Portuguese surfer Yolanda Hopkins stressed on Tuesday that winning fifth place in the elite competition of the World Surfing League (WSL) is “incredible”, but she wants to return to Peniche next year to win the event.
“I am proud and I know that Portugal is giving me a lot of support. Obviously a fifth place is incredible, I equaled my result in the [Jogos] Olympics, but I hope to return next year and not as a ‘wild card’ [convidada]but as permanent, and next year to win”, launched the athlete from the Algarve to the journalists.
On a day of big waves and little wind at Praia de Supertubos, the Portuguese Olympian scored 7.94 points in the two best waves (4.77 and 3.17), out of 20 possible, while her opponent scored 9, 03 (5 and 4.03).
“It was a ‘heat’ [bateria] difficult, the conditions are difficult, when I was in the heat with priority I could not find the good waves. I think I could have given a lot more and I’ll check the heat when I get home with my trainer and we’ll work on that,” said Yolanda Hopkins, 25.
Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the third leg of the WSL’s main circuit, kicked off on Saturday and the waiting period runs through March 16.
Source: TSF
