne.

'With the festival incorporating an array of sporting events, beach activations and live concerts, there will truly be something for everyone.

'It's events like these that add to the vibrancy and economic growth of the city while showcasing all Tauranga has to offer.”

Having an event in New Zealand, will provide the opportunity for more kiwis to compete against the best and showcase the groundswell of skill in New Zealand.

'We will also have an event for athletes who do not qualify for the World Cup to race in a long distance race,” says Carey.

'We are doing this to provide as many opportunities to learn from the international sailors.”

The World Cup event will be held within the wider Waterbourne beach festival.

The eight day festival also features paddle boarding, beach volleyball, and international musicians at both free and ticketed concerts.

EVES will also adding to the unique experience, with the EVES New Zealand Paddle Boarding Championships.

EVES Real Estate has a long history of community support, firmly believing in giving back to and supporting the local community.

'To have EVES onboard with the same vision as the Waterbourne Charitable Trust is great,” says Carey.

'They understand the importance of being sustainable whilst providing everlasting experiences for the community.

'With more than 30,000 attendees expected, this is going to be a huge benefit to the local economy.

'It is great to finally have international acts back in New Zealand, where we are looking forward to announcing our artists later in the year.”