<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Samuel Pupo</strong> (BRA) and <strong>Yolanda Hopkins</strong> (POR) won the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/cs/347/banco-do-brasil-saquarema-pro/main" target="_blank">Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero</a>, Stop No. 5 of the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Challenger Series in challenging two-to-three foot surf and onshore conditions. Pupo earned his second Saquarema Pro win to catapult him into the qualification race, while Hopkins claimed her maiden Challenger Series victory in brilliant form. Important runner-up finishes for <strong>Eli Hanneman </strong>(HAW) and<strong> Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri</strong> (EUK) moved them into the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) qualification race as Hanneman moves to No. 1 and Etxabarri jumps to No. 6. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Pupo’s Steadfast Performances Claim Second Saquarema Pro Win</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2023 Saquarema Pro winner and former Championship Tour (CT) competitor <strong>Samuel Pupo</strong> (BRA) carried the Brazilian support all the way to the podium once again. This marks Pupo’s first Final of the 2025 season and fourth-career Challenger Series victory, sending him up the rankings to No. 2 behind event runner-up <strong>Eli Hanneman</strong> (HAW), who moves to No. 1 with his result.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Thank you everyone for the support. I can’t believe I won here again. This is such a crazy event for me,” said Pupo. “I didn’t have big scores but just kept making it through heats, and the Final was the same again. I just felt like God was there for me every heat and just had that faith it was going to work out every time, and it did. You win here once and when you come back it’s a good memory, but then you think can I do it again? It doesn’t feel real. To go all the way to the Final and win again is unbelievable.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A clash of former CTers and a rematch of their 2023 Semifinal, Pupo and Hanneman’s highly anticipated Final got off to an early start from Pupo, who posted a 5.00 (out of a possible 10). Pupo stayed busy to post a 5.17 after Hanneman’s first opportunity didn’t transpire. Hanneman showed his patience in the tough conditions, but failed to capitalize on a few key opportunities. In the dying moments, the ocean delivered one last opportunity as Hanneman delivered his best wave of the heat. However, it wasn’t enough to meet the requirement, and Pupo emerged victorious once again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pupo cruised into his second Saquarema Pro Final after eliminating <strong>Jordan Lawler </strong>(AUS) in the first men’s Semifinal. Lawler earned his best result this year, marking his first Semifinal appearance since his win on the Gold Coast in 2024. The Narrabeen local shot up to No. 13 on the rankings and is within striking distance of CT qualification. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hanneman posted some of the event’s highest single-wave scores and heat totals, including an excellent 8.50 and 15.67 (out of a possible 20) in his Round of 16 heat earlier this week. The 22-year-old from Maui locked in his second consecutive Semifinals appearance of 2025, and bested <strong>Oscar Berry </strong>(AUS) to earn his first Challenger Series Final since winning the US Open of Surfing in 2023. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I love it here. I love this wave and I love this culture, and the people,” said Hanneman after his Semifinal win. “I'm just super grateful and feel overwhelmed with this gratitude right now. I've been feeling really good this whole trip. Ever since August I was telling myself I was going to win one of these two events to bring that energy in. I got a third in the last one and now I'm in the Final. This morning I let all that go and was just praying to God, let your will be done, and so I'm really content with what happens.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Hopkins’ First Challenger Series Final Ends in Maiden Glory</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After qualifying for the 2026 CT as Portugal’s first full-time woman courtesy of a Quarterfinal victory, <strong>Yolanda Hopkins</strong> (POR) stormed her way atop the podium with her first-ever Challenger Series win. This marked Hopkins' maiden Challenger Series Final, alongside fellow Finalist <strong>Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri</strong> (EUK). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This event, the last couple of years, has been so special. I qualified a few days ago and to win the contest on the same stage is incredible,” said Hopkins. “I was keeping myself calm. The waves were really tricky and knew I needed to put in some really good turns to go against Annette. She’s been surfing so good the whole event. But, today was a bit different surfing on the lower tide, I wasn’t struggling with the high tide waves. I managed to find those bowls on my backside I really like and managed to get a couple turns. I’m just super stoked and it’s been an incredible ride.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopkins struck with the first wave of substance with a 5.83 to get a slight lead on Etxabarri. After a priority mistake from the Basque surfer, Hopkins found a solid back up and asserted herself in the lead. She stayed busy under priority heading into the back half of the Final and found a gem to post the day’s top single-wave score of a 7.33, leaving Etxabarri needing a 9.56 to catch her. Etxabarri was able to find a score that put her back in the heat, though still needing a near-excellent number, but time was against her as the clock expired and crowned Hopkins the event victor. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A brilliant showcase from start to finish from Etxabarri took the Basque Country competitor to her first-ever Challenger Series Final. The 18-year-old surged through competition, overcoming her older sister <strong>Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri </strong>(EUK) in a special Semifinal before taking on Hopkins. The runner-up result sent Etxabarri soaring up the rankings 15 spots where she now sits at No. 6 heading into the break of competition before Pipeline.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I’m super happy to be in the Final. It was a really good Final against Yolanda, an all-European Final and I’m so proud of it,” said Etxabarri. “I’m so proud we came from the [European] QS and that we got to show our surfing.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Rankings Shuffle Recalibrates Qualification Race Heading to Pipeline</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a blistering week of competition, the rankings received a significant overhaul. The first CT qualifiers were established, and new frontrunners took the helm. <strong>Hanneman</strong> and<strong> Hopkins </strong>now lead the charge at No. 1 with the likes of <strong>Pupo</strong>, <strong>Oscar Berry</strong> (AUS), <strong>Etxabarri</strong>, <strong>Winter Vincent</strong> (AUS), and <strong>India Robinson</strong> (AUS) above the qualification line. The Challenger Series season now prepares for a break ahead of returning to the famous North Shore of O‘ahu. Qualification hopefuls will have to take on the proving ground of Pipeline beginning January 28 through February 8 for the Lexus Pipe Challenger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For highlights and more information from today’s competition at the Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 13.16 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2- Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.20</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1- Samuel Pupo (BRA) 10.17</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2- Eli Hanneman (HAW) 9.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Semifinal Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 11.16 DEF Jordan Lawler (AUS) 10.00</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.00 DEF. Oscar Berry (AUS) 10.37 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Next Stop on the 2025 Challenger Series:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next stop, Stop No. 6 of 7, on the 2025 Challenger Series will be the Lexus Pipe Challenger, which holds a competition window from January 28 through February 8. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a> and the free <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/app" target="_blank">WSL app</a>. <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/waystowatch" target="_blank">Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners</a>. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>The Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro Presented by Corona Cero is proudly supported by Banco do Brasil, Corona Cero, the City of Saquarema, the Rio de Janeiro State Secretary of Sports and Leisure, Vivo, Natura Kaiak, Mãe Terra, Riachuelo, Dr. Peanut, Probiótica, Red Bull, and with additional support from Apple Watch, Mormaii E-Motors, and media partner Globo Group, InterTV and Radio Mix.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com.</a></div><div></div><div> </div>