The early morning surf at Ericeira brought good news for Portugal. Star surfer Yolanda Hopkins punched her ticket to the quarterfinals of the EDP Ericeira Pro. This event is the fourth stop in the 2025 Challenger Series. The 27-year-old Portuguese talent overcame a tough challenge from Brazil’s Laura Raupp in the round of 16. This win moves her even closer to a spot on next year’s elite World Tour.
Yolanda currently sits second in the Challenger Series rankings. Only the top seven surfers from this series will make it to the 2026 women’s World Tour. Her heat against 19-year-old Laura Raupp was a real nail-biter. But Yolanda’s deeper experience, honed on the waves of Algarve, shone through when it mattered most. It was a classic showdown between youth and seasoned skill.
After falling behind, Yolanda found her rhythm in the second half of the contest. She took the lead and then smartly held her priority. This allowed her to choose the best wave. She sealed the deal with a fantastic final ride, scoring 7.50 points. This brought her total score to 13.50, just ahead of Raupp’s 12.07. Raupp had arrived in Ericeira ranked seventh herself.
“I’m giving my absolute best,” Yolanda shared after stepping off the water. “I truly want to reach the final and win this whole thing. Thanks to everyone who came out to support me so early today. I hope even more people come to watch some great surfing this weekend.” Her next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against the winner of the heat between American Alyssa Spencer and Hawaii’s Eweleiula Wong.
This latest victory boosts Yolanda Hopkins’ ranking points past the 22,000 mark. She is now very, very close to making history. She could become the first Portuguese woman ever to qualify for the women’s world surfing circuit. Her season has been incredibly strong so far. In the three previous stages, she’s already bagged one second-place finish and two fifth-place finishes, including one strong performance at Ribeira d’Ilhas. She’s definitely on a roll.