The first day of the EDP Ericeira Pro delivered some tough waves and mixed results for the local surf community. This event marks the fourth stop out of seven on the 2025 Challenger Series circuit. Eight surfers from the home country started the competition on the famed Ribeira d’Ilhas waves. Five of them hit the water, but only one is still standing in the men’s event after day one.
The men’s heats kicked off the day. Frederico Morais, known as Kikas, gave fans a reason to cheer early on. He won his first-round heat, grabbing the lead late in the contest. Kikas finished with a score of 10.67. He beat out Ryan Huckabee from the US (10.23), New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand (9.73), and Taj Stokes from Australia (6.77).
Things quickly turned less positive for some. Wildcard entries Joaquim Chaves and Guilherme Ribeiro both struggled. They each finished last in their respective heats, four and five, and were eliminated. But Afonso Antunes brought back some good news. He closed out the first round with a win, scoring 12.30 points. Australia’s Tully Wylie was close behind with 12.23, followed by Josh Burke from Barbados (11.86), and Igor Moraes from Brazil (10.40).
Later that day, the second round of the men’s competition got underway. This is where Frederico Morais met his end. Kikas placed third in his heat, scoring 10.54 points. This was just ahead of Carlos Muñoz from Costa Rica (10.46). However, George Pittar of Australia (12.87) and Nolan Rapoza from the US (12.74) outperformed him, sending Morais home.
Now, Afonso Antunes carries the hopes for the men’s division. He is the last local male surfer left in the contest. Antunes has not yet surfed in Round 2. His next heat, Heat 15, is scheduled for Tuesday. He will face tough competition from Japan’s Hiroto Ohhara, Australia’s Morgan Cibilic, and South Africa’s Adin Masencamp.
Shifting focus to the women’s event, the first round also took place. Wildcard Camila Cardoso was the only local woman in action. She scored just 4.83 points and was eliminated from her heat. The heat was dominated by 14-year-old French talent Tya Zebrowski. Zebrowski, who leads the circuit rankings, posted one of the day’s top scores with 13.26 points.
Three other top local female surfers are waiting in the wings. Yolanda Hopkins, ranked second overall, Francisca Veselko (fifth), and Teresa Bonvalot (sixth) all earned direct entry into Round 2. They now know their opponents for that crucial stage. Teresa Bonvalot will compete in Heat 3. She will be up against Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki, Israel’s Anat Lelior, and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri from Spain.
In Heat 4, Francisca Veselko, nicknamed Kika, will challenge France’s Tessa Thyssen, Germany’s Noah Klapp, and Leilani McGonagle of Costa Rica. Finally, Yolanda Hopkins will feature in Heat 6. She faces South Africa’s Sarah Baum, Hawaii’s Eweleiula Wong, and Daniella Rosas from Peru. Advancing from these heats means making it to the Round of 16 in this important event.