Hennessy and Colapinto Claim Ericeira Pro Titles as Kerr, Kainalo Secure CT Places

Brisa Hennessy and Crosby Colapinto won the Ericeira Pro, while Sierra Kerr and Ryan Kainalo secured places on the 2027 Championship Tour.

Hennessy and Colapinto Claim Ericeira Pro Titles as Kerr, Kainalo Secure CT Places

Brisa Hennessy and Crosby Colapinto captured the EDP Ericeira Pro in Portugal after a demanding Finals Day at Ribeira d’Ilhas. The Challenger Series event also brought major qualification news: Australia’s Sierra Kerr secured a place on the 2027 Championship Tour, while Brazil’s Ryan Kainalo had already clinched his spot earlier in the competition.

The Ericeira results reshaped the race for

The Ericeira results reshaped the race for surfing’s elite tour, with one Challenger Series stop still to come.

  • Hennessy won the women’s final with 13.17 points; Colapinto took the men’s final with 14.10.
  • Kerr qualified for the 2027 Championship Tour after reaching the women’s final, where she finished third.
  • Kainalo confirmed his qualification after advancing to the men’s Round of 32.
  • The final Challenger Series event is Newcastle Surfest, scheduled for March 1–7, 2027.

Hennessy and Colapinto deliver on Finals Day

Competition ran through a packed schedule after

Competition ran through a packed schedule after weather and surf conditions disrupted earlier days. Organizers used four-surfer heats through the finals to complete the event, and Ribeira d’Ilhas offered clean, three-to-four-foot waves for the decisive rounds.

Hennessy found a key set wave in the women’s final, earning 7.50 for a powerful turn before adding 5.67 to secure the win. Lucy Darragh finished runner-up, while Kerr placed third and Vahine Fierro fourth. The victory was Hennessy’s strongest result of the season and lifted her to fourth in the Challenger Series rankings.

Colapinto set the pace in the men’s final with an excellent 8.00 and finished with a two-wave total of 14.10. Joel Vaughan was second on 12.17, followed by Justin Becret and Alonso Correa. The win moved Colapinto to third in the rankings, giving his qualification campaign a significant boost ahead of the final stop.

Kerr and Kainalo book places on the 2027 tour

Kerr, 19, made qualification mathematically certain by reaching the final, becoming the first woman to secure a 2027 Championship Tour place. The Australian had entered Ericeira as the women’s rankings leader and continued a standout season that included a Challenger Series victory at the US Open of Surfing. Her qualification also follows a difficult period dealing with serious health issues.

Kainalo, 20, had secured his place on the men’s tour on Friday, when his Round of 64 result and points total made qualification official. The Brazilian’s season included a Challenger Series win at the São Sebastião Pro and a victory at the Pantin Classic QS 6,000 event. He was eliminated in the Ericeira Round of 32, but his qualification was already assured.

One event remains in the qualification race

The Ericeira Pro was the penultimate Challenger Series stop, leaving Newcastle Surfest as the final scheduled opportunity to earn ranking points. The series awards Championship Tour places to the top 10 men and top six women, so the remaining contenders will have one last event to improve their position before the 2027 tour field is set.