Challenger Series Finale Launches Opening Day at Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Brazil (Saturday, October 12, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) Corona Saquarema Pro presented by Banco do Brasil, the sixth and final stop on the 2024 Challenger Series, kicked off today at Praia de Itaúna. Clean, three-to-four feet of swell, with offshore winds, greeted the field for the final Challenger Series event of the year, allowing men’s Round of 80 and women’s Round of 48 to be completed.

As the final event competition of the 2024 Challenger Series, the Corona Saqurema Pro is the last opportunity for surfers to qualify for the elite Championship Tour in 2025. With the scenarios coming further into play in the next rounds, today witnessed some new faces to the Challenger Series that could pose serious threats to the qualification contingent. 

Monteiro Shines in Debut as Tsuzuki, Bonvalot, and Gonzalez Sisters Win Their Heats

Alexia Monteiro (BRA) had a winning debut in her first Challenger Series event, winning Heat 3 with a 10.37 total (out of a possible 20). Competing in her first contest at this tier, Monteiro edged out Hawaii's Eweleiula Wong, who earned a 9.53, compatriot Taina Hinckel (9.17), and USA’s Talia Swindal (9.03). Wong, currently in her second full year on the Challenger Series and ranked 25th overall on the CS, is the highest-ranked competitor in this heat, and advances in second. Notably, Hinckel, who represented Brazil at the 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, fell just short of the requirement against Monteiro and Wong. 

“I'm so happy to be here right now,” Monteiro said. “I received the invitation like two days ago. It was like a crazy ride to be here, but I'm so happy to be here. It's my first Challenger Series. It's a lot of emotion. When I passed the heat, I saw my dad crying. I was crying too because this moment is so important to me. This year, it's been amazing, and this is my dream. I want to be here. I don't know if I will qualify next year for the Challenger Series, but I have to stay focused on the moment. I'm so happy right now.”

Surfers representing Asia and Europe had a great day. Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) and Anon Matsuoka (JPN) earned big heat wins, with Olympic Bronze Medalist Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) and Minami Nonaka (JPN) also advancing. Meanwhile, two-time Olympian Teresa Bonvalot (POR) took a win, before 2022 WSL World Junior Champion Francisca Veselko (POR) and sisters, Janire Gonzalez Extabarri (EUK) and Annette Gonzalez Extabarri (EUK), won across three consecutive heats. 

Janire shared Annette’s first heat on the Challenger Series at the EDP Ericeira Pro, with both sisters eliminated together. The two had better luck today in Brazil with their matching heat wins. It’s been a long road back from injury for Janire, who also had the opportunity to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After winning her own heat, she was still quite nervous for her sister.

“I think she already knows what she has to do and what she has to do during the next round,” Janire said. “Don't go out together because if she makes second, we are together. So I hope she makes first. And yes, now time to cheer her on and just enjoy Brazil. I’m more nervous for her than when I am surfing. It's my young sister, I just want her to win and with my mother outside, we are always like, ‘She needs to make good, she needs to make good,’ so I think more than when I surf.”

Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) posted her personal highest heat total of the year, also the best of the day for the women, earning a 7.00 and 6.67 for a 13.67 two-wave total. Tsuzuki was able to secure both scores within the first 7 minutes of the 30-minute heat with her sharp, dynamic surfing. The 21-year-old has found a solid return to form on the regional Qualifying Series (QS), winning back-to-back QS 3,000s at home in Japan, and has been able to translate that success back into the Challenger Series.

“It was a tricky heat, but I was just looking for a good one and having fun,” Tsuzuki said. “That's a good one. I like this town, Saquarema, because it has good weather, good people, good food, and then good conditions for this event. I'm trying to do the best surfing in this event.”

Local Saquarema Surfers Daniel Templar and Rickson Falcao Lead Strong Brazilian Push

Daniel Templar (BRA) opened his first-ever Challenger Series appearance by colliding with Australia’s Tully Wylie (AUS) on a split peak, the Australian drawing an interference before snapping his board mid-heat. Templar, the Saquarema local, was able to recover well and post two rides in the 7-point range for the highest total of the day, 15.03. The 22-year-old had strong support on the beach from fellow locals Samuel Pupo (BRA) and João Chianca (BRA), who were also watching on as another Saquarema surfer, Rickson Falcao (BRA), took the win in the final men’s heat of the day. 

Falcao progressed ahead of Kauli Vaast (FRA), the pair advancing together to the Round of 64. It is only the second time Vaast, the Olympic Gold Medalist, has been able to make a heat on the Challenger Series in 2024, showcasing the depth of talent represented.

“So stoked to represent my city in this big event,” Falcao said. “Kauli Vaast is a great surfer, so stoked. Saquarema is my home. I'm ready for another heat. It's a great opportunity to represent my city and the waves are firing. I'm so comfortable.”

Brazilian surfers progressed in nearly every men’s heat, with former CT surfer Alex Ribeiro (BRA), 2019 WSL World Junior Champion Lucas Vicente (BRA), Gabriel Andre (BRA), Leo Casal (BRA), and Cauã Costa (BRA) also advancing in their respective heats.

Though he is Argentinian, Nacho Gundesen (ARG) has lived in Brazil for some time now and was able to take a big win as he looks to build on the strength of his 2023 result, where he made it to the Round of 16, placing 9th. The 2017 U/18 ISA World Junior Champion enters his third Corona Saquarema Pro as an event wildcard thanks to his current position at the top of the Circuito Banco do Brasil de Surfe rankings.

“I was a little bit nervous because being the first heat, but everything went well and I'm super happy to make this heat and try to improve my surfing each round,” Gundesen said. “I'm staying at a friend's house now, and it feels like home here. I've been more than ten times and competed a lot. It's a wave that is powerful that is good for my surfing and I will try to show that.”

Australian Jackson Baker Sets the Bar with Daniel Templar on Opening Day

After a tough year recovering from injury, former CT surfer Jackson Baker (AUS) came out of the gates firing, opening the first heat of the event with an excellent score, an 8.00 (out of a possible 10), and a 15.00 (out of a possible 20) two-wave heat total. Having lost his mother to breast cancer many years ago, the 27-year-old is surfing with a renewed purpose and choosing to donate a portion of his prize money to the family of a friend recently diagnosed.

“It's been a pretty tricky year for myself but no, I felt really good coming into this last event,” Baker said. “I just want to finish strong. It's a really special month for me, it being International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I’ve got my pink boards, in memory of my mom, and yeah it's super special just to be here. No chance of qualifying but for me I just want to surf good and yeah that's a start, 15 points, I'm pretty happy with that.”

For more information and highlights from today’s competition at the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco Do Brasil, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco Do Brasil Men’s Round of 80 Results:

HEAT 1: Owen Moss (USA) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS) vs. Valentin Neves (BRA) vs. Vitor Ferreira (BRA)

HEAT 2: Luel Felipe (BRA) vs. Cody Young (HAW) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) vs. Ryan Kainalo (BRA)

HEAT 3: Heitor Mueller (BRA) vs. Rinta Oooto (JPN) vs. Lucas Vicente (BRA) vs. Eric Bahia (BRA)

HEAT 4: Gabriel Andre (BRA) vs. Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) vs. Joaquim Chaves (POR) vs. Lucas Chianca (BRA)

HEAT 5: Shion Crawford (HAW) vs. Joh Azuchi (JPN) vs. Leo Casal (BRA) vs. Nacho Gundesen (ARG)

HEAT 6: Mihimana Braye (FRA) vs. Cauã Costa (BRA) vs. Caio Costa (BRA) vs. Kaue Germano (BRA)

HEAT 7: Ryan Huckabee (USA) vs. Tully Wylie (AUS) vs. Paul Sampson (RSA) vs. Daniel Templar (BRA)

HEAT 8: Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Kai Martin (HAW) vs. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) vs. Rickson Falcao (BRA)

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco Do Brasil Men’s Round of 64 Matchups:

HEAT 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Justin Becret (FRA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)

HEAT 2: Mikey McDonagh (AUS) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS) vs. Kade Matson (USA)

HEAT 3: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Dakoda Walters (AUS) vs. Charly Quivront (FRA)

HEAT 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Dimitri Poulos (USA) vs. Lucas Silveira (BRA)

HEAT 5: Jackson Bunch (HAW) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Keijiro Nishi (JPN)

HEAT 6: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Lucca Mesinas (PER)

HEAT 7: Nolan Rapoza (USA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC)

HEAT 8: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Rafael Teixeira (BRA)

HEAT 9: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Josh Burke (BRB) vs. Taro Watanabe (USA)

HEAT 10: Jordan Lawler (AUS) vs. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) vs. Luke Slijpen (RSA)

HEAT 11: Edgard Groggia (BRA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Riaru Ito (JPN)

HEAT 12: Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Winter Vincent (AUS) vs. Oscar Berry (AUS)

HEAT 13: George Pittar (AUS) vs. Dylan Moffat (AUS) vs. Jett Schilling (USA)

HEAT 14: Alan Cleland (MEX) vs. Jarvis Earle (AUS) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)

HEAT 15: Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Gatien Delahaye (FRA) vs. Reef Heazlewood (AUS)

HEAT 16: Kai Odriozola (ESP) vs. Alister Reginato (AUS) vs. Levi Slawson (USA)

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco Do Brasil Women’s Round of 48 Results:

HEAT 1: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 11.50 DEF. Nora Liotta (HAW) 9.77, Mafalda Lopes (POR) 7.90, Kayane Reis (BRA) 3.60

HEAT 2: Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) 13.67 DEF. Vera Jarisz (ARG) 9.90, Sol Aguirre (PER) 9.00, Malia Lima (HAW) 5.86

HEAT 3: Alexia Monteiro (BRA) 10.37 DEF. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 9.53, Taina Hinckel (BRA) 9.17, Talia Swindal (USA) 9.03

HEAT 4: Francisca Veselko (POR) 12.00 DEF. Daniella Rosas (PER) 10.43, Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 9.80, Taí­s Almeida (BRA) 6.54

HEAT 5: Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 12.23 DEF. Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) 9.03, Jessie Van Niekerk (RSA) 8.40, Camila Sanday (PER) 4.86

HEAT 6: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.20 DEF. Rosie Smart (AUS) 9.70, Paloma Pardo (BRA) 6.00, Sara Wakita (JPN) 4.47

HEAT 7: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 11.60 DEF. Minami Nonaka (JPN) 8.37, Saffi Vette (NZL) 5.30, Sophia Goncalves (BRA) 2.67

HEAT 8: Zoe Benedetto (USA) 10.17 DEF. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 8.56, Ariane Ochoa (EUK) 8.26, Monik Santos (BRA) 3.37

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco Do Brasil Women’s of 32 Matchups:

HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR) vs. Vera Jarisz (ARG)

HEAT 2: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) vs. Nora Liotta (HAW)

HEAT 3: Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Sophia Medina (BRA) vs. Alexia Monteiro (BRA) vs. Daniella Rosas (PER)

HEAT 4: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW)

HEAT 5: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Laura Raupp (BRA) vs. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) vs. Rosie Smart (AUS)

HEAT 6: Alyssa Spencer (USA) vs. Tessa Thyssen (FRA) vs. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) vs. Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN)

HEAT 7: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Kirra Pinkerton (USA) vs. Anon Matsuoka (JPN) vs. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN)

HEAT 8: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Zoe Benedetto (USA) vs. Minami Nonaka (JPN)