Teresa Bonvalot, victorious in Sydney. Photo: Matt Dunbar//WSL
From the southern facing coast of the Algarve, to the glimmering 430 miles of west coast, to the rugged power in the north, Portugal’s coastline provides endless opportunities for nearly every swell size and direction. Considering the nation’s wave prowess, government-sponsored training programs, and passionate fans, Portugal hasn’t had the competitive surf success one might expect. With the annual World Surf League Championship Tour competition in Peniche (Supertubos) and multiple qualifying events spread across the country, the opportunities are there. However, Portugal lacks surf competitive dominance comparable to that of Australia, Brazil, or Hawaii. Although, over the years there have always been a handful of surfers who carry the nation on their backs.
The last time Portugal did not have a full-time competitor on the Championship Tour was in 2015 and 2016, after Tiago Pires retired. Since, Frederico Morais (also known as “Kikas”) has represented Portugal, steadily climbing up the rankings each year. Although this season, Morais failed to advance beyond the mid-year cut, forcing him to turn to the Challenger Series for re-qualification.
Now, Portugal’s CT hopes on the men’s side look grim. With Morais’ early loss in the Pro Ericeira, he sits at 39th on the CS rankings. A Hail Mary performance in the last two events may not even be enough to do the job given the ruthless pool of talent on the Challenger Series. The next best option on the men’s side was Vasco Ribeiro, who had a promising start to the season, and is currently 32nd. But in August, Ribeiro announced he was taking a break from professional surfing to spend time with family and focus on mental health.
So it’s time to focus on the women, where competitive success on the world stage could definitely happen this year. Teresa Bonvalot and Yolanda Hopkins are now the only realistic chance of Portuguese representation on the 2023 Championship Tour. Bonvalot, sits at number seven in the rankings, within striking distance of the top five CT qualification requirement. A strong result in the next Challenger Series stop in Brazil would potentially inch her into a qualifying spot. Bonvalot won the Sydney Surf Pro earlier this season, although she has since slipped down the rankings.
Portugal’s second hope is in Yolanda Hopkins. Known as a humble competitor, she has had a rollercoaster of a competitive year. Hopkins fell short of Challenger Series qualification by only 95 points, the equivalent of one heat win. Just before the start of the Challenger Series, she was awarded a full season wildcard slot. Her best results are ninths in Sydney and Ericeira. Hopkins sits at number 20 on the CS, and will have to final in Brazil and Hawaii for a chance to represent Portugal on the CT next year.
Yolanda Hopkins is right on the cusp of the CT. Photo: WSL
Qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is also on the line, adding additional pressure. Both women competed in the Tokyo games, and undoubtedly would like to return for team Portugal. If either surfer qualifies for the WSL’s Championship Tour, and then ranks in the top eight at the end of the season, they’ll have the opportunity to compete in Olympic surfing’s sophomore event.
As a country with strong national pride and a rich surf culture, the stakes could not be higher for Portugal’s surfing future. With the weight of a nation riding on each of their backs, the only question is: Will Teresa Bonvalot or Yolanda Hopkins give Portugal a spot on the world stage?
