A building swell at Pico do Fabril made big scores hard to come by in Round Four of the MEO Rip Curl Pro. After a slow start to their heat, Miguel Pupo, Sebastian Zietz, and Jeremy Flores finally found opportunities. In an unlikely upset, Pupo, the light-footed Brazilian, shined in the meaty conditions against two surfers who normally thrive in heavy waves. He drew first blood by parking himself in a gaping left-hand barrel. Flores followed up with some solid rail work, while Zietz, the Hawaiian, snagged a solid tube of his own. But it Pupo who capitalized on the first exchange. He later leaned on his rail for the win, earning a massive 8.93, and spot in the Quarterfinals.
