This Monday, the Portuguese Frederico Morais secured a place in the next season of the main circuit of the World Surf League (WSL), after advancing to the round of 16 of the Saquarema Pro, in Brazil, the last event of the elite promotion circuit.
“I’m super excited, it took a lot of work and faith. When I was eliminated in cut [corte] Last season I went through difficult times. But I believed and had the willpower to do it all again,” Kikas launched into the WSL, after advancing to the round of 16 in the last race of the elite promotion circuit.
See this post on InstagramA post shared by Frederico Morais (@fredericomoraiis)
Morais came in second position in the eighth round of the round of 32, with a total of 13.64 points (out of 20 possible) in the two best waves (7.07 and 6.57), behind the North American Kade Matson (15 , 23) and surpassing the Brazilian Alejo Muniz (11.60) and the Australian George Pittar (10.77).
“Honestly, I had no idea that if I passed this heat I would qualify. I think it was even better and it was super special,” the 31-year-old surfer revealed.
With the move to the next phase of the Saquarema Pro, the three-time Portuguese champion (2013, 2015 and 2020) fulfills his goal of competing again in the world elite (Championship Tour), a circuit in which he already competed in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
“This is for Portugal! We’re back in the Tour and come on, we’re here to stay. I’m grateful for believing in myself. Because, if you believe in yourself, anything is possible, that’s all.” , he highlighted, also thanking his family, friends and coach for their support.
He added: “I gave a hug to my coach, Richard, who I have worked with for 15 years, and he is basically like a second father to me. It was hard, but we did it, I am super happy, we have returned to the Tour and that “It was my big goal.”
At the beginning of the Brazilian race, the sixth and last of the Challenger Series (CS), after the recent race in Ericeira (Portugal), Kikas was in third position in the ranking and, with the points accumulated so far in the Brazilian race, , is already among the best in the world next season.
“I’m going to keep working hard, believing, working harder than everyone else. I’ve been on the Tour for a few years, I left last year, I came back this year, so I just have to keep working.” and we are here for more victories, and more defeats, and to live this surfer life that I love,” he concluded.
In the round of 16 of the Saquarema Pro, in Rio de Janeiro, the 31-year-old athlete, former top 10 in the world, will face Frenchman Marco Mignot.
In the women’s category, the Portuguese Francisca Veselko also advanced this Monday to the round of 16 of the Saquarema Pro, while her compatriots Carolina Mendes and Teresa Bonvalot were eliminated.
Kika, current junior world champion, scored 8.93 points, out of a possible 20, in the two best waves (5.00+3.93), being surpassed only by the experienced Australian Sally Fitzgibbons, with 14.67 , and leaving the way to the Hawaiian Eweleiula. Wong (5.34) and Zoë Steyn (5.27).
In the second round of 16 series, Veselko will face France’s Vahine Fierro.
Carolina Mendes and Teresa Bonvalot fell by the wayside, after Yolanda Hopkins, also Portuguese, was eliminated the day before, still in the round of 16.
Source: TSF
