“This might be my favourite kind of wave, the way the water just sucks back into the wave as it’s forming and how it just makes you commit.”

Surfers featured @JJF Kelly Slater, Ivan Florence, Kiron Jabour, Kona Johnson.
Legend of the Drone: @NathanFlorence

Shot over 2 days on the @reddigitalcinema V-Raptor 8K and Komodo.

Produced by Spencer Klein
Cinematography: Erik Knutson
Edited by Jared Butler
Motion Graphics by Mckayla Butler
Drone footage: Nate Florence
Secret Agent: Brandon Wasserman
007: Pete Johnson

World’s Best Surfers Head to Europe for MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

• 2023 CT Season Continues in Peniche, Portugal for Stop No. 3
• Event Wildcards and Replacement Surfers Announced
• Critical Points on the Line Ahead of Mid-season Cut
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The world’s best surfers are making their way across the globe to Supertubos in Peniche, Portugal, for the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona, the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT). A lucky few who traveled early have already scored all-time Supertubos barrels, and a lot more activity in the North Atlantic promises exciting action next week. The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona holds a competition window from March 8 through 16, 2023.

The 2023 CT is off to a fast start for surfers’ World Title campaigns after the first two events on Hawaii’s North Shore of Oahu. Pipeline and Sunset saw mixed results for veterans and newcomers as event winners of the first two events represented a World Champion and a representative from the next generation. Third-year CT surfer Jack Robinson (AUS) and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) took out the first event at Pipeline, while 2022 World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA above) and second-year Molly Picklum(AUS) earned the wins at Sunset.

Moore and Picklum are now tied for the top position on the world rankings and will both wear the coveted yellow Leader jersey in Portugal. Robinson has also maintained the No. 1 spot on the rankings and will join them in wearing the yellow Leader jersey.

About the Venue: Supertubos, Portugal’s Barreling Beachbreak
After a month of warm reef breaks in Hawaii, surfers will now have to show their adaptability as they take on the cold, powerful Atlantic Ocean beachbreak of Supertubos. Located in the small fishing village of Peniche, Portugal, Supertubos has become a destination for surfers looking to challenge themselves in hollow, thumping waves. The wave certainly lives up to its name, ‘Supertubos,’ as it is widely known as one of the best barreling beachbreaks in the world.

Event Wildcards and Replacement Surfers Announced
Sophie McCulloch (AUS) will finally make her official CT debut as a rookie after an injury sidelined her for the first two events of the season in Hawaii. Fellow 2023 rookie Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) is still recovering from an injury and will be replaced by Carlos Munoz (CRC). Jadson Andre (BRA) has also pulled out of the event due to injury and will be replaced by former CT surfer Joan Duru (FRA).

Portugal will be strongly represented by Teresa Bonvalot (POR), injury replacement for Johanne Defay (FRA), and event wildcards Frederico Morais (POR) and Yolanda Hopkins (POR). Morais has five years of experience competing at the elite level, while it will be the first taste for Hopkins. She has been dominating the European Qualifying Series and is outspoken in her goal of qualifying for the CT. Gatien Delahaye (FRA), the highest-rated Challenger Series surfer from WSL Europe Region, will also join the field as an event wildcard.

Critical Points on the Line Ahead of Mid-season Cut
With the Hawaii leg complete, only three events remain before the Mid-season Cut reduces the men’s and women’s fields down to 24 and 12, respectively. After Portugal, the Tour will head to Australia for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and the Margaret River Pro. Although only two events have been completed thus far, critical rankings points have already established who is sitting comfortably and who is in danger of being cut going into Portugal. Reigning, eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) is currently sitting just below the cut line. Rookie Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and tour veteran Kolohe Andino (USA) will also be feeling the pressure to get themselves out of danger of being cut.

WSL To Kick off International Women’s Day Celebrations at MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
The WSL will launch its annual International Women’s Day campaign at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona on March 8. Throughout the competition, every WSL CT surfer will compete wearing the jersey of a woman in sport who inspires them. The WSL’s 2023 campaign aims to celebrate sports’ greatest icons, honor progress made within women’s professional surfing, bring attention to the ongoing mission for equality in sport, and inspire the future generation of female athletes.

As part of the event takeover, the WSL will share one-of-a-kind International Women’s Day content across all platforms throughout the competition window. WSL Rising Tides will host a special edition of its beachside engagement program at Supertubos, led by Portuguese surfer Teresa Abracos. The activation will host up-and-comers of all abilities at the famed surf break and will clear the lineup so the participants can have the usually competitive and crowded lineup to themselves, with the CT athletes cheering them on.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS), Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Caitlin Simmers (USA), Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
Heat 4: Molly Picklum (AUS), Caroline Marks (USA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Heat 5: Brisa Hennessy (CRC), Lakey Peterson (USA), Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Heat 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Macy Callaghan (AUS)

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Kelly Slater (USA), Carlos Munoz (CRC)
Heat 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Samuel Pupo (BRA), Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Heat 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Connor O’Leary (AUS), Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 4: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Liam O’Brien (AUS), Gatien Delahaye (FRA)
Heat 5: Jack Robinson (AUS), Barron Mamiya (HAW), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Frederico Morais (POR)
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Yago Dora (BRA), Jackson Baker (AUS)
Heat 9: John John Florence (HAW), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 10: Joao Chianca (BRA), Nat Young (USA), Ian Gentil (HAW)
Heat 11: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Callum Robson (AUS), Jake Marshall (USA)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Jordy Smith (RSA), Rio Waida (INA)

Vans Surf is proud to announce the Surf VR3 Collection, designed to bring together the relaxed vibes of surfing and Vans’ continued commitment to more sustainably-focused clothing and footwear.

Vans believes that every little bit helps. That’s why this collection was made with strict material guidelines, including the Circle Vee, which leverages Vans’ VR3Waffle™ outsole, constructed from regeneratively grown natural rubber, sourced from farms using agricultural practices that are designed to promote diversity, enhance water cycles, improve soil health, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

Created with an appreciation for nature and nodding to future generations, the new Surf VR3 Collection features a selection of thoughtfully designed apparel and footwear, including the hero style of the collection, the Circle Vee in Ocean Blue. Rounding out the footwear is the UltraRange VR3 in Beach Sand and the Style 36 Decon VR3 SF in Sunshine.

The Circle Vee upper knit is made of 48% organic cotton, 47% hemp, and 5% nylon, giving this forward-thinking shoe a natural, classic Vans DNA look and feel while designed to reduce waste in production compared to Vans’ traditional cut and sew uppers. All linings are made with 50% organic cotton / 50% recycled cotton and laces with 100% natural jute fibres.

The Circle Vee’s VR3Cush™ midsole features a drop-in footbed that is made using 70% biobased PU foam (Fates™) partially sourced from plants per ASTM D6866-16 reference standard. This new drop-in footbed provides ultimate all-day comfort and support with a molded heel cup and arch shape.

Along with the Circle Vee and accompanying footwear styles, the VR3 Collection also features the Vans Wave SS Tee, Primary Vans Wave Elastic Boardshort and the Vans Wave Shallow Unstructured Hat. All the apparel in the collection was influenced by the colour palette of the beach: the sun, sand, and waves that surfer’s treasure and protect.

The Surf VR3 collection is available now at Vans Surf retail locations and Vans.eu/Surf. To learn more about Vans sustainability initiatives, visit Vans.eu/sustainability.