RIBEIRA D'ILHAS, Ericeira, Portugal (Saturday, September 28, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia, Stop No. 5 on the 2024 Challenger Series is eyeing a potential start on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The stakes are high for the surfers arriving in Portugal, as only the top ten men and top five women on the Challenger Series qualify for the Championship Tour (CT). This competition will be their second-to-last opportunity to make it count.
Top Seeds, Led by Australians Sally Fitzgibbons and George Pittar, Eye Championship Tour Qualification
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) leads the rankings heading into Ericeira after claiming a massive win at the Lexus US Open of Surfing. Fitzgibbons has been coming to Portugal for more than 20 years and requalified for the CT here in 2023.
"It's a proud moment to come back every year to Portugal," Fitzgibbons said. "I think the secret to a good result in Ericeira is about continually adapting to how my surfing relates to the wave. Sometimes it fits and feels like magic, other times it really makes you work for it. We have many waves like this in Australia, like Bells Beach, and the more time you spend out here the more opportunities you give yourself to find those magic moments."
After a massive result as a CT wildcard at Margaret River, and consistently performing on the Challenger Series, George Pittar (AUS) finds himself at No. 3 on the rankings with a whole new weight on his shoulders.
"I would love to qualify here in Ericeira, that would be a massive achievement for me," Pittar said. "I've been thinking about it for the last few weeks since the Lexus US Open of Surfing. I want to put on a good performance and go out there and surf with all the emotions I'm feeling, but I also just want to enjoy it and stay present. It's a challenging wave, but I seem to like it," Pittar said.
Locals and Wildcards Ready To Roll The Dice at Ribeira d'Ilhas
Competing at home and proudly representing Portugal, the 2024 Olympian Yolanda Hopkins has her heart set on winning in front of friends and family.
"It's so special to have a Challenger Series at home," Hopkins said. "Even though we're only four, or five surfers representing Portugal on the Challenger Series, it's so special. It gives us that extra bit of confidence to put on an even better performance. This is the one event you want to win," Hopkins said.
With nothing to lose, the wildcards are always a threat, and Afonso Antunes (POR) and Constância Simões (POR) earned their slot in the Challenger Series after winning the local trials competition. Antunes recently earned his career-best result, winning the ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 and is currently ranked no. 2 on the European QS rankings. Since making her QS debut this year, Simões will relish this opportunity to compete at home against some of the best in the world.
The first call will be on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 7:30 a.m. for a possible 8:00 a.m. start.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Watch LIVE The EDP Ericeira Pro will be held from September 29 through October 6, 2024, at Praia de Ribeira d'Ilhas, Ericeira, Portugal. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
The EDP Ericeira Pro is proudly supported by EDP, Tourism of Portugal, Mafra City Council, Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, Estrella Galicia, Yeti, MEO, Millennium Bank, You & The Sea Hotel and Apartments, Hertz, Cabreiroá.