Italo takes Portugal, title race shifts to Pipeline.

Italo Ferreira (BRA) advances to the final of the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro after winning Semifinal Heat 1 in Peniche, Portugal.

The dust is settling in Peniche after a dramatic end to the European leg of the World Tour. Italo beat Medina at his own game in small boostable lefts to take the honours depriving his countryman of nailing another world title. The title race, as it should, will come down to Pipeline. Gabe and Jools are no slouches at the Banzai so it should be a doozy.

The Euro leg has been a highlight of a season plagued by cack surf with plenty of drama, good waves and heavy beatings. It’s also been far more of interest in Carve towers since we realised you can have a flutter on heats. Giving proceedings a lot more interest. Sure the shift to FB has been glitchy and unwelcome but the show is tight, when it works. We look forward to Pipeline and a 2019 of things more or less the same. Seems all the plans for a shorter season and Mentawai play off for the title have been shelved for now…

**WSL PRESS RELEASE**

Italo Ferreira (BRA) has won the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Stop No. 10 of 11 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), over Joan Duru (FRA) in a Final held in clean three-to-four foot (1 – 1.2 metre) surf at the iconic Supertubos beach break. Tens of thousands of fans flocked the beach and dunes of Supertubos to support the athletes and enjoy high-performance surfing at one of Europe’s finest surfing spots. The electric vibe peaked every time surfers took their act to the air and fans lit up in loud cheers.

The 10th edition of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal witnessed incredible performances by the world’s best surfers earlier this week as Supertubos pumped heavy surf, and culminated today with Ferreira’s first-ever win on Portuguese soil.

“This is crazy, I can’t believe it,” Ferreira said. “In my first year I got a second here, so now I’ve got my first win here. Thank you Portugal and thank you to everyone on the beach and my family and friends. I’m so excited. That was a crazy year for me, I got a couple of wins and some bad results, but I’m just living my dream and this is the best feeling.”

Italo Ferreira (BRA) Winner of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2018

World No. 4 Ferreira claimed his third event victory of the season after winning the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Corona Bali Protected earlier this season. Despite being inconsistent with six early losses, the 24-year-old is in his best-ever season on the Championship Tour and will be a strong contender for the World Title race in years to come. In an incredible air show, Ferreira defeated compatriot Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the Semifinals and effectively sent the World Title race to Hawaii by depriving Medina of a win in Portugal.

“I’m still learning and enjoying myself,” Ferreira added. “This is the best job in the world!”

Duru pulled the trigger first in the Final with a combination of two critical backhand turns for a 7.00 (out of 10) to apply pressure on Ferreira early on. But the Brasilian just went to what he does best and landed two back-to-back forehand rotations for a 7.43 and an excellent 8.50 to turn the situation mid-heat. The ocean, unfortunately, did not provide many more opportunities for Duru and the result remained unchanged for the remainder of the Final, giving Ferreira the win.

World No. 33 on the Jeep Leaderboard coming into this event, Duru posted with this runner-up result, his career-highest placing and will rocket up ten spots in the rankings to No. 23, to give himself a strong shot at re-qualifying in the final event of the year in Hawaii (only the Top 22 male surfers will requalify from the Jeep Leaderboard). Duru was the event’s giant-killer, having previously eliminated Filipe Toledo (BRA) in Round 3, Julian Wilson (AUS) in the Quarters and Owen Wright (AUS) in the Semifinals.

Joan Duru (FRA) advances to the final of the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro after winning Semifinal Heat 2 in Peniche, Portugal.

“I’m so stoked and I didn’t have many results before,” Duru said. “I just came here to have fun and make some heats so I’m really stoked to be here and it’s amazing. I really didn’t think about requalification and rankings, I just wanted to surf and that’s it. I’m stoked I had my family, my grandparents and my mom here with me, and thanks to all my friends for the support.”

In the first Semifinal, Ferreira got a quick start with a 7.17 in the early minutes of his exchange with Medina, launching what would become an incredible air show, with a good forehand rotation. Medina did not wait long to reply with a similar wave for a 6.83 and later upgraded to a 7.90 with an alley-oop to take the lead. Both surfers continued to showcase the different variations of their aerial repertoire and Medina seemed in control of the heat. But, out of nowhere, Ferreira pulled the biggest manoeuvre of the whole event for an incredible 9.30 to upset the 2014 World Champion and advance into the Final.

Gabriel Medina (BRA) placed 1st in Quarters 2 at the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2018

With his equal 3rd result in Peniche, Medina further extended his pole position on the Jeep Leaderboard, finishing ahead of his two rivals in the World Title Race, Toledo and Wilson. Coming off of four consecutive excellent results, Medina is undoubtedly the form surfer of the back half of the 2018 season and seems poised to claim a second World Title as the year winds up.

“It was a good heat against Italo as always,” Medina said. “He’s a good friend of mine and he deserved that one. I’m happy with my performance. I know I did my best and now my focus is on Pipe. We didn’t hassle each other, we knew it was going to be an air show. I come from two wins and two thirds so I’m happy with my performance and Pipe is a wave that I like so now I’ll focus on that.”

The Men’s World Title Scenarios going into the last event of the season, the Billabong Pipe Masters in Hawaii, are as follows:

– If Gabriel Medina finishes 1st or 2nd at the Billabong Pipe Masters, he wins the World Title;
– If Gabriel Medina finishes 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Julian Wilson & Filipe Toledo will need to finish 1st;
– If Gabriel Medina finishes 5th-25th, Julian Wilson & Filipe Toledo will need a 2nd or 1st at Pipe.

In the second Semifinal, Duru took on Wright in another goofyfoot showdown, but this time most of the action happened on the wave face. Both surfers attacked the rights on their backhand, but the best wave of the heat came to the Frenchman and he posted a 7.83 to distance himself from Wright and take the spot for the Final. With an Equal 3rd place, Wright posted his second-best result of the season and moved up ahead of Jordy Smith (ZAF) to No. 5 on the rankings before the Billabong Pipe Masters.

Michel Bourez (PYF) is eliminated from the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal with an equal 5th finish after placing second in Quarterfinal Heat 1 in Peniche, Portugal.

Michel Bourez (PYF), the first surfer eliminated today in Quarterfinal 1, kickstarted a return to form with an Equal 5th place in Peniche. The Tahitian surfer started his 2018 season strong with two 5th place results and a runner-up result in the first four events, but then suffered a heavy setback with four consecutive 13th place finishes and an even more unusual last place loss in France. A former Pipe Master, Bourez will have one more chance to redeem himself at the final event of the season in December.

In the second Quarter, World No. 1 Medina lit the beach on fire with aerial mastery and gave his opponent Matt Wilkinson (AUS) no chance with a 16.16 heat total (out of a possible 20). The Australian stuck to a different peak with clean little rights to exploit on his backhand but eventually bowed out in equal 5th place at Supertubos.

Duru continued his giant-killing spree and once again played spoilers in the World Title race as he eliminated Wilson in the third Quarterfinal. In a slow heat, Wilson waited too patiently to start putting scores on the board while his opponent was building his scoreline on smaller waves. Eventually, the gap was too big for the Australian to fill and he placed equal 5th. Wilson needed to advance through to the Semifinals to push the title race to Pipeline.

The last Quarterfinal continued with the slow pattern and once again it was a goofyfoot who found the best opportunities early on. Wright surfed a very similar heat to Duru’s and put together a 5.00 and a 6.17 (out of a possible 10) to eliminate Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in equal 5th. The Japanese surfer failed to advance into a fourth Semifinal this season but put on a satisfying result following a disappointing 25th in France.

For highlights from the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

The men will now head to the North Shore of Oahu for the final event on the Championship Tour, the Billabong Pipe Masters. The event window will open on December 8 and run through December 20, 2018.

The women’s World Title will also be decided in Hawaii at the Beachwaver Maui Pro, which holds a competitive window from November 25 – December 6, 2018.

Both events will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL’s Facebook page. Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Final Results:
1 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.93
2 – Joan Duru (FRA) 10.77

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.47 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.73
SF 2: Joan Duru (FRA) 13.60 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.00

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.10 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 5.20
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.16 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.03
QF 3: Joan Duru (FRA) 11.57 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 5.10
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 11.17 def. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 4.60

2018 WSL Men’s CT Jeep Leaderboard (After MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal):
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 56,190 pts
2 – Julian Wilson (AUS) 51,450 pts
2 – Filipe Toledo (BRA) 51,450 pts
4 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 43,070 pts
5 – Owen Wright (AUS) 35,570 pts

Italo Ferreira (BRA) is the winner of the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2018

Brutal shift at Supertubos…

Michel Bourez (PYF) advances to Round 4 of the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal after winning Heat 5 of Round 3 in Peniche, Portugal.

The penultimate event on the Men’s World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, resumed in firing eight-to-ten foot surf (2.5 – 3 metre) for a third full day of action to decide the event’s first Quarterfinalists at Supertubos. The day witnessed incredible performances from the world’s best surfers, heavy wipeouts as competitors chased big barrels, and a major upset in the World Title campaign.

Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Neymar Jr after Gabriel Medina (BRA) win Heat 2 or Round 4 at the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2018

In order to stop current World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) from winning the title at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, No. 2 Filipe Toledo (BRA) had to win his Round 3 heat to guarantee a 9th place finish. In a dramatic turn of events, World No. 33 Joan Duru (FRA) upset Toledo’s World Title plans with a win in their Round 3 matchup.

Joan Duru (FRA) advances to Round 4 of the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal after winning Heat 7 of Round 3 in Peniche, Portugal. Duru caused an upset by eliminating World Title contender Filipe Toledo (BRA).

Duru started well with a smaller backhand barrel for a 6.50 (out of a possible 10) to take the lead with a minor backup score. Toledo reacted and got a clean – but short – tube, complemented with a couple of turns for a 5.43. He quickly found a better wave to post a 6.67 to turn the heat with a combination of four good turns. But the Frenchman got one final opportunity where he locked in a quick barrel and finished the wave with three turns for a 6.00 to upset the World Title contender right on the buzzer.

“This morning was a really tough heat and I was stoked to make it through,” Duru said. “Waves are similar to what we surf at home but the rips are much stronger. If you get taken in it there’s really nothing to surf, so it’s all about trying to stay just outside in clean waters. I’m not focused on rankings at all, I really have nothing to lose. I feel like I’ve been unlucky a lot this year and I couldn’t really show what I can do, so in these last two events I really want to just surf as well as I can and enjoy competing.”

World Title contender Julian Wilson (AUS) advances to Round 4 of the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal after winning Heat 12 of Round 3 in Peniche, Portugal.

With Toledo now eliminated from the competition, Medina has one less opponent to stop him from clinching the title early in Peniche. Current World No. 3 Julian Wilson (AUS) needs to make the Semifinals in order to push the World Title race to the Billabong Pipe Masters this December. Toledo could also lose his No. 2 spot if Wilson keeps his excellent form and posts another big result in Portugal.

By the time Round 4 hit the water, the tide had dropped and some of the waves squared off to provide huge drops into Pipeline-esque barrels. The second heat of Round 4 carried huge World Title implications as Medina took on Michel Bourez (PYF) and local hero Frederico Morais (PRT). Medina, 2014 World Champion and Jeep Leader, was the first surfer to find a couple of decent waves to exploit on his backhand with quick turns for two 5.00 point rides for the lead. He continued to build momentum and found a 6.67 to strengthen his position. Behind him, Bourez found a couple of small scores to place second and unfortunately for the huge crowds, Morais could never find any score in a difficult lineup.

“That was a tricky heat and we were all just looking for anything,” Medina stated. “I found a few and I’m happy to make it through. That was an important round with good points. Hopefully, it gets better and we can finish this contest in good waves. I have family here and my good friend Neymar came today, it’s good to have that kind of support. We’re chasing the same thing, being the best at what we do and he’s an inspiration for me.”

Medina advancing into the Quarters means he still has a chance to clinch his second World Title early when competition continues.

The Men’s World Title scenarios are as follows:

– Only Medina can claim the title in Portugal by winning the event.
– If Medina wins the event, Toledo will need a 9th or better and Wilson a 3rd or better to take the World Title decision to Hawaii;
– If Medina finishes 2nd or worse in Portugal, the WSL Title will be decided in Hawaii.

Wilson made sure to advance through to Round 4 to have a shot at stopping Medina’s possible title run in Peniche. The Australian, fresh off a win in France, locked into a long and deep barrel on his forehand to post the day’s highest single number of 8.67 and take a crucial win over Ian Gouveia (BRA).

“Conditions have been amazing with so many beautiful waves coming through,” Wilson said. “The tide’s getting low, and it’s getting pretty scary out there but this is what we come here to surf. I’ve had many barrels like that one here and if you don’t come out clean it just takes your head off. On that one I just kind of widened my stance and had five pumps in the barrel chasing that thing down and I was so relieved to come out.”

The other standout of Round 3 was his compatriot Owen Wright (AUS) who tied with Wilson with an 8.67 of his own, for a late drop into a cavern on his backhand, coming out with the spit and into a big snap for the win into Round 4. Adrian Buchan (AUS) will join Wilson and Wright in the last heat of Round 4 when the event resumes.

Round 4 Heat 1, between Italo Ferreira (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Ezekiel Lau (HAW), offered a few great waves, starting with Ferreira’s 7.33 backhand barrel. The Brasilian backed up his main score with a two-turn combo for a 7.27 and a firm hold on the lead. Wilkinson found a similar left to lay two big turns for a 7.47 for second place. Lau, on the other hand, committed to a couple of big drops to deep barrels but couldn’t find the exits and finished his heat with two minimal scores, eliminated in Equal 9th.

“It’s so good to be in the Quarters again,” Ferreira said. “That was a good heat, I caught a lot of waves and tried my best on every single one. There’s a lot of current out there, it’s hard to find a wave that’s why I caught a lot of them to try different manoeuvres and try to get barreled.”

The third heat of Round 4 wrapped up the action for the day with a battle between Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Wade Carmichael (AUS), and Duru. Duru and Igarashi shared the action for the first twenty minutes, building a healthy scoreboard each, while Carmichael stood patiently in the lineup only opting to surf his first wave with ten minutes remaining. Duru’s backhand vertical attack gave him the lead with 11.50 over Igarashi’s 9.10. Carmichael only came back extremely late in the heat and didn’t have enough time for a second decent score, ultimately placing Equal 9th.

Duru advanced into the Quarterfinals for the first time this season and will need a strong finish in Portugal and Hawaii if he wants to keep his spot amongst the Top 34 next season. He is currently ranked 33rd on the Jeep Leaderboard with only the Top 22 earning places on the men’s Championship Tour.

A few other surfers lost big in Round 3, starting with World No. 10 Kolohe Andino (USA), who collected a second consecutive 13th place after France, after finding an in-form Lau on his way. Andino and Lau tied for first place but the Hawaiian’s highest single score gave him the win.

Jordy Smith (ZAF) is eliminated from the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal with an equal 13th finish after placing second in Heat 3 of Round 3 in Peniche, Portugal.

World No. 5 Jordy Smith (ZAF) suffered a similar fate, losing to Wilkinson by a mere .06 points, despite scoring the heat’s best wave. Conner Coffin (USA) joined the list of shocking early exits in Round 3, as the Californian couldn’t match the power of Morais and flair in shifty supertubes.

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow morning, Friday, October 19, at 8:00 a.m. WEST to reassess conditions and decide the day’s schedule.

Surfline, the forecast partner of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, is calling for:

Midsize WNW swell fills in further on Thursday before fading Friday. Breezy side-offshore N to NNE wind is expected both days. The weekend should bring another fun size NW swell, with lighter and more favourable wind. Another fun size pulse of WNW swell looks increasingly likely early next week, with much slower surf for the final few days of the event window. 

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.66 def. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.30
Heat 2: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 13.40 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.40
Heat 3: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.83 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.77
Heat 4: Frederico Morais (PRT) 11.33 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 10.40
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.33 def. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.14
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.60 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 7.33
Heat 7: Joan Duru (FRA) 12.50 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.10
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.60 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.77
Heat 9: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 10.17 def. Tomas Hermes (BRA) 5.30
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.27 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 6.97
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.66 def. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 7.03
Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.90 def. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 7.17

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 4 (H1-3) Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.60, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.30, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 6.00
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.67, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.84, Frederico Morais (PRT) 3.63
Heat 3: Joan Duru (FRA) 11.50, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 9.10, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 7.93

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Remaining Round 4 (H4) Matchups:
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)

World Title contender Filipe Toledo (BRA) is eliminated from the 2018 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal with an equal 13th finish after placing second in Heat 7 of Round 3 in Peniche, Portugal.

Quik & Roxy Pro France

Julian Wilson (AUS) Winner of the Quiksilver Pro France 2018

The wave gods made the the crew sweat for it this year down in Les Landes but after a week of iffy surf the Quik and Roxy Pro finally came good with plenty of drama on finals day… The next event kicks off in Portugal tomoz.

–WSL PRESS RELEASE–

Julian Wilson (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA) won the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France, Stop No. 9 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The final day of competition witnessed Wilson and Conlogue plow through a stacked field to earn their momentous wins at the 17th running of the iconic French event.

Wilson’s victory in France is his second of the season after the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast earlier this year. Only a month before the 2018 season opener on the Gold Coast, Wilson suffered a serious shoulder injury and it was unclear whether he would be able to compete. The win today proves his determination and the fact that the 29-year-old is not giving up his hopes for a maiden World Title. Wilson now strengthens his third place position with only 4,645 points separating him and World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA).

“My emotions come from dedicating this win to Pierre Agnes,” Wilson said. “He was such a beautiful human being. Thank you, Pierre. All the surfers love you. The moment of silence before the Final shook me, everything he’s done for surfing here in France and I’ve always dreamt of winning this event.”

Courtney Conlogue (USA) is the WINNER of the 2018 Roxy Pro France after winning the final in Hossegor, France.

Conlogue has been fighting her way back to the top following a foot injury that sidelined her for the first half of the season and today’s victory marks a triumphant confirmation of her new-found form following a win at the Vans US Open of Surfing and a fifth-place finish at the Surf Ranch Pro. The Championship Tour veteran, in her eighth year competing with the Top 17, claims her first-ever win in France and the eleventh of her career, pushing her up to No. 8 on the Jeep Leaderboard.

Courtney Conlogue (USA) is the WINNER of the 2018 Roxy Pro France after winning the final in Hossegor, France.

“This whole event has been quite the journey,” Conlogue stated. “I had a lot of fun out there today, the conditions were so clean in that Final and I was just frothing. I had to keep my cool cause I was feeling like a grom! I wanted to be here in this position [with two event wins], but it was a matter of believing and working really hard. I came here with a little injury, but it was good cause it made me slow down a bit and forced me to maintain energy over the lay days.”

Julian Wilson (AUS) placed 1st in semis 2 at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France 2018

In a slow start to the men’s Final, Ryan Callinan (AUS) fired first with a good left, hitting the lip multiple times all the way into the shorebreak for a 6.83 (out of a possible 10) and the lead. Following a short interruption due to the evening fog coming through the lineup, Wilson answered with a tail-high full rotation for a 6.67 to tighten up the battle. Just before the 10-minute mark, Callinan laid into a powerful layback snap to grasp the Final’s lead with a 7.40. But Wilson picked up where he left off in the Semifinals and launched a big backhand full rotation for an excellent 8.67 to steal the lead off the wildcard. Time ran out on Callinan chasing a 7.95 and Wilson took the win.

“To share the Final with Ryan (Callinan) was incredible too,” Wilson added. “I loved surfing against (Gabriel) Medina, too. There’s just so much I can be thankful for. I had to bring my A-game to beat Ryan in the final. I’ve lost my first Final here against Medina and I think I hold a grudge since then and this year finally it happened.”

Ryan Callinan (AUS) advances to the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Quiksilver Pro France after winning Heat 2 of Round 4 in Hossegor, France.

Callinan comes off a tear on the Qualifying Series, culminating with his win at the QS 10,000 in Ericeira two weeks ago, which sealed the deal on his qualification for the 2019 Championship Tour. The goofyfoot from Newcastle perfectly transitioned to the big leagues in this event, showing he deserves a full-time spot with the world’s best surfers. Callinan spent one season on the CT in 2016 but never made it past 9th place back then, and the runner-up result today marks a career-best achievement for the 26-year-old.

“This doesn’t feel real but more like a dream,” Callinan said. “I’m sure it’ll sink in soon though and I’m just so happy to be here and be a part of it in France. It’s really exciting. I couldn’t have asked for anything better [than sharing the final with Julian Wilson], even finishing second to him, I know he’s going for something special and that was a big event for him. We’ve grown to be really good friends and I was happy to share that special moment with him.”

Callinan will have another opportunity to show his place amongst the world elite as the wildcard on the next stop on the men’s CT, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which opens on October 16, 2018.

The 2018 WSL Title race previously heated up in the men’s second Semifinal as Medina and Wilson fought it out for a place in the Final. The 30-minute heat was an unbelievable exchange of aerial mastery between two of the most progressive surfers on the planet. Wilson launched and landed a crazy inverted backhand rotation to post the event’s first Perfect 10 point ride and defended it with a good 6.67 for the win. Medina fought back with a great wave on which he performed two airs, a straight air with a grab first and a forehand rotation to finish it, but the score came in as a 7.77, short of the 9.01 required score to turn the heat.

Wilson’s incredible performance deprived the 2014 World Champion of a shot at a third straight event win in France and put a stop to his incredible streak on the Championship Tour lately. The 3rd place finish now vaults Medina to first on the leaderboard and he will now wear the yellow Jeep Leader Jersey at the upcoming MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

Roxy Pro France winner Conlogue started the Final against Macy Callaghan (AUS) with a massive layback snap on a set wave to post a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) on this single, highly technical manoeuvre. The Californian quickly backed it up and continued to build momentum, surfing the long rights with her aggressive forehand attack to eventually build a 14.74 heat total (out of a possible 20). Callaghan fought on a similar playing field, catching several good rights but couldn’t quite match Conlogue’s power in the turns or link together a long wave to get back in the fight. With only two average scores on the board, the 17-year-old Australian never really threatened Conlogue for the win.

“I said before the Final that if I can find some rhythm and if the ocean and I can link up and have the same high voltage then I can put in a statement performance, which I think I did,” said Conlogue. “It’s a huge win in a place I love. I couldn’t be happier.”

Injury replacement Macy Callaghan (AUS) finishes runner-up in the 2018 Roxy Pro France after placing second in the final in Hossegor, France. The final was the first Championship Tour finals appearance for 17-year old Callaghan.

Callaghan, 17, is Australia’s next up-and-coming superstar. As the 2016 World Junior Champion, all eyes have been on the young surfer as she has been given the opportunity to compete on the WSL CT as a replacement for injured CT competitors. Today’s finish marks Callaghan’s career-best result in only her eighth time competing at the most elite level of professional surfing. On the cusp of qualification for the 2019 season, she will undoubtedly be a competitor to watch and a key player in surfing’s next generation.

“I had a bad run at the start of the year and Bells was probably the low point,” Callaghan stated. “I was emotional and not in a good place. I wasn’t believing in myself or my surfing. I haven’t even made the Final of a big Qualifying Series event before, so to make my first Championship Tour Final is unbelievable. I’m disappointed that I didn’t perform to my best in the Final, but the bigger picture is so positive. There’s been a big change and that is that I believe in myself and my surfing. I’ve learned so much here in France and had so much fun doing it. I’ll never forget this experience.”

Callaghan had an amazing road to the Final in France, defeating many great surfers on her way to a career-best result. It started in Round 2 with a victory over Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), continued with a second place in Round 3, eliminating veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the process, and two wins over Coco Ho (HAW) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

Three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) started her Semifinal with a good sized right and a beautiful drawn-out carve, finishing the wave with a radical snap for a 7.83 and the early lead. But while her opponent – eventual winner Conlogue – was keeping busy catching waves, the Hawaiian scoured the lineup unable to find a wave to her liking. Moore eventually picked up a wave in the last minute of the heat but it shut down too early and she couldn’t score the required 6.31, placing Equal 3rd and missing her chance to earn a third-straight event title in France.

In the second Semifinal, Macaulay couldn’t keep the excellent form she’s been displaying since the start of the event and was forced to watch Callaghan’s success story continue. The Australian goofyfoot captured a career-second Semifinal berth, the first of her 2018 season.

The final stop on the Women’s WSL Championship Tour will be the Beachwaver Maui Pro. The holding period will open November 25 and run through December 6, 2018. During this time, event officials will monitor the conditions and run the event during the best conditions.

The World Title scenarios are as follows:

– Gilmore will win the World Title with a 3rd or better at the Beachwaver Maui Pro.
– If Gilmore finishes 5th or worse, Peterson must win the event to force a surf-off* for the World Title.
*In the event of a tie for any World Title at the end of the Surfing Season, the tied Surfer will have a “surf-off” during the final Event, which will have the format determined by the Commissioner’s Office. 

The next stop on the Men’s WSL Championship Tour will be the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which holds a competitive window from October 16 – October 27, 2018. As the penultimate stop for the men’s CT, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be critical to the 2018 World Title race. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL’s Facebook page. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

For highlights from the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:
1 – Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.34
2 – Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.23

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.30 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.43
SF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.67 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.44

Quiksilver Pro France Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Conner Coffin (USA) 13.50 def. Adriano De Souza (BRA) 7.83
QF 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.77 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.03
QF 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.10 def. Mikey Wright (AUS) 14.23
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.44 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 10.73

Quiksilver Pro France Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Conner Coffin (USA) 12.50, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.20, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.80
Heat 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 18.53, Adriano De Souza (BRA) 16.50, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 12.44
Heat 3: Mikey Wright (AUS) 13.96, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.90, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 6.70
Heat 4: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.90, Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.07

2018 WSL Men’s CT Jeep Leaderboard (After Quiksilver Pro France):
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 51,770 pts
2 – Filipe Toledo (BRA) 51,450 pts
3 – Julian Wilson (AUS) 47,125 pts
4 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 33,490 pts
5 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 32,020 pts

Roxy Pro France Final Results:
1 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.76
2 – Macy Callaghan (AUS) 10.96

Roxy Pro France Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.14 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.26
SF 2: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 14.33 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 10.73

Roxy Pro France Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.67 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.33
QF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.50 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.83
QF 3: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 13.60 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 10.87
QF 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 12.83 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.40

2018 WSL Women’s CT Jeep Leaderboard (After Roxy Pro France):
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 61,175 pts
2 – Lakey Peterson (USA) 54,260 pts
3 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 44,770 pts
4 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 44,235 pts
5 – Johanne Defay (FRA) 39,895 pts

Quik Pro Kicks Off … Finally!

Julian Wilson

Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), continued today in ideal four-to-six foot (1.2 – 1.8 metre) conditions at Plage des Culs Nus. The women kicked off the morning to complete Round 2 and narrow the field from 18 to 12. After waiting a week to get the Quiksilver Pro started, the men did not disappoint in the building conditions to complete Rounds 1 and the first two heats of Round 2.

World No. 3 Julian Wilson (AUS) and No. 4 Italo Ferreira (BRA) scored some of the biggest numbers in the men’s opening round. Wilson put together a dreamy French combination, starting with a long and deep barrel, followed by an alley-oop and finishing with a big snap to round up the wave for an 8.50 (out of a possible 10) and the win.

“I knew there were opportunities out there and that I’d be able to roll the dice quite a few times,” Wilson explained. “That first wave was probably the best one I rode in the heat and I probably did my best surfing on it as well so it’s nice to get rewarded for it. Being a parent is the most amazing and most challenging thing in the world, but it’s so beautiful to have my family here. I’m happy to put on a good performance because there have been some challenging days.”

Ferreira stuck to the wave face and destroyed a big right on his backhand with two highly critical turns in the lip for a 7.00. He backed it up with a longer but softer wave for a 6.40 to advance into Round 3 as well and send Keanu Asing (HAW) and Yago Dora (BRA) into the elimination Round 2.

“Today is so beautiful,” Ferreira stated. “I woke up early and surfed before the sun came out, and when it did the day was incredible and the waves were pumping. There are a lot of peaks and a lot of waves, so I just tried to catch the good ones and I’m happy to be in the next round.”

The World Title race came into play with Heats 5 and 6 with the two current frontrunners Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Filipe Toledo (BRA). Medina faced Tomas Hermes (BRA) and replacement wildcard Ryan Callinan (AUS), who found a long barrel on his backhand for a 6.83, the heat’s highest single score. Medina fought back with backhand turns on the rights as well and managed to build an 11.93 heat total (out of a possible 20) to skip Round  2.

“It was really hard out there and I struggled to find some wall to do my turns,” Medina said. “I love surfing in France, it’s very similar as where I grew up and surfed all my life. There are still three events to go and Filipe (Toledo) and I are pretty close now. I’m focused on my own thing. I know if I can do as well as I’ve done in the last two events I could win that title, so I’ll do my best.”

In the following heat, Jeep Frontrunner Toledo couldn’t find the right waves and faced tough competition in Connor O’Leary (AUS) and local wildcard Jorgann Couzinet (FRA). In a low-scoring affair, O’Leary found two average waves and walked away with the win, sending the current World No. 1 into a deadly matchup in Round 2 against Couzinet.

Toledo did not let the pressure of the situation get to him and in the opening heat of Round 2 against the French wildcard. The Brasilian stepped into the next gear to post a 15.84 win to save himself and advance into Round 3.

“I didn’t feel any stress at all, I just couldn’t find my feet on a right wave before,” Toledo said. “I had a couple of Round 2 heats this year and still ended up in Finals Day so I know anything is possible. The waves were super fun and I’m stoked to be into Round 3. Good surfing and big scores definitely give me more momentum and confidence.”

Jordy Smith

The opening heat of the Quiksilver Pro France featured power surfers Jordy Smith (ZAF), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), and Matt Wilkinson (AUS). After a few opening low scores, Smith was the first to strike with a quick barrel on a right and a full rotation as he exited for a near-excellent score of 7.83. Lau answered with two similar waves: two rights where he got fully covered before laying into a big forehand gauge, to put two good scores on the board and claim the lead. But in the dying moments, the South African found a deep backhand barrel on a slightly smaller wave to post the winning ride advance in first.

“When you see such a good wave come your way with only a minute to go you almost believe it’s happened before you even go,” Smith said. “It’s hard enough to find a good wave like that out there but it just pops out when you need it it’s a pretty good feeling. This puts me into Round 3, is always good but for the most part, it just gives me a bit of confidence. ”

2017 event runner-up Sebastian Zietz (HAW) is off to a strong start after winning his first heat against Owen Wright (AUS) and local favorite Joan Duru (FRA). Adriano de Souza (BRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS) and Patrick Gudauskas (USA) all put together convincing efforts to win their opening round matchups with scoreboards above 13 points.

Griffin Colapinto

The competition went on hold for an hour nearing high-tide as the judges moved up north along the beach to set up in front of a pumping A-Frame that offered more opportunities. When the event got back underway, Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Mikey Wright (AUS) found long lefts to attack backside in Heats 10 and 11 to advance into Round  3.

2012 WSL Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) in his last Quiksilver Pro France effort had to deal with a slightly slower lineup but managed to link together a couple of decent rides to take a Round 1 win and send event favourite Jeremy Flores (FRA) as well as Willian Cardoso (BRA) into the elimination Round 2.

“It’s awesome being here with my family,” Parkinson said. “They’ve been good caddies today and I’ve done alright considering I had a shocker on a good wave. It’s amazing to be back, it feels like a victory lap an I’m glad the waves are pumping. I had a two-hour free surf this morning and had a smile on my face ever since. Regardless of the result, it’s going to be an enjoyable event.”

Ryan Callinan (AUS) blew up in the very last heat of the day right before sunset and put together the day’s most inspired performance to eliminate Owen Wright (AUS) with an amazing 16.10 heat total. The former Championship Tour surfer, who claimed a wildcard spot by being the highest surfer on the Qualifying Series coming into France, will soon be a full-time surfer within the Elite Top 34 again and can gain valuable jersey-time in Hossegor this week.

The remaining three heats of the Roxy Pro France’s Round 2 were completed prior to the men’s opening round. Top seeds Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA) advanced into Round 3 past Pauline Ado (FRA) and Sage Erickson (USA),  respectively. Injury replacement Macy Callaghan (AUS) narrowly defeated World No. 8 Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in a tight battle for first place and made her way into Round 3 for the second time this season.

“This year has been made of a lot of learning curves for sure,” Callaghan said. “But it’s been really fun. I’m travelling with a great bunch of people, and I feel like I’m learning a lot. This was a scrappy heat and a hard one with Nikki (Van Dijk). I don’t think I’ve put my best surfing on but I’m glad that I made it.”

The women’s Roxy Pro heat draw is now set for Round 3. Round 3 will mark the first elimination heats for World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and World No. 2 Lakey Peterson (USA). With a World Title on the line in France, both surfers need to dodge early exits. For Gilmore, losing before the Semifinals means she will be unable to clinch the World Title early. For Peterson, she will need to finish ahead of Gilmore in order to push the race to the last stop on the WSL Tour, the Beachwaver Maui Pro.

The World Title scenarios are as follows:
*- Gilmore is the only surfer who can clinch the title at the Roxy Pro France

– If Gilmore wins the event, she takes the title
– If Peterson wins the event the title goes to Maui
– If Gilmore finishes 2nd (runner-up) and Peterson finishes 3rd or below, Gilmore wins the title
– If Gilmore finishes 3rd (Semifinalist) and Peterson finishes 5th or below, Gilmore below the title. If Peterson finishes 3rd or better the title goes to Beachwaver Maui Pro for a potential surf off
– If Gilmore finishes 5th or below, the title goes to Beachwaver Maui Pro*

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:45 a.m. CEST to reassess the conditions and make the next call.

Surfline, the forecast partner of the WSL, is calling for:

New, mid-period and medium-size NW swell will build through the day on Tuesday and hold Wednesday before trending down Thursday. Wind looks favourable all day Tuesday and for the first half of Wednesday, with less favourable conditions Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.  Another mid-size WNW swell is possible Friday, with larger surf over the weekend

Frederico Morais

Roxy Pro France Remaining Round 2 (H4-6) Results:
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.93 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.54
Heat 5: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.43 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 8.30
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.20 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 8.80

Roxy Pro France Round 3 Matchups:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW), Johanne Defay (FRA), Vahine Fierro (PYF)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA), Coco Ho (HAW), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Macy Callaghan (AUS)

Quiksilver Pro France Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.86, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 13.33, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.07
Heat 2: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 10.70, Owen Wright (AUS) 10.56, Joan Duru (FRA) 9.50
Heat 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.40, Keanu Asing (HAW) 10.70, Yago Dora (BRA) 4.57
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.67, Frederico Morais (PRT) 10.46, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 7.74
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.93, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 11.26, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.33
Heat 6: Connor O’Leary (AUS) 10.17, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 9.10, Jorgann Couzinet (REU) 4.00
Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.50, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.50, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 8.00
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.43, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 13.23, Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.97
Heat 9: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 6.67, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 1.50
Heat 10: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.24, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.90, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 10.83
Heat 11: Mikey Wright (AUS) 15.30, Conner Coffin (USA) 13.73, Michael February (ZAF) 10.77
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.93, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.67, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5.90

Quiksilver Pro France Round 2 (H1-2) Results 
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.84 def. Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 7.77
Heat 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 16.10 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.17

Quiksilver Pro France Remaining Round 2 (H3-12) Matchups:
Heat 3: Wade Carmichael (AUS) vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)
Heat 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 5: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 6: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 7: Willian Cardoso (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 9: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 10: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Michael February (ZAF)
Heat 11: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 12: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Frederico Morais (PRT)

Adriano de Souza

Surf Ranch Pro Day 1

Courtney Conlogue (USA) has a heat total of 13.54 points (out of a possible 20.00) after her Qualifying Run 1 at the 2018 Surf Ranch Pro in Lemoore, CA, USA.

Did you watch the Surf Ranch Pro? Were you transfixed by the world’s best in Kelly’s mindbending repurposed wakeboarding lake? Is surfing on a level playing field good for the sport? Or are the whims of the ocean what keeps it interesting? Definitely feel sorry for the judges that’s for sure…

–WSL PRESS RELEASE–

The inaugural Surf Ranch Pro presented by Hurley commenced yesterday in Lemoore, California with the world’s best surfers taking on inland California’s man-made wave, the Surf Ranch. Surfing in a format new to the Champion Tour (CT), eighteen men and ten women tested the leaderboard structure today at Stop No. 8 on the World Surf League (WSL) CT.

The competition today and tomorrow host the Qualifying Rounds, where each surfer will surf four waves each (two rights and two lefts). On Saturday, all competitors will have one last chance to make the Final with two more waves (one right and one left).

Kelly Slater (USA), the wave’s co-creator and 11-time WSL Champion, ignited the day’s performances with a big 8.50 (out of a possible 10) on his right-hander in Run 2 and totaled a 14.57 (out of a possible 20). Slater’s opening run was easily forgettable, but he came back firing to make up for it and now holds the No. 1 spot for the men’s event.

“For us first guys going it’s a lot of pressure on us to set the standard so we can be in the mix later,” Slater said. “I feel like I surfed the left better on my first wave but the second one I was chasing and not transitioning well. The first run was below average. I fell on both and felt like I should’ve been a touch deeper. But, just the way the tube section works, sometimes the wave slows down right there and forces you out then you just pull back in.”

11X World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has a heat total of 14.57 points (out of a possible 20.00) after his Qualifying Run 1 and 2 at the 2018 Surf Ranch Pro in Lemoore, CA, USA.

Surf Ranch Pro Trials winner Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) surfed the event’s first wave to the tune of an average 4.50, letting his nerves prevail. Ohhara recovered on his second run for a 6.00 and still has two waves to showcase his talents.

Joan Duru (FRA) took over his opening day runs against Keanu Asing (HAW) and Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) after following up on his second run right-hander with explosive backhand surfing to garner a 6.23, which moved into No. 2 on the overall standings. However, Ian Gouveia (BRA) came out and took the No. 2 from Duru with a 7.23 and 7.10. The Brasilian has put his time in at the WSL Surf Ranch, coming up from Southern California every chance he could, and it’s showing in his early performances.

“I just wanted to go out and get two good scores so I could really push it Saturday,” Gouveia said. “It felt good to get that 7 on my second left after getting a decent score on my first try. I’ve been out here as much as I can to learn this wave because it’s still so tricky, but the more you surf it the more comfortable you can feel. I’m looking forward to the next one and going for more to stay in for the finals.”

Tomas Hermes (BRA) made a charge up the leaderboard to No. 3 following his terrific display of WSL Surf Ranch knowledge, but it was Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) who topped Slater for the highest single-wave score of men’s opening day with an 8.67 after locking into a deep barrel ride and then delivering multiple power turns. The Kauai, Hawaii, native knows the importance of this event and is eyeing down a much-needed result, but sits just outside the top 8 on the standings after Adriano de Souza (BRA) pushed him out with a solid performance.

“I’m kind of on the bubble at World No. 21 and there’s a big point gap so I’m just trying to climb up there with a big result,” Zeitz said. “I was a little nervous after the test event since it suited the smaller guys more, but after getting that 8.67 I know it can be done. The goofy-footers have a little more room to move on the left, but it’s definitely the most level playing field that surfing’s seen and in that case the best surfer should win.”

The world’s best women followed suit with impressive surfing. Coco Ho (HAW) leads the pack with Californians Sage Erickson (USA) in second and Courtney Conlogue (USA) in third.

Wrapping up a brilliant day of competition, Ho shook off her subpar practice waves and delivered a jaw-dropping performance. The ten-year CT veteran stepped up with the day’s top single-scoring wave of women’s competition, an 8.17, and heat total of 14.94.

“I actually fell on my first two practice waves, so I didn’t come here confident, but I just hopped on the board I rode in Spain and it felt amazing,” Ho said. “Knowing there’s not a lot of pressure on the Qualifying Series (QS) anymore put me in a good mindset whether I fell on those waves or not. But, we were just laughing about it because the next wave isn’t until Saturday, which I think shows who’s a natural on their board and not able to surf for a few days then come back perform.”

Event wildcard Bethany Hamilton (HAW), injury replacement Macy Callaghan (AUS), and Paige Hareb (NZL) got opening round action underway as Hareb’s backhand attack shined to earn a 13.00 heat total and the outright lead — but only briefly after Sage Erickson’s (USA) debut. The Ojai, California, native stepped up and delivered on her second right to earn a solid 14.07 heat total heading into the weekend’s third run.

“I couldn’t have anticipated how it was going to feel being in the pool, alone, with the jersey on and I’m happy to say I’m loving it,” Erickson said. “I’m loving competing more than ever in this event because there’s a perfect wave under my feet. Mentally I feel good and my ability has been there this year, but I haven’t had the chance to show that or feel confident. But, here I do being in California even though there’s still a lot of work to do. I’m excited to have my family and friends here this weekend so I think I’ll be in even higher spirits.”

Bethany Hamilton (HAW) has a heat total of 9.26 points (out of a possible 20.00) after her Qualifying Run 1 at the 2018 Surf Ranch Pro in Lemoore, CA, USA.

With the eight surfers completing rides ranging from throwaway scores to excellent surfing, six-time WSL Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), and World Title contender Lakey Peterson (USA) know what’s required of them tomorrow.

During the Qualifying Round, each athlete will surf six waves (three lefts and three rights) over three runs (made up of one left and one right consecutively). The best scoring right and the best scoring left are added together to create each athlete’s total score. At the end of the Qualifying Round the Top 8 Men and Top 4 Women on the leaderboard will advance to Final.

The Final will see each athlete surf another three runs (six waves total) and the male and female surfers with the highest score will win the event.

Competition will resume tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. PST with Malia Manuel (HAW) up first.

Men’s Surf Ranch Pro Qualifying Round Leaderboard Top 8:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 14.57
2 – Ian Gouveia (BRA) 14.33
3 – Tomas Hermes (BRA) 14.20
4 – Yago Dora (BRA) 13.80
5 – Joan Duru (FRA) 13.73
6 – Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.70
7 – Connor O’Leary (AUS) 13.56
8 – Adriano De Souza (BRA) 13.56

Women’s Surf Ranch Pro Qualifying Round Leaderboard Top 4:
1 – Coco Ho (HAW) 14.94
2 – Sage Erickson (USA) 14.07
3 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.54
4 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.00

Yago Dora (BRA) has a heat total of 13.80 points (out of a possible 20.00) after his Qualifying Run 1 and 2 at the 2018 Surf Ranch Pro in Lemoore, CA, USA.