With the WSL Finals now just a distant fever dream, surf fans can turn all their attention to the only show left in town; the Challenger Series. More surfers! More stories! More narrative! More goddamn fun! More athletes needing 4.5s! However, seeing as the Changa is a stop-start affair, here’s a cheat sheet to get up to speed before (most) of the world’s best head to Ribeira d’Ilhas for the EDP Ericeira Pro on Sunday, September 29.
The Wave
As far as world-class waves go, Ribeira d’Ilhas has a great carpark. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there’s a reason the righthand point has been at the beating heart of Portugal competition surfing for decades. It’s a dream setup for whacking up CT-level contest infrastructure and holds everything from waves from two to 12-feet. Plus it can diffuse most winds and the large swings in tide into whackable walls. The inevitable Bells comparisons work, up to a point. The rocky headland, dramatic cliffs and slate-blue, swell-ruffled seas are very similar. Ribeira is an inferior wave even to Bells but does provide a similar length of ride, some real wobbled-up power and, most importantly, equal opportunity. Locals will always drive past it to surf Coxos, Backdoor, Pedra Branca and the Cave, all within a mile and some within sight, but as a one-size-fits-all wave that promotes fair competition and is great for spectating, it passes all the tests. Oh, and the carpark is amazing.
Pat Nolan / WSL
Who Can Qualify For The CT in Portugal
The 5th of event of six on the Challenger Series, it is here that athletes can officially lock in their CT place for 2025. Well, except for Ian Gouveia, who has already done so. His current 22,810 points thereby become a marker in the sand. Compatriot (and former winner) here Samuel Pupo can get back on the CT with a 5th place finish or better. Oz rookie George Pittar and Brazilian veteran Alejo Muniz can do the same by making the Final. Michael Rodrigues, Miguel Pupo, Jackson Bunch, Mikey McDonagh, Alan Cleland, Marco Mignot, and Jordan Lawler can qualify by winning the event. In the Women’s, ratings leader Bella Kenworthy can join the elite ranks with a third-place finish. At the same time, CT fixtures Sally Fitzgibbons and Isabella Nichols plus recent Fiji CT winner Erin Brooks, can all qualify with a Final appearance.
Is Past Performance an Indicator Of Future Results?
Deivid Silva won here in 2023, secured his qualification, and promptly failed to win a CT heat all year. Alyssa Spencer, the Defending Champion, also used her win to debut on the CT but sadly didn’t make the cut. Macy Callaghan, the 2022 winner, also ploughed the same furrow. Can you see a pattern? In 2021, Zeke Lau had an emotional win to regain the CT status he desperately craved. By May the next year, he was severed from the Tour on the wrong side of just introduced cut. So while a win here in Portugal has ensured the surfer makes the CT, it doesn’t mean they stay there.
Pat Nolan / WSL
Local Hopes
No local Portugal surfer has won at Ribeira d’Ilhas, despite the huge backing of the crowd and their intimate knowledge of the wave. As with previous years, Frederico Morais is the best placed and most favoured. While he’s had a poor competitive year, failing to make the cut on the CT, or a heat on the CS, you can apply the tag that while form is temporary, class is permanent. Kikas is as fired up at any stage in his career, and has been surfing this wave in a singlet for two decades. However, it is the Portuguese women who may give the massive crowds more reason to cheer. The highest ranked is Yolanda Hopkins, known for her power turns, especially when there is real size. The smooth gooyfooter Teresa Bonvalot needs a big result but thrives on pressure and crowd energy. Finally, World Junior Champion Francisco Veselko is stylish and dangerous, if she can get over her early nerves.
Predicting The Winner
With a field of 80 in the Men’s and 48 surfers in the Women’s, picking a winner ain’t easy. Remember these are the best QS surfers from each region, supplemented by CT surfers who didn’t make the cut. Additionally, there’s been a different winner in each division on every stop of the CS so far. Needle, meet your old friend haystack. However, we’ll have to start first with the CT surfers. No. 1 seed Sally Fitzgibbons, fresh off a CS win in Ballito, will be the shortest odds, followed by Isabell Nicholls, Luana Silva, Bronte Macaulay and Alyssa Spencer. Outside the CT ranks, you can’t go past Erin Brooks; it’s a matter of when, not if, she makes the grade and it could be here. In the Men’s, Kanoa Igarashi and the 2022 winner Leo Fioravanti aren’t only the only surfers rated in the World’s Top 10, but they both have semi-permanent homes overlooking the break. Finally, based on the sheer weight of numbers, you’d need a Brazilian in there. Take your pick from the Pupo brothers, Michael Rodrigues, Alejo Muniz or Ciao Ibelli.
Related: World Titles Decided, All Eyes Turn to the Challenger Series