Sally Fitzgibbons and Samuel Pupo win the Ericeira Pro 

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Samuel Pupo (BRA) have taken out the World Surf League (WSL) Ericeira, Stop No. 5 on the 2024 Challenger Series. Fitzgibbons and Pupo conquered the challenging conditions to secure wins over Tya Zebrowski (FRA) and Callum Robson (AUS). After an intense week of competition, Championship Tour (CT) dreams were realised for some, while others will head to the final stop in Brazil with extra weight on their shoulders.

Sally Fitzgibbons earns back-to-back Challenger Series wins

The women’s Final was one for the history books, with surfing icon Fitzgibbons up against the future of the sport in Zebrowski (FRA). Fitzgibbons, heading to the Championship Tour for her 14th season, and the 13-year-old Zebrowski making her Challenger Series debut. In the end it was the veteran’s experience that paid off, with Fitzgibbons earning back-to-back wins on the Challenger Series.

Fitzgibbons got off to a quick start, showing a touch more aggression and intent to get a head start on Zebrowski. Both stayed really busy, trying to build on their scores, but it was the veteran that upped the ante with a 7.67 (out of a possible 10) to create some breathing room for the lead. In the final minute, Fitzgibbons found an inside runner to improve on her backup score with a 5.93, but Zebrowski found a bomb right behind her. Unfortunately the Tahitian couldn’t complete the wave, and Fitzgibbons secured the win with a total of 13.60 (out of a possible 20).

“I couldn’t hear a thing out there, so I just tried to go by feel,” Fitzgibbons said. “I knew she had a good score, but it kind of came as a surprise that I got the win. I’m so happy, this new generation coming through, they’re so fierce in freesurfs that it gives you more drive to beat them when you get them in a heat. Credit to our generation and the generation before us who worked so hard to give these next stars the opportunity to be here.”

Tya Zebrowski puts surfing world on notice, runner-up in debut Challenger Series

Coming into this event as relatively unknown to the broader surfing community, Zebrowski has been the standout surfer of the event. Making waves in the European surfing scene, she put the surfing world on notice with her run in Ericeira, taking down big names like Isabella Nichols (AUS), Luana Silva (BRA) and Francisca Veselko (POR) on her way to the Final.

“I’m bummed I didn’t win that one, but it was my first Challenger Series,” Zebrowski said. “I wasn’t really in the rhythm in that heat. I’m really glad I made it to the final and I’m proud of what I did. I’m even hungrier for the next one. It was an honour to surf with the best in the world.”

Samuel Pupo goes all the way in Portugal

Pupo (BRA), fresh off requalifying for the Championship Tour, has been on fire the whole event to come up against Callum Robson (AUS) in the Final. Pupo controlled the heat from the start, opening with a 7.00 and backing it up with a 7.50 for a solid total of 14.50 within the first ten minutes. Robson struggled to find the best waves to open up his surfing and was left wanting. 

“What a feeling, what a year,” Pupo said. “What an amazing crowd here in Ericeira. I just can’t believe everything that happened at this contest. I went from having a lot of pressure to make heats, making it to the final and I’m so happy with my performance.”

Callum Robson returns from injury for runner-up finish

Coming back from injury, Robson earned his best result on the Challenger Series this year and shot up 27 positions on the rankings. Heading into Brazil, the former CTer is knocking on the door for requalification.

“Missing out on the last event and coming here to compete meant a lot to me,” Robson said. “Competing and hanging out with a couple of mates, it’s been a fun week. If you told me at the start of the week I will be in second, I wouldn’t believe you, but I’m really stoked with the runner-up and heading into Brazil in a better position.”

Ericeira shakes up Challenger Series rankings

After their respective wins, Pupo and Fitzgibbons are on top of the Challenger Series rankings and both requalified for the CT in Ericeira. Joel Vaughan (AUS) moved into the top ten with his third place finish, and Robson is sitting just below the qualification line at No.11. 

The women’s top five remains the same after Ericeira, but there are still two spots left for CT qualification with No.4 Erin Brooks (CAN) heading back to Brazil as the defending event winner and Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) holding onto No.5.

With less than a week to reset, surfers will head to the sixth and final stop on the Challenger Series, the Saquarema Pro which starts October 12 and holds a competition window through October 20, 2024.

For highlights and more information from the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Estrella Galicia, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

• Credits: WSL