Surfers Gear Up for MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing

Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) are ready to battle in the MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing, at Ribeira d’Ilhas, as the WSL Countdown event kicks off on September 29, 2020. Pictured during the Press Conference. Image credit: / WSL / Poullenot

Sunday, September 27, 2020

The Euro Cup of Surfing continues this coming week with the second and last stop in the WSL Countdown series on the Old Continent, the MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing, which waiting period extends from September 28th to October 2nd.

The event is fully mobile, meaning it could go virtually anywhere on the coast, but primary locations given the current forecast have been established in Peniche (Supertubos, home of the Portuguese Championship Tour stop) and Ericeira (Ribeira d’Ilhas, Challenger Series venue).

The first call will be made at 7:30am GMT+1 / 2:30am ET / 11:30pm PT (day before) at Ribeira d’Ilhas on Monday. This event will stream LIVE on worldsurfleague.com, the WSL app, and Fuel TV.

Ferreira & Defay Lead into Stop No.2 of Euro Cup of Surfing

Italo Ferreira (BRA) is currently the most talked-about surfer on the planet, and for good reason. He is the reigning WSL Champion after claiming the win in the dramatic 2019 season finish in Hawaii, and since then he has won the only two events he entered, first the Onda Do Bem Countdown event, and last week the French Rendez-Vous of Surfing.

He drove down to Portugal only minutes after winning in France and will undoubtedly be the number one favorite in this event. Firstly because he loves Portugal, but it’s not a one-way street, Portugal loves him back. He won the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal the last two years and has another runner-up finish to his name in Peniche, and he also finished second back in 2014 at the World Juniors in Ericeira.

World No. 8 Johanne Defay (FRA) has been slightly quieter in the off season, but it looks like she has not lost any edge and her work off tour has paid off. She came into last week's French Rendez-Vous the highest seeded surfer and marched on the field to claim the event's victory.

Replacement Surfers Keep Things Interesting in Portugal

A few notable changes in the event’s draw have happened since last week, and the field in Portugal will be even stronger with new (and not so new) names coming to shake things up. A second Brazilian surfer with a strong track-record in Portugal, Jadson Andre will fill in for Jeremy Flores’ absence.

Long time Championship Tour competitor Aritz Aranburu (ESP), QS warrior Henrique Pyrrait (PRT) and junior wildcard Afonso Antunes (PRT) complete the men’s draw. On the women’s side, Ariane Ochoa (EUK), Carolina Mendes (PRT), Francisca Veselko (PRT), Camilla Cardoso (PRT) and junior wildcard Mafalda Lopes (PRT) have also earned spots in the MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing.

The MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing is supported by MEO, Tourism of Portugal, Portuguese Waves, Jeep, EDP, Hertz, Buondi, Oceano Azul Foundation, with official broadcast partner Fuel TV.

UPCOMING MEO PORTUGAL CUP OF SURFING MEN’S RD1 HEATS:

Heat 1: Jadson Andre (BRA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)

Heat 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Henrique Pyrrait (PRT)

Heat 3: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Afonso Antunes (PRT)

Heat 4: Frederico Morais (PRT), Gatien Delahaye (FRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)

UPCOMING MEO PORTUGAL CUP OF SURFING WOMEN’S RD1 HEATS:

Heat 1: Rachel Presti (DEU), Anat Lelior (ISR), Ariane Ochoa (EUK)

Heat 2: Johanne Defay (FRA), Carolina Mendes (PRT), Camilla Cardoso (PRT)

Heat 3: Pauline Ado (FRA), Yolanda Hopkins (PRT), Mafalda Lopes (PRT)

Heat 4: Teresa Bonvalot (PRT), Nadia Erostarbe (EUK), Francisca Veselko (PRT)

Watch it LIVE on worldsurfleague.com, the WSL app, YouTube Channel and Fuel TV.

About the WSL

The World Surf League (WSL), established in 1976, is the home of surfing. The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke.

The WSL is a global organization, headquartered in Santa Monica and with regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. The WSL possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation, and performance at the highest levels.

The WSL is comprised of Tours & Events, celebrating the world’s best surfers across all disciplines and annually running more than 180 global contests and crowning the undisputed World Champions across all divisions; WSL WaveCo, where innovation meets experience; and WSL Studios, which offers best in class storytelling across competition, lifestyle, and conservation.

**Update on Monday 28, September: Competition has been called OFF for the day, the waiting period extends from September 28th to October 2nd, the next call will be at 7:30am GMT+1 / 2:30am ET / 11:30pm PT (day before) at Ribeira d’Ilhas on Tuesday, September 29**

To find out more about the WSL, please head over here.