The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero opened on 16 October at Supertubos, Peniche, with powerful four-to-six-foot barrels setting the stage for the tenth stop of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. An offshore breeze groomed the waves throughout the opening day, rewarding surfers who found the best positioning and made the most of the demanding conditions.
In the men’s competition, Griffin Colapinto delivered the standout performance, recording a 17.17 heat total to defeat Olympic champion Kauli Vaast. The two-time event winner scored an excellent 9.17 and an 8.00, reinforcing his title ambitions after fellow contenders Leonardo Fioravanti and Miguel Pupo were eliminated.
Portuguese wildcard Guilherme Ribeiro emerged as another highlight, advancing to the quarterfinals in his Championship Tour debut. The 24-year-old defeated George Pittar in the opening round before overcoming world No. 8 Kanoa Igarashi, earning a quarterfinal meeting with reigning World Champion Italo Ferreira. Ethan Ewing also progressed, defeating local favourite Frederico Morais with a 15.73 heat total.
The women’s competition delivered equally significant results for the home crowd. Teresa Bonvalot defeated world No. 1 Gabriela Bryan with an 11.40 heat total, using a deep barrel and a late backup score to secure her place in the quarterfinals. The result also saw Bryan relinquish the yellow jersey to five-time World Champion Carissa Moore. Fellow Portuguese surfer Francisca Veselko advanced after defeating Sawyer Lindblad in the opening round.
With the men’s and women’s quarterfinal line-ups confirmed, competition continues at Supertubos as the world’s leading surfers pursue crucial results on the Championship Tour. The event runs through 25 October, with the next call scheduled for 8:30 a.m. WEST on Saturday, 17 October, ahead of a possible 9:00 a.m. start.
