CT Rookies will face the dynamic conditions of Supertubos for the first time, including 27-year-old Edgard Groggia (BRA). Groggia will kick off competition with Heat 1 of the men’s Opening Round with Cole Houshmand (USA), and the Lexus Pipe Pro back-to-back winner Barron Mamiya (HAW). Rookie Marco Mignot (FRA), who competed as a wildcard in the 2024 event, will face 2024 Rookie of the Year Crosby Colapinto (USA), and Surf Abu Dhabi Pro runner-up Rio Waida (INA) in Heat 2. Colapinto makes a return to the Tour after missing the first two events due to an injury sustained while practicing at Pipeline. At last year’s event Colapinto earned a semifinal finish. While George Pittar (AUS) will face Colapinto’s brother and event defending winner Griffin Colapinto (USA) and replacement surfer Ian Gentil (HAW).
2023 event runner-up Jack Robinson (AUS) will face compatriot Liam O’Brien (AUS) and event wildcard Gatien Delahaye (FRA). Delahaye will make his CT debut after being awarded the wildcard spot as the highest-ranked surfer in the Europe region on the Challenger Series. The men’s Opening Round will finish with the Lexus Pipe Pro runner-up Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) who will take on a consistent Miguel Pupo (BRA) and 2025 CT returner Deivid Silva (BRA). This season Pupo has had back-to-back quarterfinal appearances, while Silva looks to earn himself a spot in the Round of 32.
Following the completion of the men’s Opening Round, the women will take to the water for the first time. Heat 1 will feature 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) versus two-time event runner-up Lakey Peterson (USA), and CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Molly Picklum’s (AUS) finals appearance in Abu Dhabi earned her a current rank of World No. 2. She’ll look to maintain her lead in Portugal, but first will have to battle Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN), who Picklum previously defeated in the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro semifinal, and Luana Silva (BRA) who will look to make it past the Round of 16 for the first time this season.
The two most recent women’s event winners, Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Johanne Defay (FRA), will face off in Heat 3 against wildcard Yolanda Hopkins (POR). Hopkins, a two-time Olympian, advanced to the Quarterfinals of her only previous CT appearance at the event in 2023. The 26-year-old will be eager to make a statement after narrowly missing CT qualification last season. Simmers, the reigning World Champion and current World No. 1, claimed her first CT victory at the event in 2023, while Defay, who is 16 weeks pregnant, earned her most recent CT win in Portugal in 2024. In the event following Defay’s win last season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Simmers snatched victory from her in the dying seconds of the Final, a moment Defay likely still has fresh in her mind. |