- 2017-10-22
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SPORTS
World Surf League: MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Kicks Off at Peniche
The 10th Stop on WSL Men's Championship, MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal kicked off at Peniche on October 21, 2017.
WSL Men's Championship is with just two events remaining this season. The title race is wide open with eight WSL title contenders the likes of John John Florence (HAW), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Owen Wright (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Adriano de Souza (BRA).
Reigning WSL Champion John John Florence is the only surfer that can clinch the 2017 World Title in Portugal.
If Florence wins the event, Jordy Smith will need 5th to stop him. If Florence finishes 2nd, Smith will need a 9th to stop him and Medina, Wright and Wilkinson will need to win the event.
But if Florence finishes 3rd or below, the World title decision will go to Hawaii.
Round 1 ran with tough condition in five-to-six foot waves. Despite most of competitors gained low scores, John John Florence, Jack Freestone (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF) and Joel Parkinson (AUS) earned high scores with tube riding.
Also, Jordy Smith (ZAF) won in Heat 5, chasing John John Florence on World Title race.
John John Florence said;
"I'm super stoked to be back here and for the waves to be pumping like this, it's amazing. It's got a little Off-The- Wall feel to it, like it's a little bit unpredictable and you see those big ones coming in and you never know if you're going to make it or not."
Jordy Smith said;
"At this stage it's head-down, no looking back and a Round One win is just as important as a win in the Final. The conditions are extremely tough out there, it's huge. I'm very relaxed but I feel like this result in France killed me. I have nothing to lose at this point, if I finish the year second it's a great year, if I win the World Title even better, so everything to gain."
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 4.97, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 4.20, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 2.03
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.84, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 7.90, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.44
Heat 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 10.37, Conner Coffin (USA) 9.34, Owen Wright (AUS) 9.33
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.83, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.87, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 2.90
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.20, Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 3.64, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 2.04
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 11.67, Mason Ho (HAW) 3.67, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 0.50
Heat 7: Jack Freestone (AUS) 14.90, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.67, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 4.33
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.00, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.74, Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.73
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50, Nat Young (USA) 9.27, Joan Duru (FRA) 4.73
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.00, Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.66, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 5.17
Heat 11: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.77, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.90, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 3.97
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.50, Frederico Morais (PRT) 6.84, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 4.50
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.66 def. Mason Ho (HAW) 6.33
Heat 2: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 11.20 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 10.17
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.27 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 4.93
Heat 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.34 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 8.40
All photos copyright by World Surf League.- source : World Surf League