Praia do Cabedelo, where the Allianz Figueira Pro, the first leg of the 13th edition of the MEO Surf League, starts today (call at 8.30am), is a fond memory for Guilherme Ribeiro, the current national champion. “It was one of the places where I started to get really good results. For four or five years I’ve always reached the knockout stage. I’ve never won, that’s going to be the goal, in a place that I love and where all conditions are to win”, anticipated the yellow lycra holder, coming from a long and productive pre-season.
The Bom Petisco Peniche Pro, where Ribeiro participated twice (victory in the stage and in the competition), in October last year, was the last race in which he participated. “I was in Hawaii for a month to train. I am better prepared for this start of the MEO League and for all the championships to come,” he assured, giving more details about his journey to the Mecca of surfing. “If I want to be good, I have to spend seasons there. It was the third time. When I went, there was a podium on the world circuit. I’m already sponsored by O’Neill and ended up making good contacts.” with the brand in the US,” he said.
The 21-year-old from Caparica, made on the 8th, reveals that “not having defined the goal to become champion last year was the secret”, wants to keep the spirit – “I will go to all competitions to win; if the bills”, he defended – not least because he has bigger ambitions. “My goals are much more than becoming national champions. I want to qualify for the Challenger Series. By qualifying for this circuit, I will travel a lot more. If that doesn’t happen, I will bet on trips anyway. Won’t stay in Europe It’s time to invest, not to stand still”, reinforced. “My goals are much more than becoming National Champion. I want to qualify for the Challenger Series” Guilherme Ribeiro National Champion.
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The start of the MEO League coincides with a great moment for Portuguese women’s surfing, which means that the Allianz Figueira Pro will have the presence of Teresa Bonvalot (World Tour 1st alternate), Kika Veselko (Junior World Champion) and Yolanda Hopkins ( European champion ). “I’m very happy to be part of this generation. Growing up there weren’t many women who were surfing or who I could look up to as an idol. But now we have surfers like Teresa, Francisca, among others, and “The youth look up to them. It is very important that these people who inspire us to achieve our goals, Hopkins said, are “happy” to return to national competitions.
LEAGUE MEO CALENDAR
24/03-26/03 Allianz Figueira Pro
21/04-23/04 Joaquim Chaves Porto Pro
10/06-12/06 Allianz Ericeira Pro
23/06-25/06 Allianz Ribeira Grande Pro
27/10-29/10 Bombshell Petisco Peniche Pro
HISTORY CHAMPIONS
2011 Vasco Ribeiro/Maria Abecassis
2012 Vasco Ribeiro/Maria Abecassis
2013 Frederico Morais/Carina Duarte
2014 Vasco Ribeiro/Teresa Bonvalot
2015 Frederico Morais/Teresa Bonvalot
2016 Pedro Henrique/Carol Mendes
2017 Vasco Ribeiro/Carol Mendes
2018 Miguel Blanco/Camila Kemp
2019 Miguel Blanco/Yolanda Hopkins
2020 Frederico Morais/Teresa Bonvalot
2021 Vasco Ribeiro/Kika Veselko
Source: DN
