Molly Picklum and Cole Houshmand Win VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero
Molly Picklum (AUS) and Cole Houshmand (USA) won the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT). Clean, long period, three-to-four-foot swell built throughout the day, initially focusing its energy on the right of Praia de Itaúna, before the left came to prominence as the tide and swell grew. The first Brazilian woman to make the Final since 2007, Luana Silva (BRA), carried the torch for her nation, while Griffin Colapinto (USA) edged dangerously close to the Top 5 with his runner-up finish.
Picklum Capitalises on Consistency with First Win of the Season Solidifying Strong Rankings Lead
Capitalising on her position as the only woman in the Top 5 to make it past the Elimination Round, Molly Picklum (AUS) solidified a strong lead in the rankings, having moved to the No. 1 position after making the Semifinals. Picklum’s third CT victory, her first outside of Sunset Beach, Hawai‘i, caps a season that has seen the 22-year-old as the most consistent surfer on Tour, making at least Quarterfinals in eight out of nine events, including three Finals. Often starting strongest early in the season, Picklum now finds herself leading the pack with just two regular-season events remaining on the calendar.
“I’ve worked so hard this year to really put my best foot forward,” Picklum said. “Actually, before I was going out I felt nearly emotional because I was just like, okay, I get another chance to try and get a victory. I’ve dreamt so much of winning here in Rio, too. I’m a real energetic person, I love the Brazilian energy, and to get a win this year means so much for sure. Thank you so much and shout out to everyone back at home. I know you’re all probably up watching and I felt all the love. I actually ran in and started calling my family straight away because I wanted to share it with the people I love and the people that have supported me through the entire time, big love to you guys.”
Picklum dominated the Final, wasting no time before opening with a strong single backhand hit for a 6.83 (out of a possible 10). The Australian backed it up quickly to place Luana Silva (BRA) in an early combination situation that grew exponentially after Picklum posted the highest single wave score of the event for the women, an 8.17. Earning the number from a dramatic finish to a critical two-turn combo on the right, Picklum’s 15.00 (out of a possible 20) heat total was also the highest of the event for the women. Silva was eventually able to break the combo with a 6.63, but was left needing a better number than Picklum’s event-high score when the buzzer sounded.
“Luana [Silva] is definitely the favorite, and so she should be,” Picklum continued. “She’s been surfing so well. I knew she’s such a competitor and she’s such a fighter. I was pretty scared all the way till the end even though I had a couple of good scores. But yeah, she’s capable of great things and I’m so happy to get that one over her.”
Silva Mows Through World Champions to Add Her Name to Brazilian Legacy
The first Brazilian woman to make a Final on home ground since Silvana Lima (BRA) in 2007, Luana Silva (BRA), had undoubtedly the most difficult run through the event. Every one of Silva’s three heat wins in the event were over World Champions, first defeating reigning World Champion and back-to-back VIVO Rio Pro winner Caity Simmers (USA) in the Elimination Round, before overcoming two-time World Champion and three-time event winner Tyler Wright (AUS) in the Quarterfinals, and finally 2023 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks (USA) in the Semifinals. Silva’s second Final of her career comes shortly after making the Mid-season Cut for the first time as the 21-year-old continues to strengthen her standing on Tour.
“It’s been an amazing year and a special week here in Brazil,” Silva said. “My whole family came out to support me. Even my Aunty came out all the way from South Brazil. It’s super special to see her, it’s been a while. I can’t thank everyone enough on the beach, too. It’s been an incredible week. The support has been amazing and that’s what kept me going.”
Houshmand Peaks in the Final, Delivering Full Display of Power
Cole Houshmand (USA) went two-for-two in CT Finals, backing up his breakthrough win at the 2024 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach with another victory, again defeating his good friend and fellow San Clemente surfer, Griffin Colapinto (USA). Today’s win further fueled the 24-year-old’s upward trajectory towards his stated goal of being a Final 5 contender this season. After narrowly avoiding the Mid-season Cut at Stop No. 7, Houshmand has gained ground over the last two events and earned the biggest leap of anyone in Brazil, moving up four places to No. 12. Houshmand became the first non-Brazilian man to win the event since John John Florence (HAW) in 2016, finally ending the near decade-long Brazilian winning streak.
“It doesn’t seem real, honestly, I’m speechless,” Houshmand said. “It’s been a long year, and it’s been a lot of fun. I frickin’ love this place. I love everything about it. And I’m just doing what I love. It’s amazing. I mean, the fans all week, whether they love me or hate me, it’s the most passionate people in the world. And I love it. I feed off it. I mean, we’re competing in a stadium here. I looked at the beach, and you can’t even see open space. It’s what we dream of and what we live for. I couldn’t imagine anything better.”
Houshmand picked up the highest single-wave score of the event in the opening moments of the Final, earning a 9.40 for exceptional power delivered across a three-turn combo on his forehand. He then built on his backup score over a series of waves, landing on a 7.50 for another forehand combo that included a massive layback hack. After struggling to find a score to match, Colapinto found the biggest wave of the event, snapping a huge backhand hit in the most critical section to post an 8.23 for the single maneuver. Multiple near-makes of impressive airs and turns followed, but an opening 6.17 held in his scoreline, leaving Houshmand’s 16.90 two-wave total as the highest of the event for the win.
“To share another Final with Griffin [Colapinto] is like the dream,” Houshmand continued. “Honestly, I’ve had two Finals on Tour and both have been with Griffin. I just went out there surfing with my best friend. We’re just like, hey, it’s like an expression session. We don’t even know what we’re doing, we’re just going to have fun.”
Colapinto Continues to Rise, Knocking on the Door of the Top 5
Also arriving at Stop No. 7 in Margaret River, Western Australia in danger of the Mid-season Cut, Griffin Colapinto (USA) has turned his season around, now making at least Semifinals in four out of the last five events, including today’s runner-up finish, and the same placing in Margaret River. The 26-year-old now sits just outside the top 5 as World No. 6. On his road to the Final, Colapinto defeated current World No. 1 Jordy Smith (RSA), who claimed the victory over him in Western Australia, as well as his closest rival on the rankings, Ethan Ewing (AUS) at No. 5.
“Congratulations to one of my best friends, Cole Houshmand, for taking the win,” Colapinto said. “I think [this week was about] just trusting life and not getting too stressed out about the results and what’s going to happen and just letting the ocean call the shots, because that’s really what it comes down to at the end of the day. We don’t really know what’s going to come and how it’s all going to unfold. So you just do your best to show up every day, be the best person you can, and let the rest unfold on its own.”
Pupo and Ewing Gain Rankings Ground at the Expense of Former Winners Dora and Ferreira
The Tour’s elder statesman of the Brazilian Storm, 33-year-old Miguel Pupo (BRA), took down another of his countrymen in the Quarterfinals, current World No. 2 and 2023 VIVO Rio Pro winner Yago Dora (BRA), after his emotional defeat of two-time World Champion and four-time event winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the Round of 16. Pupo stayed sharp on his rail as both he and Dora attacked the right on their backhand. Now ranked within the top 10, the Semifinal finish is Pupo’s first since his sole CT victory at the Tahiti Pro in 2022. It also marks his best result yet at home in Brazil and comes after two seasons away from the event, having missed competing here since last making the Mid-season Cut in 2022.
“There were big names that I had to beat to be here,” Pupo said. “It’s about keeping going, I still have work to do. It’s been three long laydays and just trying to rest, you know, trying to keep my mind focused on the job. I know I don’t have the airs, so I was focusing on my turns and the waves I had to choose. I’m happy to come out with the win.”
In a battle of two of the most diverse styles on Tour, 2023 VIVO Rio Pro runner-up Ethan Ewing (AUS) defeated defending event winner Italo Ferreira (BRA). Ewing’s effective use of the rail delivered the only excellent score of the Quarterfinals, an 8.00, and earned him advancement to the Semifinals for the second time in Brazil. With the two surfers sitting next to each other on the rankings, the heat win allowed Ewing, at No. 5, to gain ground on Ferreira, at No. 4, as the race for the Final 5 begins to tighten.
“[Italo Ferreira’s] definitely the crowd favorite,” Ewing said. “Every time he runs down, the beach just erupts, so I was definitely playing into it a bit. I was kind of focusing on getting the better waves, the bigger waves, just to kind of show what I can do. We’re polar opposites, like styles of surfing, so yeah, stoked to get through.”
For more information and highlights from today’s competition at the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Final Results:
1 – Molly Picklum (AUS) 15.00
2 – Luana Silva (BRA) 9.23
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Final Results:
1 – Cole Houshmand (USA) 16.90
2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.40
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 10.43 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 6.57
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.06 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 7.60
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Cole Houshmand (USA) 15.06 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.83
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.84 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.20
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.16 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 4.10
HEAT 2: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.80 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.84
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 10.50 DEF. Arena Rodriguez (PER) 7.17
HEAT 4: Erin Brooks (CAN) 9.84 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 8.94
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.33 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.30
HEAT 2: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.50 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 13.26
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.90 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 9.80
HEAT 4: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.43 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.40
Next Stop: Corona Cero Open J-Bay
