Caroline Marks and Yago Dora Win MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero

• Caroline Marks Seals Second Pro Portugal Title
• Yago Dora Earns Second Career CT Win, Bests World No. 1 Italo Ferreira
• Caity Simmers and Italo Ferreira Retain Yellow Leader Jerseys

Caroline Marks (USA) claimed her seventh CT victory, her second in Portugal, in a tight Final against Gabriela Bryan (HAW). The 23-year-old from Florida is one of the most consistent women on Tour, and this is one of her best starts to the season since 2019. After a dream-like year in 2024, winning the Olympic Gold medal and finishing runner-up in the world to Caity Simmers (USA), Marks is riding this wave of momentum into the 2025 season.

Wave selection was key in the shifting lineup of Supertubos, even throwing off Marks, the 2019 event winner, and Bryan, a first-time Portugal finalist who had delivered standout performances throughout the event. The pair locked in two mid-range scores early in the Final before both surfers made mistakes, opting for waves that didn’t offer them open faces to improve their scores.

Marks and Bryan fought a challenging rip that kept them out of position, and a priority mistake in the final few minutes gave Marks the upper hand to play defense and protect her small lead. It was nerve-wracking as the time ran out, but Marks had done enough to secure her second win in Peniche.

Marks will carry this momentum into the next stop, the Surf City El Salvador Pro, where she is the back-to-back defending champion. The 2024 Final in El Salvador was the last head-to-head matchup between Marks and Bryan, and also the most recent regular-season CT Final appearance for either surfer.

En route to the Final, Marks dispatched Molly Picklum (AUS) in their Semifinal clash. Picklum hunted for barrels, but she couldn’t find the exit on any of her attempts. Despite sitting with priority for the majority of the heat, the opportunities were few and far between. Marks relied on her backhand for one big maneuver, and it was enough to edge out Picklum who was left wanting.

“It wasn’t the best Final, but it was really good to share it with Caroline [Marks],” Bryan said. “She’s just such a good human. Hopefully, we get to share a few more this year. I had an amazing time in Portugal, and we surfed all kinds of conditions so I’m stoked I made it to the Final.”

In his seventh year on Tour, Yago Dora (BRA) is finally coming into his own, and his performances are showing. He shifted into another gear when he earned his first CT win at the VIVO Rio Pro in 2023. Since then, Dora finished runner-up at El Salvador and the Rio in 2024, but the Brazilian has been working hard to earn his next win. Today, he accomplished that feat following a marathon day that saw him dispatch Italo Ferreira (BRA) in the Final, Ethan Ewing (AUS) in the Semifinals, Jack Robinson (AUS) in the Quarterfinals, and Imaikalani deVault (HAW) in the Round of 16.

“Last season, I had two Finals and it felt like I was the in-form surfer of the event, but I ended up falling short in the end,” Dora said. “I wasn’t going to let this one get away, I wanted to win this one so bad.”

In an all-Brazilian Final, current World No. 1 Ferreira and Yago Dora (BRA), two of the most consistent surfers in their aerial attack, were always going to deliver an air show with the conditions on offer at Supertubos. Dora and Ferreira went blow-for-blow, answering each other’s attempts with bigger, more critical replies. Ferreira had the highest single-wave score for a huge frontside air, but Dora added a touch of creativity to his backup ride that put him in front of Ferreira. The 2019 World Champion required a mid-range score to get back into the lead, but despite multiple opportunities, it wasn’t enough.

In a rematch from their Final at the VIVO Rio Pro last year, Dora settled the score to take the win in Peniche.

“It’s always so hard surfing against Italo [Ferreira],” Dora said. “He always seems to do what he needs to find the win, but I’m so glad that I could find a way to win today. I need to thank God, he got me all the way to the Final and to this victory. I could feel something special was going to happen here this week, and it did.”

Dora shot up 11 places on the rankings to World No. 4. The 28-year-old recently brought on a new coach, and this was his first win since the 2023 VIVO Rio Pro.

“Change is always risky, but it feels so good when it all comes together,” Dora continued. “Everyone will talk about it, whether you’re right or wrong, but I’m glad I’m still the same, and I’m still going to do what I love to do.”

Ferreria seemed like the one to beat during the entire event. In the Round of 16, Ferreira boosted a massive full rotation for a 9.17 to advance to the Quarterfinals, where he defeated Rio Waida (INA). His momentum continued in the Semifinals against Lexus Pipe Pro winner Barron Mamiya (HAW).

“It was a long week, and I was really confident, but I made a few mistakes in the Final,” Ferreira admitted. “It’s always a pleasure to compete against Yago [Dora], congratulations to him. I love this place, I have a lot of good memories. We still have a long season ahead, so let’s keep it going on to the next one.”

Caity Simmers (USA) will breathe a sigh of relief as she holds on to the Yellow Leader Jersey heading into the next stop in El Salvador. Molly Picklum (AUS) had a chance to overtake her on the rankings if she won in Peniche, but after the Australian failed to advance to the Final, Simmers remains World No. 1.

Ferreira’s excellent start to the season sees the 2019 World Champion increase his significant lead at the top. Meanwhile, Barron Mamiya (HAW) retained his place as World No. 2 after progressing to the Semifinals for only the second time outside of his home of Hawaii. The 25-year-old defeated Marco Mignot (FRA) in the Quarterfinals, Mignot’s highest CT finish yet, which saw the Rookie jump 13 places up the rankings to No. 18.

For highlights from the 2025 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Semifinal Results: 
HEAT 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 3.50
HEAT 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.04 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 9.93

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 15.50 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 8.50
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 8.96
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 9.87 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 6.43
HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.34 DEF. Marco Mignot (FRA) 9.27

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.93 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 6.00
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 12.17 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 6.33
HEAT 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.76 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 7.94
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 9.43 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 8.47
HEAT 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.84 DEF. Joel Vaughan (AUS) 9.00
HEAT 6: Rio Waida (INA) 9.17 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.36
HEAT 7: Marco Mignot (FRA) 9.50 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 4.83
HEAT 8: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 12.84 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.23

FULL Story on the way

Competition Started at 7:05 a.m. GMT (10 hours ahead)

Men’s Round of 16 To Utilize Overlapping Format

Watch Live at WorldSurfLeague.com

Heat 2 will see Yago Dora (BRA) and Imaikalani deVault (HAW) go head-to-head to earn their best results of the year. Dora’s already had a quarterfinal appearance in Abu Dhabi, while deVault hopes to keep his Portugal campaign up and running.

In Heat 4 of the Round of 16, two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) will meet fellow CT veteran Jordy Smith (RSA). Both surfers will look to their knowledge and experience competing at Supertubos to secure their spot in the Quarterfinal.

Rookies Joel Vaughan (AUS) and Marco Mignot (FRA) have patiently waited to keep their Quarterfinal hopes alive. For his third consecutive appearance in the Round of 16, Vaughan will have to face current World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) to earn his first Quarterfinal of the year. Mignot will take on Seth Moniz (HAW) in his first Round of 16 since joining the Tour. The last heat of the Round of 16 will feature a rematch of Lexus Pipe Pro winner Barron Mamiya (HAW) and runner-up Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA).

Current World No. 2 Molly Picklum (AUS) and former World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) will meet in the first women’s Semifinal. Marks looks to make it to her first Final of the season, while Picklum will have extra motivation to win the event, as she can potentially earn the Yellow Leaders Jersey after Caitlin Simmers (USA) was eliminated.

Fresh off a third place finish in Abu Dhabi, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) looks to earn her first Final appearance of the year. In a can’t miss head-to-head matchup Bryan will meet Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) who continues to stun the women’s draw.

Watch today’s competition at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented By Corona Cero LIVE at  WorldSurfLeague.com.