Stop No. 10 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal is on Standby. A Lay-Day has been called with small surf on offer at the main venue of Supertubos and plenty more swell on the way in the coming few days.
“The waves have dropped off overnight so we’re off,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner, Renato Hickel. “We’ll come back tomorrow expecting a new swell to fill in and another pulse on Wednesday. We have good winds in the mornings of Tuesday and Wednesday so we’ll get the event finished in the next two days in great surf.”
The title race has narrowed down to only four WSL Title contenders after Round 3 of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal: John John Florence (HAW), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Julian Wilson (AUS).
Defending event winner and reigning WSL Champion Florence is the only surfer that can clinch the 2017 World Title in Portugal and can only become champion in the following scenarios:
If Florence wins the event, he clinches the title;
If Florence makes the final and Medina doesn’t, Florence clinches the title
If Medina wins in Peniche, the title decision will go to Hawaii;
If Florence finishes 3rd or below, the World Title decision will go to Hawaii.
First to compete when the event resumes will be giant killer Leonardo Fioravanti (ITL), perennial threat Sebastian Zietz (HAW) and World Title contender Julian Wilson (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 4.
Upcoming MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITL), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW), Kolohe Andino (USA), Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS), Frederico Morais (PRT), Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Heat 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA)
