PRAIA DO PARAISO, Costa da Caparica - Portugal (Saturday, March 30, 2024) - Today Teresa Bonvalot (POR) and Tiago Carrique (FRA) won the QS3,000 Caparica Surf Fest, final stop on the 2023/24 World Surf League (WSL) European Qualifying Series (QS), over Yolanda Hopkins (POR) and Maxime Huscenot (FRA) respectively in the Finals, held in three-to-five Foot surf at praia de paraiso in Caparica.
This event had to navigate an extremely difficult forecast but Caparica still provided plenty of opportunities and rewarded surfers able to adapt to a variety of conditions. It culminated this afternoon with the event finals held in some of the better conditions all week and some incredible performances and heats to decide the future of some of Europe's best competitors.
Carrique Blows Up on Finals Day, Claims Event Win and Regional Tite
The best two surfers all-week, and all-year for that matter, Tiago Carrique (FRA) and Maxime Huscenot (FRA) matched up in a dream scenario for the Final, straight off incredible performances in their respective Semis matchups where they both scored above 17-point heat totals (out of a possible 20). Both had a similar start in the Final with a wave in the seven point range to settle the nerves and get something on the board.
Midway through the heat, Carrique went to his favorite repertoire, the airs, and backed up his best score with a little rotation to extend his lead slightly. Huscenot answered with a single forehand turn but was just short of the requirement to turn the heat. Within the last two minutes, Huscenot got a couple of opportunities but couldn't convert and Carrique punctuated his season with a formidable double win, the Caparica Surf Fest and the 2023/24 European QS Title.
"It was a lot of hard training before this so I was very confident coming here," Carrique said. "It feels amazing to be honest, I can't really believe it but it seems hard work pays off! I was pretty much free surfing in the Final and trying to get waves so I'm super happy."
The Frenchman came in ranked first on the regional QS and held his ground all week despite very tricky conditions. He peaked right when it mattered, on finals day, and put on an incredible display of high performance surfing to claim his third QS event win, and his first European QS trophy.
Bonvalot Wins Third Caparica Event, Adds to Incredible Track-Record on Home Turf
The all-Portuguese women's Final featured Teresa Bonvalot (POR) and Yolanda Hopkins (POR) in an opposition of style and stance. Similarly as the men, both surfers got up to a quick start with a decent mid-range score, and it was Bonvalot who put the first solid number on the board with a combination of forehand carves for a 7.33 for the lead.
Hopkins had a lot of opportunities but uncharacteristically couldn't stay on her feet and fell multiple times on important maneuvers to try to build momentum. On the other hand her opponent controlled the heat and let time wind down, sitting with priority to keep Hopkins off the best waves in the lineup. Eventually the clock ran out and Bonvalot walked away with the win.
"It's my third time winning here," Bonvalot said. "It was really hard out there but I gave my all and this one obviously felt super special cause I had my grandmother watching me here for the first time and winning here is very special."
Bonvalot was under pressure coming into this week ranked fourth on the European QS and right on the bubble of qualification for the Challenger Series. But an impeccable run culminating with her seventh event win pushed her all the way up to second in the final standings and she will once again have a shot at making her dream of qualifying for the Championship Tour (CT) come true.
Huscenot, Hopkins Place Runners-Up, Hopkins Defends Regional QS Title
Former CT competitor Maxime Huscenot (FRA) had a near-perfect run on Finals day with a massive Semifinal performance but was unfortunately unable to go all the way. His run at the European QS title ended when Carrique qualified for the Final, but the runner-up finish today consolidated his spot among the qualifiers for the CT, his main goal this season.
"It was very nice, the last time I came here I won so I definitely wanted to get back-to-back," Huscenot said. "But Tiago was ripping all event and I made a few mistakes in the Final. I was happy to get in a rhythm for the Challengers and I'm excited for this year."
Yolanda Hopkins (POR) was the overall standout all-week and rightfully so, as the powerful regular foot revels in the bigger surf and always seemed to find the biggest sections no matter how messy the lineup got. She put together a near-perfect heat this morning in the Round of 16, posting a 9.00 and a 9.70 (out of a possible 10), and posted another 9 point ride later on in the Semis. Unfortunately she may have consumed all her energy a little bit early as she looked out of sorts in the Final.
"This has been such a fun comp considering the conditions," Hopkins said. "It's been to compete against everyone and I'm just super happy. I wanted to win but life is good, I can't complain!"
The reigning European QS title holder consolidated her spot atop the regional rankings and claimed a second, back-to-back European title, as well as her rightful spot as the European leading the charge in the CS this season.
Challenger Series Qualifiers Determined on Epic Final Day in Portugal
While most of it was predetermined in the earlier rounds, a few spots were still up-for-grabs on the last day of competition of the 2023/24 season. The final list of European qualifiers for the Challenger Series this year is as follows:
Seven men: Tiago Carrique (FRA), Gatien Delahaye (FRA), Charly Quivront (FRA), Kauli Vaast (FRA), Guilherme Ribeiro (POR), Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) and Kai Odriozola (ESP).
Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Marco Mignot (FRA) and Joan Duru (FRA) have spots on the CS based on their previous ranking and CT exemption for Huscenot. There is one additional wildcard for the men yet to be awarded.
Four women: Yolanda Hopkins (POR), Teresa Bonvalot (POR), Tessa Thyssen (FRA) and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP). There is also one additional wildcard for the women yet to be awarded.
Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) and Vahine Fierro (FRA) have their spot on the 2024 CS as they finished in the Top 10 last season.
Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) - WSL / Pedro Mestre
Local Pros Get Caparica Crowds On Board with Deep Runs
Caparica locals Mafalda Lopes (POR) and Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) kept the crowds on their toes all week and put on a good show, reaching the Round of 16 and the Quarters respectively.
Ribeiro, who had a breakthrough moment in 2022 when he won his first QS event in Lacanau, confirmed he's part of the new generation of Portuguese coming up as he clinched a spot on the Challenger Series with a big push in the three QS3,000 of Pantin, Santa Cruz and Caparica.
"To claim this achievement at home with all my family and all my friends and my girlfriend is a next level experience," Ribeiro admitted. "I was consistent in the last part of the season and I feel like that's the key. There's a few places I don't know at all on the CS so I look forward to discovering and getting the opportunity to learn from the best guys. Hopefully I can be there for the next few years and make my way up the rankings as I go. I've been making a few trips with Fred (Frederico Morais) and learning so much from him, and from Vasco (Ribeiro) as well. I've had support from these guys that I admire so it's been awesome."
Youngsters Francisco Ordonhas (POR) and Maria Salgado (POR) were two other standouts in the Portuguese crew who reached the Semis and Quarters respectively, both their best result on the Qualifying Series so far.
With the completion of the Caparica Surf Fest, the 2023/24 European QS rankings are now final:
European Men's QS Top 10:
1 - Tiago Carrique (FRA) 2023/24 European QS Title Winner
2 - Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
3 - Gatien Delahaye (FRA)
4 - Charly Quivront (FRA)
5 - Marco Mignot (FRA)
6 - Kauli Vaast (FRA)
7 - Guilherme Ribeiro (POR)
8 - Joan Duru (FRA)
9 - Jorgann Couzinet (FRA)
10 - Kai Odriozola (ESP)
European Women's QS Top 10:
1 - Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 2023/24 European QS Title Winner
2 - Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
3 - Tessa Thyssen (FRA)
4 - Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP)
5 - Nadia Erostarbe (EUK)
6 - Camilla Kemp (DEU)
7 - Maud Le Car (FRA)
8 - Hina-Maria Conradi (FRA)
9 - Mafalda Lopes (POR)
10 - Ariane Ochoa (EUK)
Qualified surfers will now shift their attention to the 2024 Challenger Series that will start on April 27 at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro. Regional competitors will have a long break until the start of the 2024/25 European Qualifying Series at the Boardmasters Surf Open in August.
To catch up on all news and highlights from the Caparica Surf Fest, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
CAPARICA SURF FEST WOMEN'S FINAL RESULTS
HEAT 1: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 13.13 DEF. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 8.66
CAPARICA SURF FEST MEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Tiago Carrique (FRA) 13.53 DEF. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 12.74
CAPARICA SURF FEST WOMEN'S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 12.40 DEF. Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.36
HEAT 2: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 13.10 DEF. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.84
CAPARICA SURF FEST MEN'S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 17.87 DEF. Francisco Ordonhas (POR) 10.03
HEAT 2: Tiago Carrique (FRA) 17.46 DEF. Adur Amatriain (EUK) 5.50
CAPARICA SURF FEST WOMEN'S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.37 DEF. Maria Salgado (POR) 4.17
HEAT 2: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 15.83 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 12.60
HEAT 3: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.44 DEF. Carolina Mendes (POR) 5.37
HEAT 4: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 13.83 DEF. Heimiti Fierro (FRA) 6.73
CAPARICA SURF FEST MEN'S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.90 DEF. Leo Paul Etienne (FRA) 5.33
HEAT 2: Francisco Ordonhas (POR) 10.80 DEF. Arran Strong (GBR) 9.97
HEAT 3: Adur Amatriain (EUK) 12.77 DEF. Guilherme Ribeiro (POR) 8.33
HEAT 4: Tiago Carrique (FRA) 11.50 DEF. Luis Diaz (CNY) 11.16
CAPARICA SURF FEST WOMEN'S RD16 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.33 DEF. Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 8.34, Aelan Vaast (FRA) 6.33, Mafalda Lopes (POR) 5.24
HEAT 2: Francisca Veselko (POR) 13.34 DEF. Maria Salgado (POR) 10.77, Alys Barton (GBR) 7.37, Camilla Kemp (DEU) 5.04
HEAT 3: Carolina Mendes (POR) 11.20 DEF. Heimiti Fierro (FRA) 8.20, Tessa Thyssen (FRA) 7.67, Leticia Canales Bilbao (ESP) 3.26
HEAT 4: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 18.70 DEF. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.66, Hina-Maria Conradi (FRA) 11.10, Lucy Campbell (GBR) 6.80
Watch LIVE
The Caparica Surf Fest will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and the WSL's YouTube channel.
The Caparica Surf Fest is scheduled from March 26-30, 2024 at Praia do Paraiso, Costa da Caparica - Portugal. It is brought to you by WSL, sponsored by Almada City Council, Estrella Galicia, MEO, Millennium BCP, Wotels, Hertz, Cabreiroa with media partners SIC, SportTV, Radio Comercial, M80, Cidade FM, Expresso, Record, Onfire and MEO Beachcam.