The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) Europe region’s 2024/2025 season culminates this week at the Caparica Surf Fest 2025 in Costa da Caparica, Portugal. This prestigious event, featuring a QS 3,000 for men and a QS 1,000 for women, is the final stop on the circuit, with crucial points on the line for crowning the season’s champions and securing berths into the 2025 Challenger Series.
Key Takeaways
- The Caparica Surf Fest is the fifth and final event of the 2024/2025 WSL Europe QS season.
- The competition window runs from April 15 to April 19, 2025, at Praia do Paraiso.
- Top performers will earn spots on the 2025 Challenger Series, a stepping stone to the Championship Tour.
- The event celebrates its tenth anniversary on the QS circuit.
High Stakes at the Season Finale
The Caparica Surf Fest holds significant importance as it determines the WSL Europe QS winners and allocates qualification spots for the elite 2025 Challenger Series. The top seven men and top four women in the rankings will secure their places, with an additional wildcard spot awarded to one man and one woman by Tours & Competition.
Men’s Title Race Intensifies
With 3,000 points available for the men’s winner, the pressure is immense for the top contenders. Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) currently leads the rankings, followed closely by Keoni Lasa (EUK) and local favorite Afonso Antunes (POR). Portuguese CT surfer Frederico Morais is the top seed, aiming to regain form and fitness for a return to the World Tour.
Women’s Challenger Series Qualification Battle
In the women’s division, Francisca Veselko (POR), currently ranked second, is the top seed and aims to maintain her momentum to requalify for the Challenger Series. Teresa Bonvalot (POR) needs a strong performance to break into the top four, facing stiff competition from Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK), Anat Leilor (ISR), and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK).
Early Upsets and Standout Performances
The competition kicked off with challenging three-to-four foot surf and gusty cross-shore winds. Day one saw significant upsets, including the early elimination of Afonso Antunes (POR) and Maxime Huscenot (FRA), impacting their Challenger Series qualification hopes. Arran Strong delivered a dominant performance, advancing through his heats, while Sam Piter achieved the highest heat total of the day. Hometown surfers like Guilherme Ribeiro, Matias Canhoto, and João Mendonça are also competing, with Canhoto expressing the advantage of having friends in the competition to push his level.
Event Details and Support
The Caparica Surf Fest is supported by Almada City Council, Visit Portugal, Estrella Galicia, MEO, Millennium BCP, Wotels, Hertz, and Cabreiroa, with media partners including SIC, SportTV, Radio Comercial, M80, Cidade FM, Expresso, Record, and MEO Beachcam. Fans can watch all the action live on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and the WSL YouTube channel.
Sources
- Caparica Surf Fest To Determine 2024/2025 WSL Europe QS Winners, World Surf League.
- Competition Gets Underway at Caparica Surf Fest 2025, World Surf League.
