With the Australian leg of professional surfing’s elite Tour now complete, the ASP World Title race is focused on Brazil as the world’s best surfers prepare to compete in the punchy beachbreaks of Rio de Janeiro’s Barra da Tijuca for the Billabong Rio Pro and Women’s Rio Pro presented by Billabong.
The fantastic city-center location offers a breathtaking backdrop to the fourth stop on the WCT. With beautiful people and surfing fanatics aplenty, the rich culture of Rio de Janeiro and the spectacular natural setting make this a stop not to miss. The locals’ passion for surfing guarantees great crowds and a lively atmosphere for the ASP Top 34 and Top 17.
Brazil has played host to many ASP events over the past 30 years but 2011 saw the ASP World Championship Tour return to Rio for both the men and women.
Defending event champion Jordy Smith will hunt down his first win of 2014 in Rio.
Eleven-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won in Brazil three times. Reigning three-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 2 Mick Fanning was victorious in 2006 and 2007 and Jordy Smith (ZAF) is the defending event winner.
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) posted a win here in 2012, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP World No. 1 Carissa Moore (HAW) won in 2011 and Tyler Wright (AUS), current ASP World No. 3, is the defending event winner.
Fitzgibbons will look to collect the second Brazilian victory of her career.
The wildcards for the men’s event are Peterson Crisanto (Parana/BRA), selected by Billabong, and David do Carmo (São Paulo/BRA), 2013 Brazilian Professional Surfing Champion. The women’s wildcard is Silvana Lima (Ceará/BRA). They will compete alongside the ASP Top 34 and Top 17 respectively to complete the fields for the Billabong Rio Pro and the Rio Women’s Pro.
Kai Otton (AUS) has withdrawn from the event due to the birth of his first child. ASP replacement surfer Glenn Hall (IRL) will compete as first alternate.
