Brazilian Surfers Set The Pace At Rio Pro
PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Brazil (Thursday, June 26, 2025) - Saquarema’s Praia de Itaúna once again played host to the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT), as the action returned in clean four-to-five-foot swell. All men’s Quarterfinalists, along with three women’s Semifinalists, were decided as the men’s Elimination Round and Round of 16 were completed, as well as three of the four women’s Quarterfinals. The event has been called OFF for tomorrow, Friday, June 27, with the call for Saturday and Sunday updated tomorrow.
As the race for the Final 5 continues and the Tour edges closer to the WSL Finals, Molly Picklum's (AUS) defeat of Wildcard Arena Rodriguez (PER) in the last heat of the day confirmed her as World No. 1 for the first time this season. The Australian will wear the Yellow Leader Jersey in the next event, the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, where she placed runner-up in her only previous showing.
"That's the best news ever," Picklum said. "I feel like, for me, I got the Yellow Jersey early on in the year for the past few years. I obviously heard all the talk of all the girls that I'm right at the top with getting knocked out, and it's obviously a great opportunity for me. I felt all that for sure, but ultimately, I was just using it for good and to fire me up. I'm so happy, that's sick, especially towards the end of the year. I want to keep pushing for sure."
Molly (WSL/Othon)
Former Winners Italo Ferreira and Yago Dora Lead Strong Brazilian Contingent Into Finals Day
2024 VIVO Rio Pro winner Italo Ferreira (BRA) locked in his first Quarterfinals appearance since Stop No. 4 in El Salvador after defeating Crosby Colapinto (USA) in the Round of 16. A change in the wind allowed for airs on the right, seeing Colapinto post a 7.83 for a dramatic frontside air reverse. Not to be outdone, Ferreira replied with a lofty backside full rotation to earn a 9.33, the highest single-wave score of the event. The Olympic Gold Medalist and 2019 World Champion thrived on the energy of the local crowd, celebrating the completion of his wave on the shore by high-fiving fans on the beach before heading back into the lineup.
"I'm living my best moment," Ferreira said. "It was super fun against Crosby [Colapinto]. I saw him doing a nice air and then I had a chance to do something big as well. I'm so glad to live in this moment and try to push the limit and surf and put on a show for all the people on the beach."
Italo (WSL/Diz)
Ferreira’s fellow 2024 VIVO Rio Pro Finalist Yago Dora (BRA), the 2023 event winner, moved to his sixth Quarterfinal out of seven appearances in the event. The current World No. 2 opened the day by posting the highest heat total of the event so far to defeat Wildcard Peterson Crisanto (BRA) in the Elimination Round. Dora’s 15.50 two-wave total included an excellent 8.67, for a fast-moving barrel that he expertly navigated the doggy-door on. A second excellent score, an 8.50 for a critical two-turn combo, also set the tone for the 28-year-old’s Round of 16 defeat of Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX).
"The wave here at Itaúna is very difficult, even the good waves with quality," Dora said. "It has a swing, it kind of wants to knock you down the whole time, so you have to be very focused, very connected. I feel like I am managing to do that and complete the maneuvers in the most critical parts of the waves. This heat started and Alan [Cleland] caught a wave that looked really good but I had a feeling there was another better wave coming behind and just like more of a wall to it. I kind of made him commit to that first wave so I was in a good position for the next one and the next one came and it was really good, just gave me a really good face for two big turns and it was good to get a great start."
Dora will next face Miguel Pupo (BRA) in the Quarterfinals after the CT veteran came out on top in an all-Brazilian Round of 16 matchup that featured two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA). The heat went down to the wire before a buzzer-beater from Pupo delivered an emotional win for the 33-year-old, who is surfing in a CT event in his home country for the first time since 2022. With 45 seconds remaining on the clock and Toledo holding a narrow lead and priority, Pupo was forced to go right in a heat dominated by lefts. The wave face opened up, allowing Pupo to unleash on his backhand and take the win over Toledo, the four-time Rio Pro winner, by a margin of 0.16.
"[I have] a lot of emotions for sure, you know, Filipe [Toledo]'s the guy to beat," Pupo said. "I have so much respect for the guy and I knew it was gonna be a tough heat. I got the first good wave, probably made a mistake when I caught a wave that was not good. I thought it was done by then and caught a bad wave, surfed it bad and on the way back I knew I had one more chance. I wanted to go left but the wave closed out so I turned right into the channel and the wave just popped up for me."
The breakthrough season of Luana Silva (BRA) continued today with the 20-year-old making the Semifinals for the second time in her career. The reigning World Junior Champion, Silva, defeated two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) with her powerful forehand shining on the right to earn a 12.80 heat total, the highest of the day for the women.
"I didn't start off the best," Silva said. "I wanted to, I kept falling. I moved to the left to find a left, there was no lefts. And then I went back to the right, and I found that first good right, and then I think I just started to get in rhythm. How can you not love this support on the beach? It's so amazing for us. I'm feeling super grateful."
Luana (WSL/Diz)
Backhand Rotations See Griffin Colapinto Fly Into the Quarterfinals
Griffin Colapinto (USA) opened his Round of 16 heat against Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) with a backhand full rotation collecting a score of 7.17, before a second version of the same maneuver secured the heat win. It was close to deja vu for the Italian, with Colapinto having delivered a massive frontside full rotation to earn a Perfect 10 and take the win in their last head-to-head matchup at Stop No. 7 in Margaret River. With the two surfers sitting next to each other in the rankings, Colapinto was able to maintain the advantage at No. 9, keeping himself within striking distance of the Top 5.
"I was super happy about [the 7.17]," Colapinto said. "Actually, in the heat earlier, I kind of tried to do one air, and I didn't really connect very well, but I could feel the pop off the wave. I told [Gian Bernini], the Lost team manager over here, ‘I feel like this board has a really good air in it, it's going to stick to my feet.’ And then, first wave I got the opportunity and it did. It's so fun. I haven't done backside airs in a long time, actually, so it felt really good to get that going again."
Colapinto will now meet current World No. 1 Jordy Smith (RSA) in the Quarterfinals for a rematch of the Margaret River Pro Final. The Californian will be joined on Finals Day by two close neighbours, Cole Houshmand (USA) and Jake Marshall (USA), who will face each other in Heat 2.
Ethan Ewing (AUS) defeated fellow Australian Joel Vaughan (AUS) in the last heat of the Round of 16 to move into the Quarterfinals of the Rio Pro for the third year in a row. Ewing finds himself back into No. 5 on the live rankings after Barron Mamiya (HAW) bowed out in the Elimination Round. The Australian will next come up against No. 4, Italo Ferreira (BRA), as the two battle to gain ground in the race for the Final Five.
Joel (WSL/Diz)
Caroline Marks Defeats Tatiana Weston-Webb in Olympic Gold Medal Match Repeat
Utilizing both her forehand and backhand to earn her scoring rides, Caroline Marks (USA) claimed a strong victory over Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA). The Gold and Silver Medalists, respectively, from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Marks and Weston-Webb have had multiple close battles, including their most recent in the 2024 Lexus WSL Finals. However, despite the huge crowd support for Weston-Webb, today’s matchup was all about Marks, the 2023 World Champion, who advanced to only her second Semifinal of the season.
"I knew that [Tatiana Weston-Webb] is such a strong competitor and I was like, I'm not going to have one person rooting for me," Marks said. "It's been pretty funny, so I was just trying to focus on myself and block out the noise. All the Brazilian fans are so amazing, you really feel the energy. But I was just trying to block out the noise and do my own thing. Tati and I have had a lot of good battles together, it's been really fun to compete against her. I knew she was going to be really hard to beat, especially when it's really tricky. I'm really happy to make it to the semis. It feels really good."
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Jordy Smith (RSA) 11.33 DEF. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 8.67
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.27 DEF. Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.10
HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) 15.50 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 8.93
HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.04 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 12.57
HEAT 5: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.73 DEF. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.67
HEAT 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.20 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 8.73
HEAT 7: Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.50 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 6.56
HEAT 8: Jake Marshall (USA) 9.94 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 9.60
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 12.33 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 11.50
HEAT 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.83 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.67
HEAT 3: Cole Houshmand (USA) 9.84 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 8.50
HEAT 4: Jake Marshall (USA) 13.00 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 10.50
HEAT 5: Jordy Smith (RSA) 10.83 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.83
HEAT 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.87 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.80
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.33 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 13.30
HEAT 8: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.63 DEF. Joel Vaughan (AUS) 11.14
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.16 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 4.10
HEAT 2: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.80 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.84
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 10.50 DEF. Arena Rodriguez (PER) 7.17
HEAT 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 2: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ethan Ewing (AUS)
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Semifinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS)
Comments
I really don't know what to think with out Mr Shearer subtle guidance..sure it sounds wonderful, but i wonder why they didn't get pics of the 4-5 foot sections
I agree with the idea that any world tour should include a beach break or two, because they are part and parcel of what should determine any would-be world champion who can prove themselves in all variety of waves. But I think the WSL should bring back the beach breaks in France to fulfil the beachie criteria. Much better venues there. Shearer is right sitting this one out. As a life-long fan it's hard watching Saquarema with any real sense of enjoyment. You know it's a dud location for a Championship Tour event when nearly every pro surfer there is repeatedly bogging rails, mis-timing their manoeuvres and relying on a poor back up wave to advance. Yeah sure, beach breaks are tricky venues, each with their own challenges. This one must be the trickiest location of all. Good luck to all the remaining competitors trying to decipher the backwash, gutter, wedges and waves. Maybe that makes it more interesting... Anyway, hoping finals day produces some better waves. Cheers.
Have to have a Brazilian CT comp due to all their world titles and competitive dominance since 2014.
The French event should never have been cancelled and remained a tour fixture.
Hossegor was certainly a better wave and venue for a Euro event than Supertubos in Portugal is in my opinion.
I hear what you're saying Jetson. But by that logic, why doesn't Japan or Indonesia have comps on the Championship tour? Yeah I know, Brazil has way more surfers on tour. Surely though, there are other locations in Brazil with much better waves? Guess it is all about entertaining the passionate big crowd there on the beach...like it always has been there.
Japan and Indonesia have never won 1 world title,or ever come anywhere near it.
In fact to my knowledge Japan has never even had 1 guy on the CT tour (i don't count Kanoa Igarashi or Connor O'leary as genuinly Japanese,they weren't homegrown and raised talents),and Indo has only recently introduced 1 guy to it.
But Brazil has won 7 of the last 10 world titles,shared amongst 4 guys.
So what 'logic' are you speaking of as to why Japan or Indo should have an event on tour compared to Brazil,competitively speaking?
Indo should have a permanent event due to how good many of their breaks are,but that wasn't the point being made.
you need Pennsylvania published Singaporean @john.calhoun's advice.. he's a classic about the confusing matters of 'places'.. 'places and people'.. he's quite good at it, he reckons. And now he's mentioned in this thread, he's collected the whole set.
you should watch the Japanese surfers in the Backdoor shootout.
They'll shit all over this comment.
You are right of course about Brazil and the Storm period with their swag of world titles and many other fabulous tour surfers from there. I have no problems with a Brazilian location being on tour schedule. Just wish there was a better venue, with a coastline that long. My choice of word 'logic' wasn't a good one. The point I was trying to make was, why other nations with surfers on tour have no events there. Indo is a no brainer. And I'd love to see an event somewhere in Japan where it can pump. But not in their flat spell summer period like they used to back in the 80s. PS - Japanese surfer Satoshi Sekino competed at a few world tour events back in the early/mid 80s.
The comp at Barra in Rio was good. Kelly got a 10, John won his 1st comp, there was Floater-Gate.
Yeah, that was really enjoyable to watch, serious beach break waves and barrels.
comp is comp. i went in with low expectations and i've seen worse.
griff won with two manuevers... one on each scoring wave, both close out airs. italo got a massive score for a one move wave. a close out air. less of that would be good from the judges.
i was happy to see houshmand's power surfing attract a score, but crikey he looks like a fool with grandma's sunnies, earrings and hair. to be fair, i'd look more a fool in the same get up, but still... bro.
quarters look like fun. hopefully the final isn't in waist height high tide slop.
Agree with you NG. I have seen way worse too. Still, in this day and age of pampered pros with their amazing surfing skills, I'd like to see Dream Tour level locations that provide waves with a consistent scoring range of good to excellent. Such venues and event conditions are what makes the wow factor. Or the WSL can persist with some shitty wave locations and then have to put up with grumbling discontents like me.
superfluous surfing
sometimes barrels, critical moves, flow & style dont swing the points your way...then they do...?
Sometimes you can give them what they love, balance on the tightrope...climb the mountain,....
Molly is the most well rounded surfer on the female side . She isnt the best tube rider or most powerful but she is close in both those categories
I have no sense of the area but is it a case of running there to get the big crowds and keep it safe and managable with the surf quality coming in second? There seems to be no lack of swell. Surely there are better banks somewhere.
Watched a few on the heat analyser, people are doing a good job of getting 2 solid turns in but i find it a real chore to watch. Some of EEs turns looked like a really nice fit.
I agree Brazil should have a contest somewhere, just find it hard to belive they can't do better than this spot. I don't care how packed and chaotic the beach looks, waves should win. Florida doesn't get one...