Six Brazilians reach Surf City El Salvador Pro bracket stage
Six of the 10 Brazilian surfers competing in the El Salvador stage of the World Surf League—Surf City El Salvador Pro—have booked their place in the bracket round.
On Thursday (Apr. 3)—the second day of competition on the Pacific Ocean beach of Punta Roca—Ítalo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Ian Gouveia, and Deivid Silva qualified, thus joining João “Chumbinho” Chianca and Yago Dora, who advanced on Wednesday (2), when the first phase of the men’s heats began. In the women’s heats, Brazil is represented by Luana Silva, who is yet to make her debut.
The first to advance on Thursday was ranking leader Ítalo Ferreira(photo), who faced Australian George Pittar and host Bryan Perez. Pittar got off to a better start, surfing a wave that earned him a 7.00, the highest score, until Ferreira, 10 minutes from the end of the heat, landed an air and a series of maneuvers. It was enough for the Brazilian, world champion and first Olympic champion surfer in history, to get a score of 8.00 and a total of 14.67, advancing to the third round in first place. The Australian (14.17) also qualified, and Perez (8.80) dropped into repechage.
Then it was the turn of two-time world champion Filipe Toledo and Ian Gouveia to shine in the heat, which also featured Mexico’s Aln Cleland. Toledo moved into the lead with a 15.77—the highest score so far in El Salvador—and Ian (10.90) secured the second spot. Cleland (10.34) will compete in the repechage.
In the last heat of the day, Miguel Pupo and Deivid DVD competed against American Jake Marshall, who went through in first place with a total of 12.16. Pupo narrowly missed second place, but in the last minute of the heat, DVD overtook him with a 9.56. Pupo scored 9.29 and will be in the repechage.
Three other Brazilians will also be fighting in the repechage for a place in the bracket round: Alejo Muniz, Edgard Groggia, and Samuel Pupo (Miguel Pupo’s brother).
