Capitulo Perfeito is a one-day, invite-only contest with a laser focus on tube-riding. The catch is that it only runs when the perfect conditions come together in the Portuguese winter. When they finally do, surfers have about 72 hours to haul ass to Carcavelos for the main event.
This year will be Nic von Rupp’s 10th time competing, and last year was his third win. No surfer knows Capitulo Perfeito better than him, so I called him up to ask what it is that keeps him coming back.
The waves are really good
“Carcavelos, it doesn’t break perfect very often, but when it does, it’s just incredibly good,” says von Rupp. “On its day, it rallies with some of the best breaks in the world, like Pipe or Puerto Escondido or or Supertubes. It’s insane to really show the world the potential that beachbreak has.”
That’s why timing is especially important for Capitulo Perfeito. In the three-month contest window, from January 9th to March 9th, contest organizer Rui Costa has the impossible task of waiting for the exact moment when the right combination of swells hits for perfect tube-riding. The craziest part of it all is that Costa and the rest of the event organizers manage to do it every year.
“It’s what sets it apart from the other events,” says von Rupp. ”I feel like most events, they just want to run. They’ve got a specific date over the weekend where they do competition. And on this one, they’re really just waiting for months for the perfect conditions. It’s awesome. It’s really caring to find the best condition for the athletes.”
It’s got a killer roster
Of course, it would be pretty pointless to wait for perfect barrels without the right surfers to take advantage of them. Luckily, Capitulo Perfeito has that department covered, too. The event’s roster is stacked with legendary tube hounds, former Championship Tour pros, and a few local heroes in the mix.
“It’s definitely escalated,” Nic tells me. “It used to be like a local contest and it really escalated to invite some of the best surfers in the world, some of the best barrel riders in the world, ex-world champions and stuff like that. It makes it extra special when you do good, you know? You’re competing against some of the best barrel riders in the world.”
It reminds him of how far he’s come in his career
After 10 years of returning to compete in Capitulo Perfeito, the event has a nostalgic factor for Nic. “It gives me a good throwback of all the great moments I’ve had with this event and just in general with my career and the good barrels and the good vibes,” he explains. “It brings me a lot of gratitude when this event comes around. It takes me back in time.”
Carcavelos feels like home
While he’s certainly at home in a barrel, Capitulo Perfeito is also a literal homecoming for von Rupp. In fact, it takes place right on his old stomping grounds. “I grew up right there,” he tells me. “Before I moved to Praia Grande, I used to live in Oeiras, which is like a five-minute drive. So that’s the beach I grew up in.”
Being close to home also gives him the opportunity to share the moment with loved ones. “I always bring my girlfriend, my parents come down to support. It’s nice,” he adds.
The surfers come first
Finally, it’s just an event that actually cares about not only the surfers who compete, but the ones watching. “It’s an event for the surfers,” he says. “The prize money is great. The format is great. The surfers are great. The organization is great. It’s an event that really cares about the well-being and the state of the surfers. It’s an event made for surfers to enjoy.”
