Yolanda Hopkins, the first Portuguese woman to qualify for surfing’s elite Championship Tour, declared herself mentally and physically ready to challenge the world’s best, expressing strong confidence in making a significant impact on the circuit.
The 27-year-old surfer, who arrived at Lisbon airport on Tuesday from Rio de Janeiro, told reporters she expects to “make a mess in the CT [Championship Tour].” This refers to her ambition to disrupt the top ranks of professional surfing.
Hopkins secured her spot on the Championship Tour for the upcoming season after winning the Saquarema Pro in Brazil last Saturday. The victory marked her first win in a Challenger Series event and propelled her to the top of the circuit’s rankings.
Her qualification follows several near misses in previous seasons, a journey she believes has prepared her mentally for the challenge. She highlighted the psychological aspect of elite competition, stating that at the highest level, the difference lies in “how the head manages stress.”
“It wasn’t in other years, and I was so close, but maybe I didn’t get in because I wasn’t mentally ready to take that step forward,” Hopkins said. “I think now there’s no doubt.”
Her coach, John Tranter, who has trained Hopkins for seven years, echoed her sentiments. He noted significant mental evolution in the surfer over the past two years.
Tranter believes Hopkins’s style is well-suited for the quality waves found on the Championship Tour, unlike the more variable conditions often encountered in the Challenger Series. “My surfing was made for the CT,” Hopkins added.
She is particularly strong in big-wave venues such as Pipeline in Hawaii, Teahupo’o in Tahiti, and J-Bay in South Africa. Her coach said she “has serious possibilities of achieving good results” at these breaks.
Before joining the Championship Tour, which typically begins with events like the one held in Bells Beach, Australia, from April 1-11, Hopkins still has two Challenger Series events remaining. She plans to compete in Pipeline, Hawaii, from January 29 to February 9, and Newcastle, Australia, from March 9 to 15.
Hopkins stated her goal is to win the overall Challenger Series trophy, aiming to maintain her number one ranking. She hopes to improve her backup score at Pipeline to further solidify her position.
The two-time European champion (2022 and 2023) plans to use the rare time at home in Portugal’s southern Algarve region to train, rest, and visit family.
Francisco Rodrigues, president of the National Surfers Association, was among those who greeted Hopkins at Lisbon airport. He praised her “determination, commitment, effort, and belief.”
Rodrigues emphasized the significance of her achievement, noting that Hopkins has “broken yet another barrier” for Portuguese surfing, becoming the first woman from the country to reach the elite tour, following in the footsteps of male surfers Tiago Pires and Frederico Morais.