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10 Photos That Tell The Story Of Day One At The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Stop number three of the 2024 WSL Championship Tour just landed in Peniche, Portugal, and the early-round drama has already started.
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Opening Day Of The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Jack Robinson soars, Gabe Medina and Griffin Colapinto stumble as action gets underway in Europe.

Surfer: John John Florence

John John Florence at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Currently ranked number one in the world after the first two events of the year in Hawaii, Florence was able to put together enough of a performance to dodge the elimination round, but given what rival Jack Robinson did in his opening round heat, the two-time world champ is going to have to find another gear to keep pace at Supertubos.

Surfer: Jack Robinson

Jack Robinson at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

With the performance of the day, world number two Robinson stole the show with his 8-point alley-oop. “I was just trying to go as high as I could,” Robinson said. “I knew Crosby [Colapinto] was probably going to go big too and the wildcard you never know, so I tried to make do with what I had. It’s good to be back here in Portugal. I went to Puerto Rico for the ISAs and I surfed so many heats there, so just trying to keep up the same energy. It’ll be good to have a couple of days off to just recharge and stay present.”

Surfer: Gabriel Medina

Gabriel Medina at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

The agony of the elimination round. Fresh off a gold-medal performance at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico last week, Medina was unable to keep the momentum going in Portugal as he fell victim to a slow opening round heat and will now have to claw is way out of the elimination round.

Surfer: Cole Houshmand

Cole Houshmand at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Surfing in the first heat of the day, rookie Cole Houshmand had a lot riding on his result. After a steep learning curve in Hawaii, he's looking for a big outing in Portugal. “Every event has been a little bit of a step better so I’m stoked on winning that one,” Houshmand said. “First heat of the day is always tricky, you don’t know where the peak is or what the wave is going to do. I was a little bit disappointed on my performance but happy that I could grind it through. It’s a big change to be surfing against the best guys in the world, but at the end of the day you’re really surfing against yourself, and if you do your best surfing you’ll win most of the heats so that’s my goal.”

Supertubos, Peniche, Portugal

Lineup_24Portugal_DIZ_0714_Thiago Diz

Conditions at Supertubos held together most of the day for the opening round until gale force winds shut things down in the afternoon. The contest has yet to resume since.

Surfer: Griffin Colapinto

Griffin Colapinto at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Hit with an interference call in his opening round heat, like Medina, Colapinto is going to have to fight his way out of an elimination round heat in which he'll go up against fellow Californian Jake Marshall and Portuguese wildcard Joaquim Chaves.

Surfer: Kade Matson

Kade Matson at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Another of the California rookies to advance through the opening round, Matson was a little bit stoked on the result when he hit the beach. Keep an eye on Matson, Houshmand and the Colapinto boys if they click into rhythm, they could be a force.

Surfer: Imaikalani DeVault

Imaikalani DeVault at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Growing up on Maui, DeVault doesn't love wearing a wetsuit, but it certainly didn't slow him down. One of the most stylish and dynamic surfers on tour this year, he's taken his surfing to another level and the results are coming as he advanced alongside fellow surfer from Hawaii Barron Mamiya.

Surfer: Frederico Morais

Frederico Morais at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Hometown hero Morais advanced out of the opening round much to the delight of the local fans.

"It was hard work, definitely not as easy as it looked,” Morais said. “There’s a lot of bumps but I was able to find two fun waves so I’m happy. I was looking for the cleaner sections and trying to find space for two big turns and got the score!”

Surfer: Crosby Colapinto

Crosby Colapinto at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

The Croz! Getting the job done in a high-powered heat with Jack Robinson, the younger Colapinto is quickly fitting right into the Championship Tour. The only California rookie currently above the mid-season cut line, he'll be sitting pretty if he can come out of Europe with a solid result. 

Jack Robinson opening round heat win at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona.

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Jack Robinson opening round heat win at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona.

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