When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
High Scores Prevail at the QS 1500 Praia do Forte Pro
WSL South America
Only six heats remain as competition steamed through another full day of action at the World Surf League Men's and Women's QS 1500 Praia do Forte Pro presented by Oi. Saturday began with sunny skies, moderate onshore winds and punchy waves, which depending on the tide, remained in the 2-foot range (0.5 meter) with the occasional larger set rolling through at the Papagente reefbreak.
Bino Lopes (BRA) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus ComunicaçãoAll through the day, focus became centered on local surfer Bino Lopes (BRA), who has been putting on a standout performance throughout the week. In all of his heats, the crowd would walk out to the edge of the reef to cheer him on and rejoice with each big maneuver he pulled off. To their delight, Lopes won his Round 4 heat with a 14.50 total and saw Jesse Mendes (BRA) advance behind him in 2nd with a 14.10.
Then, against David do Carmo (BRA) in Heat 3 of the Quarterfinals, Lopes surpassed his prior feat by earning the highest heat wave total of the event, a 17.40 on his two best scoring rides (8.50 + 8.90). His local knowledge provided a winning formula as he stuck to the rights and mixed an assortment of heavy gouges with a solid air game to guarantee a slot in the Semifinals on Sunday.
Marco Fernandez (BRA) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus Comunicação"It's funny because I haven't been thinking too much about strategy and I've just been trying to follow my instincts. If I think too hard before a heat, I end up making a mistake," Lopes jokingly said. "The fact is, I've been surfing here since I was a kid, so I know this wave really well. I just need to concentrate on what I know how to do, and that's surfing. There's a long line of great surfers from Bahia that I look up to and they've all been a part of paving the way for me and my generation."
In the other Quarterfinal heats, Marco Fernandez (BRA) continued his stellar performance with another high scoring heat, earning a 17.00 total (9.00 + 8.00) and shocked everyone as he eliminated CT phenom Miguel Pupo.
Jesse Mendes (BRA) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus ComunicaçãoFernandez will now face Leandro Usuna (ARG), whose steady rhythm has put him in back-to-back Semifinals at the last two WSL South America Qualifying Series events. Bino Lopes will be matched up against Jesse Mendes (BRA), who defeated Franklin Serpa (BRA) in a close heat by a score of 13.35 to 12.50.
In between the Men's Round 4 and Quarterfinals, the Women's Quarterfinals finally took to the water after a three-day hiatus. In Heat 1, Silvana Lima (BRA), one of Brazil's best female surfers matched up against stylish up-and-comer Larissa Santos (BRA). Lima lived up to expectations and showed off her technique by displaying lightening quick turns and high-speed carves as she beat Santos handily by a score of 14.00 to 4.25.
Leandro Usuna (ARG) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus Comunicação"First off I want to thank everybody that's been giving us support, keep it going because it helps out a lot," said Lima. "I love the rights that break over here, they're so much fun. I'm stoked that I made it to the Semis, my board feels great and now I'm focusing on finishing off with a good result. I'll be competing at the Oi Rio Pro Championship Tour event next month and then right after that I'll compete in Mexico, El Salvador and then California. Those are three important events that can get me back on tour," finalized Lima.
In Heat 2 of the Quarterfinals, the current WSL South America Regional Champion Jacqueline Silva (BRA) felt right at home as she demonstrated her expertise on the rights at Praia do Forte. Silva worked her way through two long righthanders to defeat Tais Almeida (BRA) by a score of 14.00 to 9.60 and advanced directly into the Semifinals.
Silvana Lima (BRA) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus ComunicaçãoIn her post-heat interview, Silva, who is a former QS Champion and CT surfer, is currently without a main sponsor and delivered a sincere message as she addressed the status of women's professional surfing.
"I think it's super important to have more women's events. Personally, I've had to distance myself from competition due to a lack of support, so it's vital to have more opportunities," commented Silva. "You can see all the girls together, encouraging each other and an event like this shows that women's surfing isn't dead! There are people that are willing to fight for our sport and our athletes, like Marina Werneck (Event Organizer) who's someone that made it happen, she brought more people in to get involved in the process and they're getting things done. We hope that this can be a new beginning to women's surfing in Brazil and in the world."
Silvana Lima (BRA) - WSL / Luca Castro / Taurus ComunicaçãoA call is set for 9:00 am local time on Sunday for the final day of competition at the WSL Men's and Women's QS 1500 Praia do Forte Pro presented by Oi. Watch all the action LIVE: www.worldsurfleague.com
The Praia do Forte Pro is presented by Oi in association with the Bahia State Government via SETRE (Department of Labor, Income and Athletics), Billabong, Skol Ultra, the City of Mata de Sao Joao and the support of ZooM Communication, Gocil and Turisforte.
Praia do Forte Pro
Watch the best moments from the QS 1500 in Bahia, Brazil
A torcida baiana teve motivos de sobra para comemorar na tarde deste domingo.
The Brazilian surfers took top honors in front of an ecstatic audience at the QS1500 in Bahia, Brazil.
Este sábado foi de decisão no QS 1500 Praia do Forte Pro apresentado pela Oi.
O mar da praia do Papagente não estava dos melhores, mesmo assim os atletas fizeram notas excelentes.
News
Competition Has Kicked off at La Union For The First LQS Event of 2025 as Local Legend Rogelio Jr Esquievel Top Scores on Day 1 and Top
WSL Events to Be Broadcast Live and On Demand on Foxtel, Kayo Sports and Binge -- New Deal Sees 17-Year Partnership Continue Into a New
Featuring Bronson Meydi, Winter Vincent, Lennix Smith, Kana Nakashio, Kai Odriozola, Sierra Kerr, Heitor Mueller, Blayr Barton, and
Kaipo talks with 2025 Championship Tour rookie Erin Brooks about her journey from Texas to the global surf stage, her training for
Bronson Meydi Wins Indonesia's First World Junior Title while Luana Silva Becomes First Brazilian Woman to Claim World Junior Championship