Fingers crossed for similar conditions. Photo: Jorge Ibáñez
October 12th is day one of the 12-day waiting period for the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which ends on October 23rd. The 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be the focal point for both 2014 ASP WCT Title aspirations as well as requalification for the newly named 2015 World Surfing League.
Portugal’s legendary beach break known as Supertubes will provide the cylindrical playing field for a competition that will see surfers both pitted deep and taking to the air. Known for its powerful sandbar and dredging barrels, Supertubes receives its energy from strong North Atlantic storm swell that obtains additional potency from a deep, near-shore underwater canyon.
As mentioned, 2014 ASP WCT title implications remain largely in play at the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, as purportedly 7 surfers remain with varied, and mostly remote, levels of contention for the world title. Current World #1, Gabriel Medina, has a solid strangle hold as the breakaway ratings leader, commanding a seemingly unsurmountable lead going into the last two events on the 2014 ASP WCT schedule. Gabriel is the only surfer who can claim the title in Portugal.
John John Florence, event champion of the 2014 Quiksilver Pro France, could potentially win out the remainder of the 2014 season, possibly turning the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal and the 2014 Billabong Pipe Masters into a road map to the most shocking late season world title dream run in the history of professional surfing.
The entire field currently ranked at or near the 22nd place slot will have the added pressure of posting an excellent result as only the top 22 ranked surfers at year’s end will requalify for the 2015 World Surf League.
Portugal’s hometown hero, Tiago Pires, currently resides at World #25 and needs a solid result at the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal in order to requalify. Historically, competing at home has not been friendly to Tiago, and things won’t start off easy this go around as Tiago faces Owen Wright and Nat Young in Heat 12 of Round 1. Then again, what’s an easy heat these days?
Wildcards Nic von Rupp and Jacob Willcox will complete the field of 36 surfers competing at the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Both have the exceedingly difficult task of not only coming up against top-ranked surfers but also facing former event winners in their Round 1 clashes.
Former champions at the Portugal stop include:
2013: Kai Otton
2012: Julian Wilson
2011: Adriano DeSouza
2010: Kelly Slater
2009: Mick Fanning (as the Rip Curl Search event)
All on demand action of the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal can be viewed at aspworldtour.com and all live action and recaps can be viewed right here on theinertia.com.
