Men's Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2019

Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Martin Potter Talk Gabriel Medina and the 2019 World Title

A thoughtful look at Gabriel Medina’s campaign during the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

Coming into the 2019 Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Gabriel Medina was wearing the yellow jersey and had a chance to clinch his third World Title at the event. Similar to the 2018 scenario, he was in a position where he had the opportunity to win the Title by reaching the pointy end of the event. If his close competitors fell out early, the Title could be his in Portugal.

Until he made a mistake. This is a sentence, and a word, very rarely said in relation to Gabriel Medina. He doesn’t make mistakes.

Watch as we follow Gabriel Medina through his campaign at the 2019 Rip Curl Pro Portugal, and listen as Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Martin Potter narrate through the eyes of World Champions.

Italo Ferreira and Caroline Marks win the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Italo Ferreira and Caroline Marks have just won the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the penultimate stop of the World Surf League Championship Tour. In six-to-eight-foot heaving Supertubos barrels, Italo and Caroline put on incredible performances throughout their quarterfinal and semifinal heats, ultimately taking victory over Jordy Smith and Lakey Peterson in their respective Finals.

Gabriel Medina Rip Curl Pro Portugal

PENICHE, Portugal (Thursday, October 17, 2019) - The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the penultimate stop on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), launched today in wind-affected three-to-five foot surf at Supertubos to complete the Seeding Rounds 1 of both the men’s and women’s divisions. Today marked the first time the elite Top 17 returned to the Peniche lineup since the event’s inception in 2010.
Events No. 9 and 10 on the Women’s and Men’s Championship Tour respectively, and the last stops before the big showdown in Hawaii, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal carry implications in both the World Title race and qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The current Jeep Frontrunner Gabriel Medina (BRA) dominated his Round 1 heat with a mix of high-performance surfing and technical tube ride. The two-time WSL Champion first launched into a huge air on a right and backed up his 8.17 (out of a possible 10) main score with a small but long barrel on his forehand this time to build a massive 14.67 total (out of a possible 20). Coming off one of his worst results ever in France, the Brasilian has a chance to redeem himself this week and even potentially seal the deal on a third World Title in Peniche.
“I knew it was going to be tough with waves all over the place,” said Medina. “So I just tried to catch a lot of them and I landed that one really good air and then just basically fought to find a backup. It’s funny it feels like I’ve been in that position (competing in Portugal with a chance to claim the world title) for ten years. I feel good, I know I need a big result here and I’m not focused on winning it here, I’m ready for Hawaii. I’m just focusing on myself, I really want to make some heats and just make it harder for the other guys.”

Crosby Colapinto Wins Trials for the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Earlier today 18-year-old Crosby Colapinto won the Men’s Trials event at Supertubos, earning himself entry into the main event, the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

This win ushers in the start of Crosby’s second-ever World Tour event, a huge feat for the 18-year-old from San Clemente, California.
Alongside the Trials winner, the World Surf League also gives one Wildcard spot to a local surfer. It was announced today that alongside Crosby Colapinto, Miguel Blanco will have the opportunity to surf as a wildcard in the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Miguel was chosen for his impressive record as 2x National Portuguese Surfing Champion, both in 2018 and 2019.

Congratulations to Crosby Colapinto on winning the Men’s Trials, and good luck to all the wildcards of the 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

Official Trailer | Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2019

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal is back and so are the Women! Running from October 16th to the 28th, one of Portugals heaviest beach breaks, Supertubos will play host to the best male and female surfers in the world

Everything You Need to Know About The Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Go behind the scenes at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. This is your one-stop-shop for everything from wildcards to World Title races.

The town of Peniche is unassuming. Home to one of Portugal’s largest fishing industries, it’s a bustling, working-class economy. At first glance you’d never assume it held any secrets – but if you look just a little bit closer, you’ll see that it plays host to one of the world’s best barrels. Supertubos.