Macy Callaghan and Leonardo Fioravanti Take CS Thrones (For Now)

Well folks, it appears the WSL’s deviously-concocted plan is working. Since we are unable to supply CT-level stimulation to our burnt-out receptors, we must settle for Ribiera D’ilhas wobble.

Despite that settlement — and any number of obvious jabs one can poke at Ericiera’s warbly step-child pointbreak — it was a somewhat compelling event. Partially due to the qualification implications, partially due to that one heat where Willian Cardoso chased Carlos Munoz to a peak filled with confused Germans on foamies and torched him with prio. Alpha Panda Mentality.

The waves weren’t bad, in fact there was a decent amount of swell and relatively light winds throughout the event window. The lines were just a bit soft, especially at the middle of the point.

Imagine extremely lackluster Bells.

Most heats were made through utilizing a variety of different cutbacks until the end section arrived, which, if met with a big hammer and a bigger claim, would reward a decent score. 

Pretty much all of the usual suspects cruised through the dreadful first round, except for Stab High staple and successful CT wildcard Mateus Herdy, who fell behind Al Cleland and Michel Bourez in a rapidfire heat.

In maybe the strangest call of the event, Bettylou Sakura-Johnson received a 9 for three fades and a foamy lip-line float against Kirra Pinkerton. Granted, her last turn was impactful and she fuckin rips, but was it near-perfect surfing? Considering the quality of wave as a major limiting factor, I can’t back the call.

Regardless, the rounds chugged on, and CT-alumni mostly dominated the field. Rio Waida qualified in exactly the waves he’s trained for, Ryan Callinan looked like a pendulum-from-hell, and Macy Callaghan continued on the momentum-train she’s been on.

In hazy cutback conditions, the final heats arrived with Leonardo Fioravanti facing R.Cal and Macy Callaghan opposing Caity Simmers.

Despite mowing through the rest of the competitors, Caity couldn’t piece together a combo to usurp Macy’s confident approach. A slower heat, in somewhat sloppy waves. Macy takes first place on the rankings, Caity sits pretty in second. Both of them clearly deserve to be — and will be — on tour next year. 

The men’s final came next and, as fog hung low over a gray Atlantic, we watched two victims of the mid-year-cut duke it out— cowboy style. Leo and Ryan came out swinging sledgehammers, aimed mostly at the chunky end-section. Each of them managed back-up scores, but Leo’s was of more significance, and the Italian cemented himself on the Challenger Series throne. Both clinched CT qualification in Ericeira and, along with Rio, will enter the Ehukai gladiator pit come December.

Brazil looms terrifyingly for those who haven’t been able to clamber their way from the Round of 96 pit. 

Full Premium rankings update coming soon.