First Olympic champion surfer in history, Brazilian Italo Ferreira won on Sunday (16) the title in Abu Dabhi, a stage in the Middle East that debuted this year in the World Surfing League (WSL). In the final, Potiguar, world champion in 2019, won the best about Indonesian Rio Waida, with a summary of 17.27 against 14.50 obtained by the Asian in the largest pool in the world of artificial waves. The title in the second stage of WSL raised Potiguar to the lead in the season, with 16,085 points. In second place is Hawaiian Barron Mamiya (11,330) and third of Paulista Miguel Pupo (9,490).
Abu Dhabi’s first champion! 🔥
Italo Ferreira secured the title in the first two waves! Even with this 8.60 to the left! 🇧🇷
Gigantic! 💪#WslBrasil pic.twitter.com/a71ialsgs6
– WSL Brasil 🇧🇷 (@wslbrasil) February 16, 2025
Thrilled, Italo left the sea in the arms of the fans and celebrated with the flag of Brazil.
“It’s Senna style here! I launched a Senna there in [onda de] left. It is a pride to represent Brazil, a country that has great warriors, great stories. It motivates me a lot. Thank God I won this competition. It’s a championship [em piscina] That a few years ago I was second, and it motivated me to win this competition, made me train much more, I dedicated myself 100% to that. I was very grateful for this opportunity, ”said Italo Ementrevista after the title in Abu Dhabi, referring to the runner-up at the Surf Ranch pool in California (United States) in 2023.
Italo was left early in the final, with notes 8.67 on the waves to the right side, and 8.60 to the left. Already the Indonesian opponent, obtained inferior notes: 7.83 and 6.67.
Two other Brazilians surfed this Sunday (16) in the artificial waves of Abu Dhabi but stopped in the quarterfinals, surpassed by Australians. Paulista Miguel Pupo lost to Ethan Ewing and Santa Catarina Dora to Jack Robinson.
Flew so much that it landed at the top! 🏆🚀
How good it is to see you smiling, my champion! 💙#WslBrasil pic.twitter.com/q9dody10b7
– WSL Brasil 🇧🇷 (@wslbrasil) February 16, 2025
In the women’s dispute, who raised the trophy was the American Caitlin Simmers who totaled 16.13 (8.67 + 7.43) in the final against Australian Molly Picklun, with a sum of 15.70 (8.00 + 7.70).
The third of the 11 regular WSL stages will be in Peniche (Portugal), starting on March 15.
