…Competition Window Opens Saturday March 15 at Supertubos (10 hours ahead)

• Caitlin Simmers and Italo Ferreira Enter Stop No. 3 Ranked World No. 1’s
• Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced

Current World No. 1’s Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) will wear the Yellow Leader’s Jersey following their historic wins at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro. Simmers rose to the challenge against Molly Picklum (AUS) in the Final, while Ferreira faced Rio Waida (INA) in the wave pool technology to earn his tenth CT win.

The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero will prove crucial for competitors looking to earn valuable points to remain above the Mid-season Cut line. Supertubos is known for its high-performance action with barrels, shallow waters, and powerful rips. Surfers will have to adapt to the conditions as the Atlantic tides move up and down the sandbars.

Previous event winners include Olympic medalists and World Champions, including last year’s event winner and Bronze medalist Johanne Defay (FRA), reigning World Champion Caity Simmers (USA), Silver medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), and Gold medalist and 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA).

Season wildcard Joao Chianca (BRA) has previously found success in this event with his win in 2023. Similarly, Griffin Colapinto (USA) earned his first CT win in Portugal in 2022 and again in 2024. Fresh off an event win, 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) will have a chance to earn his third MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal victory after winning back-to-back event titles in 2018 and 2019.

The three event wildcards for the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero include Yolanda Hopkins (POR), Frederico Morais (POR), and Gatien Delahaye (FRA).

In 2023, Yolanda Hopkins (POR) competed for the first time on the CT as a wildcard at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal and proceeded to upset five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) in the Round of 16 to earn a spot in the Quarterfinal. This wildcard marks Hopkins’ second appearance on the CT.

For Frederico Morais (POR), this will be his tenth Portugal CT event. In his 2013 debut appearance, Morais defeated 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater. As a former CTer with ample knowledge of Supertubos, Morais always proves to be a worthy opponent and credible threat.

Gatien Delahaye (FRA) will make his CT debut at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Delahaye is awarded the event wildcard as the highest-ranked surfer in the Europe region on the Challenger Series.

Ian Gentil (HAW) will continue to serve as the replacement surfer for Gabriel Medina (BRA). Medina will reassess his status following the conclusion of this event.

The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero will run from March 15 – 25, 2025.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented By Corona Cero Men’s Opening Round Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 2: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Edgard Groggia (BRA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. George Pittar (AUS) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Gatien Delahaye (FRA)
HEAT 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Frederico Morais (POR)
HEAT 7: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
HEAT 8: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 9: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 12: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)