Brazilian surfing secured two important places in the men’s semi-finals of the Vivo Rio Pro. On the morning of Monday, June 22, athletes João Chianca, known as Chumbinho, and Yago Dora, secured their place among the four best competitors in the stage taking place in Saquarema.
In the quarterfinals, Chumbinho demonstrated his strength by overcoming Australian surfer Morgan Cibilic, with scores of 13.27 against 12.76. In a heat full of emotion, Yago Dora got the better of Miguel Pupo, reaching 15.67 points against 13.33. Before these clashes, another Brazilian talent, Samuel Pupo, was eliminated from the competition after facing Italian Leonardo Fioravanti.
Contrary to the men’s success, Brazilian competitors were eliminated in the decisive stages of the women’s tournament. Tati Weston-Webb and Luana Silva, the country’s representatives, were unable to advance, leaving Brazil without athletes in the next stages of the women’s competition.
Praia de Itaúna, in Saquarema, is the stage for the grand finals of Vivo Rio Pro, which are scheduled to take place on the afternoon of this Monday, 22nd. Affectionately known as “Maracanã do Surfe”, the beach receives this nickname due to the intense presence and contagious vibe of the public, which turns the event into a true spectacle.
The athlete who achieves the highest score in the finals, whether in the male or female category, will receive an official prize of US$80,000, approximately R$413,000, in addition to a GWM Tank 300 vehicle, valued at R$342,000.
Thus, the grand champion of the stage will be able to take home a total value of approximately R$ 750 thousand, establishing a new reward record in surfing events held on Brazilian soil, which highlights the growing appreciation of the sport in the country.