MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Highlights of Day 2

The second day of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal wrapped up on Sunday 16th after the Elimination Rounds and the Women’s Round of 16, in a tricky Supertubos that still offered surfers the opportunity to land committed maneuvers!

Here are the highlights from Team Rip Curl:

Samuel Pupo and George Pittar found themselves in the same Elimination Round alongside Ramzi Boukhiam. Samuel won his heat and continues his journey: "It’s my first heat of the year so far, two events in and I just haven’t really found my rhythm yet, but I really like this place. I was in a super tricky heat, with really hard conditions and against two amazing surfers, so I knew it was gonna be a hard one, but I feel like conditions were in my favor. I really like to surf in this type of conditions at home, so I felt like I was ready for it. It’s no big deal yet, but it’s still a heat win. There’s still so much work to do, but that is definitely a confidence booster." Unfortunately, George Pittar was eliminated.

Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, and Erin Brooks have all qualified for the quarter-finals!

Molly Picklum took the win against Luana Silva: "I had a shaky start here, it was scary yesterday, so I think particularly today I was excited to lean on my surfing and trust the ocean a little more than what I did yesterday, and process what I’m bringing to this year—like sticking and committing to what I know and what I have, and just having fun with it."

Erin Brooks topped her heat against Lakey Peterson: "The heat was so much fun, there were so many lefts coming through, so that definitely stoked me out, and I was so thankful to the Lord for bringing me these waves because it was definitely easy to get lost out there, especially with the tide coming in. I was a little bit nervous going out there, especially against Lakey—I’ve looked up to her for so long—but I’m stoked to get the win and to be in Finals Day."

Tyler Wright, on her side, eliminated Sally Fitzgibbons and also advances to the quarter-finals.

Follow the event live here.