PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Saturday, October 21, 2023) – Erin Brooks and Samuel Pupo won the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, the sixth and final stop on the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series. 16-year old Erin Brooks (CAN) defeated Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in the women’s Final and Samuel Pupo (BRA) was victorious over Mihimana Braye (FRA) in the men’s Final. The final 2024 Championship Tour (CT) qualifiers were also determined, seeing Isabella Nichols (AUS) take the final spot in the women’s division and Kade Matson (USA) and Deivid Silva (BRA) obtain the remaining spots in the men’s division.

The women’s final began as a low-scoring affair with McCulloch pulling in front with 7.50 (out of a possible 20) total on her two best waves. Brooks then countered and was able to close the gap with a 7.44 heat total. However, the fiery youngster still had another gear in store, adding a 5.00 to her score. Then, on her final wave, Brooks took her surfing to another level. With less than a minute remaining, Brooks paddled into a solid lefthander, executed a deep bottom turn and slammed the oncoming section with a lightning-fast turn which earned her an 8.67 for a 13.67 combined score and her first win on the Challenger Series.

“I’m speechless. The heat started off not too well for me. But God sent me some amazing waves and helped me ride out on my last turn. Sophie is such a great competitor, so well done to her as well,” said Brooks. “I’m so glad that I requalified for next year. It will give me time to work on my surfing. Hopefully next year I can bring some of my airs to the heats. We’ll see what happens.”
When questioned about her time in Brazil, Brooks said, “I love Saquarema and I love Brazil. I love the waves, the people, and the food. Everyone here is so kind, and the waves here are so much fun. Everyone was so kind. I loved how they cheered on everyone.”

The men’s Final also began with a balanced back-and-forth between Pupo and Braye. Pupo began with a slight lead of 6.17 to 5.00 respectively. Braye added a score of 2.27 to take the lead. But with the entire Brazilian crowd at Praia de Itaúna behind Pupo, he scratched into a long righthander that provided him with an open wall that he took full advantage of with four consecutive frontside hacks which scored an 8.00 to extend his lead. He then followed with a 5.93 as his backup score to finalize the event with a heat total of 14.17 to Braye’s 10.93 (out of a possible 20).

“It’s a huge emotion, the contest was very long, I managed to have great heats and another good one in the Final, so I’m very happy with the victory,” said Pupo. “I found a right that was difficult to get into today, but I felt like I was well connected and that’s where I got my highest score.”

When asked about the inaugural trophy for the 2023 Corona Saquarema Pro, Pupo added, “I was joking with my mother that I had seen the same art on PB Arts’ Instagram. I even wanted to buy it and the moment I saw it was this trophy, I told myself that I would have to win it here (laughs). Coming here and getting a spot on the CT was already a very difficult mission. I couldn’t even believe it and leave here victorious, it just shows how great God is and everything He does in my life. I’m very thankful for this incredible victory.”

The Corona Saquarema Pro presented by Banco do Brasil decided the final 2024 Championship Tour qualifiers on the final day of competition. Two men’s spots and one women’s position were still up for grabs. Eli Hanneman (HAW) had a come from behind victory over Michael Rodrigues (BRA) that guaranteed qualification for Californian Kade Matson (USA).

“It’s crazy, I always talk about what it would be like to qualify, but it feels different from anything I could imagine,” said Matson. “I’m so thankful to be in the position I’m in. It’s insane, Eli needed to make that heat, so I got to cheer on my best friend and he ended up doing my job for me, so it feels really good. I’m really looking forward to competing at Pipe. I’ve had some heats there, but I’ve never had a good result, so I’m excited for that. It’s been really cool here in Brazil, the fans here are insane, it’s one of the coolest places I’ve been, so I’m really grateful to do it here.”

In the following heat, Samuel Pupo defeated Hanneman in the Semifinals, which guaranteed the return of Deivid Silva (BRA) to the Championship Tour.

• Cole Houshmand (USA)
• Samuel Pupo (BRA)
• Jacob Willcox (AUS)
• Crosby Colapinto (USA)
• Eli Hanneman (HAW)
• Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
• Frederico Morais (PRT)
• Jake Marshall (USA)
• Kade Matson (USA)
• Deivid Silva (BRA

For the women, Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) needed to win the event to jump into fifth and final place that would qualify her for the 2024 Championship Tour. Erostarbe came close, but was taken down by Brooks, the eventual winner, leaving qualification with Isabella Nichols (AUS).

The list of the final five women’s athletes that qualified for the 2024 Championship Tour include:

• India Robinson (AUS)
• Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
• Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
• Alyssa Spencer (AUS)
• Isabella Nichols (AUS)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Women’s Final Results:
1 – Erin Brooks (CAN) 13.67
2 – Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 7.50

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Final Results:
1 – Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.17
2 – Mihimana Braye (FRA) 10.93

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 10.50 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 6.77
HEAT 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 12.83 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 8.94

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Mihimana Braye (FRA) 11.50 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 7.14
HEAT 2: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.50 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.00

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Francisca Veselko (POR) 5.60 DEF. Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 4.60
HEAT 2: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 15.17 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 8.84
HEAT 3: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 13.16 DEF. India Robinson (AUS) 5.70
HEAT 4: Erin Brooks (CAN) 13.16 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 4.50

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Mihimana Braye (FRA) 14.83 DEF. Shion Crawford (HAW) 12.27
HEAT 2: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 14.57 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 12.30
HEAT 3: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 16.83 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.60
HEAT 4: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Marco Mignot (FRA) 13.50

Next Stop: The 2024 Championship Tour
The 2024 Championship Tour kicks off at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, with a competition window from January 29 through February 10, 2024. All 2024 CT competitions will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition’s Quarterfinals and beyond will continue exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and SporTV.

The Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil is supported by Corona, Banco do Brasil, the City of Saquarema, the Secretary of Sports and Leisure of t

 Presented by Banco do Brasil

Saturday: Finals Day was Called ON at Corona Saquarema Pro

Day 5, Friday…Quarterfinalists Decided for Finals Day at the Corona Saquarema Pro

• Samuel Pupo Qualifies for 2024 Championship Tour
• Crosby Colapinto Continues High-Level Performance in Brazil
• Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinalists Decided at Praia de Itaúna

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Friday, October 20, 2023) – The Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, the sixth and final stop on the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series, continued today with men’s Round of 16. Challenging conditions were on hand with strong currents and waves with 6-to-8 foot sets, and occasional 10-footers breaking at Praia de Itaúna. Both men’s and women’s Quarterfinalists have been decided for Finals Day on Saturday.

To their despair, several athletes missed out on their opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Championship Tour (CT) including Jackson Baker (AUS) and Mateus Herdy (BRA). However, to his elation, Samuel Pupo (BRA) was able to confirm his ticket back on Tour after defeating Kade Matson (USA) in the final heat of the day.

Samuel Pupo fulfilled his goal today by requalifying for the 2024 Championship Tour. He will reunite with his brother, Miguel Pupo (BRA) and the entire class of CT surfers that will compete on the world’s best waves next year.

Pupo was slotted in Heat 8, the final heat of the day against Kade Matson. The winner of the heat would automatically qualify for the CT. With the entire beach focusing on the potential qualifiers, the crowd erupted as Pupo scored an 8.33 on consecutive backside hacks on a lefthander. He then followed by earning an 8.70 from a massive single-maneuver on a huge section, disappearing from sight, then reappearing with his arms raised above his head.

“I feel amazing, it’s been such a hard week, especially against such good surfers,” said Pupo. “We woke up today and conditions were really hard. I can’t believe how everything worked out in my heat and it’s such a relief to be back. It’s been such a long, crazy year, it feels like three in one, but I’m just so happy. Thank you to everyone.”

During Heat 3 of the Round of 16, Crosby Colapinto (USA), who has guaranteed a spot on the 2024 Championship Tour, continued his stellar performance in the challenging conditions at Praia de Itaúna. Matched up against young South African Luke Thompson (RSA), Colapinto put together a two-wave total of 15.93 (8.33 + 7.60) to advance into the Quarterfinals. He will now face his fellow CT qualifier, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) in Heat 2 of the Quarterfinals on Saturday.

“Feels really good. I mean I just felt super free,” said Colapinto. “The heats before had so much thoughts and pressure and feelings going on before and I felt like in those heats I didn’t get to calm down, really. I was super frantic. I made those heats and coming into this one, I just want to just be calm and surf how the CT guys do. When they come to the Challengers, you can tell they’re CT surfers. That was my goal going into that heat. And I think I did it. So I was pretty stoked.”

The women’s quarterfinalists were determined earlier in the week on Tuesday, upon completion of the Round of 16. Heat 1 of the Quarterfinals will see Kirra Pinkerton (USA) face up against Francisca Veselko (POR). Heat 2 will feature Sophie McCulloch (AUS) versus Alyssa Spencer (USA). Heat 3 will have Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) against India Robinson (AUS) and the final heat of the round will see Sawyer Lindblad (USA) against Erin Brooks (CAN).

With only one spot remaining for CT qualification for the women, it will come down to the final day of competition of the Corona Saquarema Pro to determine the final CT qualifier. Isabella Nichols (AUS) currently sits in fifth place on the rankings. The only person that can overtake her is Nadia Erostarbe (EUK), who needs to win the event to qualify.

In the men’s division, up-and-comer Shion Crawford (HAW) is hoping to guarantee a berth on the 2024 Challenger Series should he win the event. In Heat 1, he will face up against Mihimana Braye (FRA), who eliminated Mateus Herdy (BRA) from the competition. Heat 2 will see Crosby Colapinto (USA) against Imaikalani deVault (HAW).

High stakes are on the line for Michael Rodrigues (BRA) in Heat 3 against Eli Hanneman (HAW). Rodrigues needs to advance into the Semifinals to qualify for the Championship Tour. If he loses against Hanneman, he will not qualify. In the final heat of the men’s Quarterfinals, Marco Mignot (FRA) will match up against Samuel Pupo (BRA). Mignot needs to advance into the Finals to earn a spot on the 2024 Championship Tour.

“For me, I’m hungry. Competing with the guys who have already qualified, for me it’s a motivation. I want to beat them,” said Mignot. “For me, a guy like Frederico is a big inspiration, for all the European surfers. I have so much respect for Frederico. He’s an amazing surfer, and amazing example of hard work and discipline. For me, I really look up to him. Massive respect for him.”

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Shion Crawford (HAW) 11.83 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 10.50
HEAT 2: Mihimana Braye (FRA) 11.33 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 10.00
HEAT 3: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 15.93 DEF. Luke Thompson (RSA) 12.03
HEAT 4: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 11.17 DEF. Nacho Gundesen (ARG) 1.60
HEAT 5: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.73 DEF. Heitor Mueller (BRA) 9.07
HEAT 6: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.00 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.87
HEAT 7: Marco Mignot (FRA) 12.23 DEF. Frederico Morais (POR) 10.17
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 17.03 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 7.77

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Upcoming Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Shion Crawford (HAW) vs. Mihimana Braye (FRA)
HEAT 2: Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 3: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW)
HEAT 4: Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Women’s Upcoming Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 2: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) vs. India Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 4: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)

Presented by Banco do Brasil

Day 5 of Competition Called ON at Corona Saquarema Pro

• Men’s Round of 16 Started at 8:05 AM GMT-3 (1:00am HI time)
• Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals postponed.
• Next Call Oct 21, 2023 1:15 AM HDT* AM HDT*AM HDT*AM HDT*23 1:15 AM HDT*

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Friday, October 20, 2023) – Competition has been called ON at the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, Stop No. 6 on the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series. A new swell has reached the coastline with heavy waves in the 6-to-8 foot range with the occaisional larger set at Praia de Itaúna. Heats 1 – 8 of the Men’s Round of 16 will start at 8:05 a.m. GMT-3. The Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals are on standby.

Heat 3 of the Round of 16 will feature South African Luke Thompson (RSA) against Crosby Colapinto (USA), who earned his CT qualification earlier in the week. Heat 4 will feature Imaikalani deVault (HAW) against Nacho Gundesen (ARG).

Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil Men’s Upcoming Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Shion Crawford (HAW) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 2: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Mihimana Braye (FRA)
HEAT 3: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 4: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) vs. Nacho Gundesen (ARG)
HEAT 5: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Heitor Mueller (BRA)
HEAT 6: Eli Hanneman (HAW) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 7: Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Frederico Morais (POR)
HEAT 8: Kade Matson (USA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.