Brave waves in Peniche
From storm in storm, the best surfers in the world challenged the powerful waves of Peniche SuperTubes beach, providing a unique and risky spectacle. Yago Dora and Caroline Marks surfed better in a very heavy sea.
The world surf elite has passed through Portugal – it is the only European stop of the Championship Tour (CT) – to face the waves of Peniche beach, which have gained an even greater dimension and force with the passage of the storms Laurence and Martinho. For security reasons, the World Surf League (WSL) interrupted the competition on the third day, the reason was obvious, at the most critical time the waves had an energy identical to the giant waves of Nazareth. The great references of surfing have compared superrtubes to Pipeline, in Hawai, considered one of the best beach breaks in the world circuit, but with very strong wind and stormy sea.
In the first three days, the best surfers in the world challenged large and powerful waves, which provide extensive tubes made at great speed and spectacular aerial maneuvers, was the best phase of Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal. It was in this environment that the big surprises with the elimination of last year’s winner Johanne Defay, who competed for four months, and Griffin Colapinto, winner of the men’s competition in 2024. In addition to interrupting the test, the two storms caused damage to the structure built on Praia da Superbos. While waiting for the organization’s call, surfers took the opportunity to tourism. « I went to Ericeira, shopped and was with my father, » said Caroline Marks.
After a five -day wait, the Portuguese stage resumed in difficult and challenging conditions for surfers due to the very strong wind and the ripple, with respectable waves three meters high. The men’s test was quite intense, with the finalists to have to surf four times on the last day of competition, which represents a huge physical and mental effort.
Brazilian final
The great moment of the competition gathered the Brazilians Italo Ferreira and Yago Dora, who gave everything for the winning of the title of champion in SuperTubes. It was an exciting and very disputed final, with Italo betting on impressive airlines and Yago showing greater diversity of movements, but with some difficulty taking good tubes, although we are on the beach of super superrtubes. We have seen much more spectacular finals. Italo began by impressing with a spectacular air air, which was worth the highest punctuation of the battery, but Yago made a more creative surfing and moved forward almost at the end. «Last year, I hit the post twice, this year it worked. I just thought I really wanted to win here, ”said Yago Dora after winning a WSL race for the first time, he who started on skateboarding. «It is so good and difficult to explain. I’m very grateful. It is always difficult to face Italo. He always ends up getting what he needs, but this time I won, ”said Yago Dora, who climbed the 4th place in the ranking. After whistling his compatriot, Italo said: “It was very confident, but I made some mistakes in the final. It is always a pleasure to compete against Yago, congratulations to him. I love this place, I have a lot of good memories. We still have a long time ahead, so we will continue, ”said the 2019 World Champion, who will continue yellow.
The female final between Caroline Marks and Gabriela Bryan deserved better sea conditions, which was reflected in low and little spectacle scores. The American Marks totaled 7.90 points (in 20 possible) and became the first surfer to win twice in Peniche. «Portugal is a special place for me, I won here in 2019. It’s so good to win, it wasn’t the most beautiful final, it’s true… but winning knows so well. The last few years have been better in the second part of the time, so winning at first is great. Also, I am surrounded by the right people. I have my father here, it is great to win with his presence, ”he stressed.
In order to reduce the impact of the event on the local ecosystem, WSL has established a protocol with Peniche Surfing Club and Surfider Foundation to replant the entire area occupied by the race structure to hold the dunes.
After the third stage of CT, Italo Ferreira leads the world ranking and Caitlin Simmers is the first in the women’s competition, although it was eliminated in the Portuguese race. Next week, the surf elite returns to the sea to compete in the El Salvador stage.
