Watch: The 2023 Capítulo Perfeito - Stab Mag

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

4825 Views
Miguel Blanco, seen here, shooting a tube. Photo: Vasco Lazaro

Watch: The 2023 Capítulo Perfeito

A shootout for tube shamans.

news // Feb 25, 2023
Words by Brendan Buckley
Reading Time: 3 minutes

[The 2023 Capitulo Perfeito is ON! Below, we break down everything you need to know about the event.]

Surf competitions are fascinating endeavors. 

They might seem simple on the surface — just get a crew together and, like, decide who surfed the best — but possibilities rapidly expand once you tinker with the who, what, when, where, and how. And, though we all love/tolerate the Woz, alternative events add much to the tapestry of our exquisite little world. 

For the uninitiated, Portugal’s Capitulo Perfeito [Perfect Chapter] is a good example. 

“I always loved the Billabong Challenge, and how it was so different from all the other events,” says the organizer, Rui Costa. “I wanted to create something like that for the surfers here in Portugal. And I wanted to make it all about the tube — it’s the most universal thing in surfing. We all want to do it, and we all know which one is the best.” 

Big pump energy feat. Pedro Boonman. Photo: Andre Carvalho

The first edition — held in 2012 — was an instant success. The organizers soon decided to open it up to surfers worldwide. But there was a catch: They would have to earn their invites via a voting process with the local surfers. 

Capitulo Perfeito has bounced around and run at the nation’s heaviest beachbreaks: Carcavelos, Supertubos, and Nazaré. The 2022 edition will be at the foremost of the three. 

Carcavelos is less than 20 kilometers/12 miles from the capital of Lisbon, an equally historic and hip city where I was recently served roast pigeon in a bustling (bit try-hard, to be honest) eatery that has a DJ spinning vinyl each night. Carcavelos is the nation’s OG wave, and still commands admiration and fear from anyone who’s seen it proper. 

This year’s Capitulo Perfeito waiting period runs from January 9th to March 9th [it got called on for February 28], and the goal is to cherry-pick the very best day of the Euro-winter for eight hours of tubs. €25,000 his the winner’s pockets, and an extra €10,000 is administered via other awards like best cone of the day.  

And, yes, you (or Tiago Pires) can go right. Photo: Andre Carvalho

This year’s invitees are Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP), Balaram Stack (EUA), Bruno Santos (BRA), Clay Marzo (HAW), João Maria Mendonça (PRT), Michael February (ZA), Miguel Blanco (PRT), Nathan Hedge (AUS), Nic von Rupp (PRT), Pedro Boonman (PRT), Salvador Vala (PRT), Tiago Pires (PRT), and Torrey Meister (HAW). 

Everyone on that lineup packs a punch. But, notably, it includes a Pipe Master (Bal), a World Champ (ADS), the 2022’s favorite wildcard (Hedgey), the most stylish CT surfer of the past decade (M-Feb), Europe’s most irrational swell chaser (NVR), the prince of Portugal (Saca) and…what title do you even give Marzo?

Notice a theme? They’re all tunnel pigs who you won’t currently find chasing Q points. And a lot of them still had to earn their invites. The field is curated from three categories: International Surfers, National Surfers, and New Generation (surfers under 17). While the International Surfers were chosen by the event organizers, a voting system decided the National Surfers and New Generation. Two wildcards are also thrown into the mix, for good measure — in this case, it was previous event champ Aritz Aranburu and local trials winner João Maria Mendonça.

Each year, the event delivers both tubes and #narrartives — including putting XXM Nazaré on everyone’s bucket list, and seeing Marzo become the first person to surf a heat in boardshorts in Europe in February

This year, we’ll keep you informed as the comp gets called on and the legend expands. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

João Chianca Opens Up About His Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, And Targeted Return To Competition  

"I don't just want to be the same surfer that I was. I don't even…

Mar 21, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement