Non-Stop Action on Day 2 at the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia

RIBEIRA D’ILHAS, Ericeira, Portugal (Monday, September 30, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia, Stop No.5 on the Challenger Series enjoyed a full day of non-stop action in pumping four-to-six foot surf. Ribeira D’Ilhas provided the perfect arena for big performances, and even bigger upsets that will have a ripple effect on the rankings. 

Women’s Top Seeds Get Ericeira Campaign Underway

Challenger Series rankings leader Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) controlled her first heat in Ericeira from start to finish, managing the bumpy conditions to score an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) and taking the win ahead of Laura Raupp (BRA). Fitzgibbons could clinch her spot on the Championship Tour in Portugal, the same event where she requalified for the Tour in 2023. 

“I think I’m pretty good at resetting these days,” Fitzgibbons said. “I love the energy around a new event, coming here to Portugal and almost treating it like it's your first event of the year. It’s a proud feeling to elevate your surfing to that position, but there’s a lot of surfing still to be done. Results will always fluctuate, but my energy and intent remains the same.”

Defending event winner Alyssa Spencer (USA) relied on her experience from last year to tick off another heat win and edge one spot closer to make the CT qualification cut line.

“I think I can definitely take some confidence from winning here last year,” Spencer said. “The waves were similar to today, so I reminded myself paddling out that I’ve been here before and I could do this. There were a couple of priority mistakes that I made, so there’s always something to learn from these heats. I can let the pressure get to me, or I can remind myself that I’m living my dream and I’m having so much fun doing it, and I really just want to enjoy this special part of life.”

Holding onto their spots in the top five, Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) and Bella Kenworthy (USA) crucially advanced to the Round of 16, while No.4 ranked Erin Brooks (CAN) suffered an early elimination. Olympian Vahine Fierro (FRA) is on the cusp of qualifying and got the job done in the last heat of the day, taking the win ahead of Sol Aguirre (PER) and eliminating Sophia Medina (BRA) and Eweleiula Wong (HAW).

Luke Thompson Goes Big, Former CTers Frederico Morais and Jackson Baker Advance

Luke Thompson (RSA) flew out the gates and started his campaign in Ericeira with an excellent 8.00 and 7.43 for a solid heat total of 15.43 (out of a possible 20). Thompson’s long, arcing turns and powerful snaps, flowing from one section to the next, set him apart from the rest to move into the next round, his best result in Ericeira so far.

“I think this is the best Ribeira D’Ilhas I’ve seen in my life,” Thompson said. ”I’ve had some shockers here before so I really want to just go out there and see how far I can get. The Opening Round is always so nerve-wracking so it feels so good to get the win.”

The incoming tide made for more challenging conditions, but former Championship Tour surfers Jackson Baker (AUS) and Frederico Morais (POR) managed to make their first Challenger Series heats for the year.

“It’s been a wild one so far,” Morais reflected. “On Tour at the start of the year and then didn’t make the cut, struggled through the Challenger Series and finally, I made one heat at home in Portugal. The forecast looks fun so I’m super happy to move on to the next round.”

It was a disappointing day for Olympic Gold medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA) who suffered an Opening Round loss, along with Jordan Lawler (AUS), the winner of the Challenger Series in Sydney. Lawler will have some serious work to do in Brazil if he wants to get into the top ten and qualify for the CT next year.

Challenger Series Debutants Deliver Impressive Performances

Tya Zebrowski (FRA) has been on a winning-streak on the European Qualifying Series (QS), leading the rankings with three event wins next to her name. The 13-year-old from Tahiti paddled into her first Challenger Series heat, facing a massive challenge that included World Junior Champion Francisca Veselko (POR) and Olympian Taina Hinckel (BRA).

Zebrowski displayed powerful surfing that defies her age and small stature, rolling into a big set wave and smashing a massive turn into the lip, coming around the section for another big hit to get an excellent 8.33 and it was enough to get her the win.

“I’m just really happy for the opportunity to compete in the Challenger Series,” Zebrowski said. “My heat was quite stressful, I had a bad start making some poor decisions. When I heard the score of the 8-point ride and winning the heat, I was so happy. The waves on the Qualifying Series can be quite bad, so to be here surfing in these kind of waves with just three other girls feels amazing.”

Zebrowksi’s closest rival on the QS Noah Klapp (DEU), who also made her Challenger Series debut, dominated her Round of 32 heat with the highest total of the event so far with 15.76.

“I learned how to surf on a right hand point break, so I’m confident in my backhand,” Klapp said. “This is probably the best waves I’ve ever surfed in a competition. I have nothing to lose, so I’m just here to have fun and maybe get some sponsor’s attention!”

Local wildcard Afonso Antunes (POR) put together a great heat, surfing without the weight of making the CT cut, and enjoying the opportunity to compete at home.

“It feels really good to make the heat, but the conditions are tricky out there,” Antunes said. “I’m doing what I love and I’m glad I have this opportunity to compete at the highest level. I love surfing, I don’t see it as a job, I’m just stoked to be here.”

The next call will be on Tuesday, October 1 at 7:30 a.m. GMT+1 for a possible 8:05 a.m. start.

EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia Women’s Remaining Round of 48 Results:

HEAT 5: Zoe Benedetto (USA) 10.13 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 9.63, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 9.26, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 8.33

HEAT 6: Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 13.66 DEF. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 11.30, Camilla Kemp (DEU) 10.53, Rosie Smart (AUS) 10.14

HEAT 7: Mafalda Lopes (POR) 12.70 DEF. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.04, Hina-Maria Conradi (FRA) 9.37, Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 8.94

HEAT 8: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 13.26 DEF. Taina Hinckel (BRA) 11.56, Francisca Veselko (POR) 11.50, Jessie Van Niekerk (RSA) 6.63

EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia Women’s Round of 32 Results:

HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.67 DEF. Laura Raupp (BRA) 13.53, Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 9.93, Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) 7.37

HEAT 2: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 12.50 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.33, Sara Wakita (JPN) 8.90, Minami Nonaka (JPN) 6.00

HEAT 3: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 11.50 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 11.50, Louise Lepront (RSA) 8.56, Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) 7.73

HEAT 4: Noah Klapp (DEU) 15.67 DEF. Ellie Harrison (AUS) 13.13, Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) 10.16, Erin Brooks (CAN) 7.80

HEAT 5: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 10.06 DEF. Bella Kenworthy (USA) 10.00, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 8.17, Zoe Benedetto (USA) 8.03

HEAT 6: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 13.17 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 11.83, Eweleiula Wong (HAW) 8.13, Sophia Medina (BRA) 7.20

EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia Men’s Round of 80 Results:

HEAT 1: Carlos Munoz (CRC) 11.87 DEF. Tully Wylie (AUS) 11.87, Kauli Vaast (FRA) 10.70, Eithan Osborne (USA) 10.03

HEAT 2: Luke Thompson (RSA) 15.43 DEF. Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 12.33, John Mel (USA) 11.73, Kian Martin (SWE) 9.80

HEAT 3: Owen Moss (USA) 11.56 DEF. Joaquim Chaves (POR) 10.90, Kai Martin (HAW) 9.77, Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) 4.67

HEAT 4: Afonso Antunes (POR) 10.33 DEF. Daniel Emslie (RSA) 8.50, Rinta Oooto (JPN) 8.20, Jordan Lawler (AUS) 7.57

HEAT 5: Ryan Huckabee (USA) 12.07 DEF. Hans Odriozola (ESP) 10.14, Dylan Moffat (AUS) 9.97, Robert Grilho (HAW) 5.33

HEAT 6: Jackson Baker (AUS) 12.47 DEF. Frederico Morais (POR) 11.47, Leo Paul Etienne (FRA) 8.67, Luel Felipe (BRA) 5.60

HEAT 7: Cauã Costa (BRA) 13.27 DEF. Taro Watanabe (USA) 10.87, Joh Azuchi (JPN) 10.34, Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 8.43

HEAT 8: Cody Young (HAW) 11.60 DEF. Mihimana Braye (FRA) 10.30, Luc Lepront (RSA) 8.60, Tide-Lee Ireland (RSA) 8.47