Quarterfinalists Decided in Exciting Day at Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais

Highlights Day 4

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Day 4 whittled the field down to just eight at the Men's QS10,000 in Portugal, the Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais.

The Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais resumed in excellent waves at the backup site of Praia do Guincho on Day 4 of the waiting period to complete three rounds of competition and decide the quarterfinalists.

Local hero and reigning World Junior Champion Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), 20, came out triumphant of a tense matchup against fellow Cascais resident Frederico Morais (PRT). While Morais started the heat early with two solid scores on his first two waves, Ribeiro only found momentum halfway through and had to dig deep on a final attempt in the dying seconds of the heat to post a near-perfect 9.73 and take the win.

"It's always hard to surf against one of your best friends, but we do it all the time in nationals and the European tour," Ribeiro admitted. "I'm super happy to make the quarters, it was a tough heat and Frederico started really well. I never gave up and I'm happy that those two waves gave me opportunities to show my surf. I want to have fun and try to put on a good show for everybody here, I'll try to be on the best waves and we'll see what happens. Having all my friends and family here gives me a lot of confidence."

Ribeiro's winning ride

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Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) starts on a good left in the dying seconds of his matchup against Frederico Morais (PRT) and belts a 9.73 to take the win.

Kolohe Andino (USA), 21, continued his rampaging campaign in Cascais, posting two big heat wins to collect his quarterfinal ticket. The Californian displayed the full array of both aerial and carving maneuvers in his repertoire and could not be stopped on Day 4 of the Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais.

"I'm stoked, it was a tough heat, but I got some waves under Ramzi's priority a little bit down the beach," Andino explained. "I'm happy to make the quarters, the difference in points is important. I'm not doing too good on the CT this year, I still could qualify but I definitely want to back myself up, and this result is definitely going to help, maybe I don't have to go to Brazil and I can relax a little bit more before Hawaii. I made eight heats in these last two events, way more than on the CT all-year so that's definitely a good confidence boost before Hossegor and Peniche."

Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 29, was against the ropes in his Round 4 matchup versus Jesse Mendes (BRA) and pulled out his favourite kind of last-minute heroics in the form of a rodeo flip for an 8.10 and the heat win.

Gudauskas let lose on the little lefts at Guincho - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"Jesse was ripping and I was thinking, what am I going to do to match this guy," Gudauskas reflected. "I was psyched to go for a hailmary on this one. I knew I needed like a 6 or something, and I was starting to go for waves where I could probably get the score but I realized I might as well go for a big score cause I knew Jesse could get whatever he would need afterwards."

Floridian Evan Geiselman (USA), 22, concluded the day's action with a decisive win over form junior surfer Nomme Mignot (FRA) to advance into the quarterfinals, a career-best for Geiselman. The dynamic, progressive goofyfooter will be facing current World No.12 Wigolly Dantas (BRA) when the event resumes.

A happy Geiselman moves on to the quarters - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I wasn't even in the QS10,000 at the beginning of the year, now I have a 9th in Azores and quarters so far here, so I'll try to keep going," Geiselman said. "I got a new sponsor this year with Reef and I've been surfing a bunch and doing a lot of fun projects with them, and I'm just psyched on surfing. I feel like I'm surfing the best I ever have pretty much this year so that feels good. Waves are fun here and I love to try airs, it's hard to adapt to the different tides and spots but I'm stoked everything's been going my way so far."

The halfway mark on the three-event Portuguese Waves Series - Cascais Trophy, this event will shuffle up the current rankings and give QS athletes a final shot at climbing up the ladder before CT competitors take over at the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal later this month.

While the surfing action has relocated to Praia do Guincho these past couple of days, the main site of competition in Carcavelos is vibrant with skateboarding, BMX and slackline action at the Moche Impact Zone and prepares for the major LIVE music events of the weekend.

Event officials and surfers will reassess conditions at 9AM on Friday at Guincho.

First in the water when the event resumes will be Kolohe Andino up against Vasco Ribeiro.