MEO PRO PORTUGAL - FINALS WRAP UP REPORT BY JAMIE TIERNEY

Stop number 3 of the 2022 WSL Tour wrapped up recently in Peniche, Portugal. California’s Griffin Colapinto took the win in a close final over Filipe Toledo of Brazil. Colapinto’s victory marks only the third time a surfer from Brad’s home state won a world tour event since 2009.  The surf was solid at Supertubos for the early rounds but dwindled to head high by the final day. Brad paid close attention to the contest and thought the key moment of the final came near the end when Toledo caught a left and went to work. “Filipe’s first turn was great on that wave but then he did two smaller turns when he should have done one big one,” says Brad. “It was like ordering a side dish rather than a steak. The problem was after that first turn, he wasn’t in an optimal position and he had to hurry a little bit. He needed an 8 and if his second turn was an air or a backside reverse, he could have easily gotten it. Overall, Griffin got better waves and put himself in better positions on them, but I was more excited by Filipe’s surfing.  He’s raw, really powerful and has a variety of turns. I don’t want to miss his or John’s or Kelly’s heats. They’re so unpredictable and fun to watch." 

In the women’s event, Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb beat American Lakey Peterson in the final.  Weston-Webb, who narrowly lost the world title in 2021 to Carissa Moore, looked solid in the punchy beach break.  “Tati's second turn on her second scoring wave was really good and that won her the contest,” said Brad. “I do wish she would lengthen herself coming out of turns. She’d be unstoppable if she did.”Peterson coming back from an injury, looked shakier to Brad. “Lakey tries so hard and I think that extra effort messes with her timing and technique. She surfs tense sometimes and looks so much better when she relaxes.”