Vivo Rio Pro - Early Forecast
Just days after the El Salvador Pro drew to a close the tour has flown south and east, arriving in the Brazilian beachside town of Saquarema.
Interest in the El Salvador competition waned as the waiting period ground on, due in part to a mid-period flat spell, and also - at least from an Australian perspective - a conflicting time-zone. The comp started early AM Australian time, so by the time we woke up the sea breeze had turned Punta Roca into a lumpy, sectiony pupusa.
Shifting ocean basins - and three time-zones - the Vivo Rio Pro is set to kick off at Saquarema this Friday. Unfortunately, our correspondent on the ground, Julio Adler, reports that the heavy right-hand barrels of Barrinha are off limits thanks to the immobility of the competition site away from the eastern end of the beach.
This is a shame as it's been the location of great heats in the past - John John's second knee injury notwithstanding - and has been pumping recently with barrels aplenty.
The current shape of the banks further to the east is unknown, but the outlook is positive with back to back pulses of mid-period southerly swell due along with morning offshore winds.
Over the coming days a moderate-sized S/SE swell will provide a great warm-up for competitors, followed by a fun, reinforcing S/SE swell for the start of the waiting period this Friday (Friday evening Australian Eastern Standard Time).
The opening day swell will be courtesy of a healthy low surging north-east through the South Atlantic Ocean generating a fetch of strong to gale-force S/SW winds. The Rio de Janeiro region - including Saquarema which faces due south - will receive radial spreading S/SE energy. It's a classic winter scenario for this corner of the world.
We're looking at potentially great, yet easing sets from the 4ft range under morning offshore winds with relatively weak afternoon sea breezes. With the following days due to be small to tiny, this should be the first day of competition with the next swell not due to arrive until four days later on Tuesday the 27th.
The models diverge on the timing and location of this swell producer, with the American solution having it further north and stronger, resulting in an earlier arrival and bigger increase in size mid-next week. The European solution is more subdued which would translate into a smaller, less consistent swell arriving mid-late week.
As it stands, we'll have to reassess the outlook over the coming week as we draw closer to the start of the waiting period, but it is also worth noting that the models are toying with a strong cold-outbreak at the end of the waiting period which would bring an oversized, windy swell that would max out the contest site.
We'll wait and see. Stay tuned to comments.
Comments
I'm really disappointed with what the WSL has put forward this year. With no Snapper, Cloudbreak or anything from Indonesia and ending at Trestles, its been a major let down - especially when compared to what Rabbit had achieved. Furthermore Eric's recent gagging of athletes from airing their opinion on judging is a huge backward step for surfing (Gabby's views), considering it's rebellious roots and history. I understand that the WSL is trying to avoid creating 'Brazilian judging outrage' as a consequence of violent threats but its not too far in the past when we saw Tom Carroll boycott surfing in Apartheid South Africa and controversially Bobby gave his infamous cut mid-way 'wanna-be Tennis Tour." No doubt I'll be watching the brazil event (or highlights), but it would be great to see a heavy/pumping wave tour return that does it's best to inspire surfers again. Maybe I should write a letter!
I'm with you all the way mate.
"Maybe I should write a letter!" haha
ELO.. "If you have any comments, complaints or suggestions about how we run the WSL , feel free to write it down on a piece of paper, make sure to roll it up real tight, ...........and stick it up your arse."
Tubeshooter. LOL. Sounds like a dumbo rectum. Surely that is the best place to insert that tightly rolled up piece of paper!
Go Brian!! All the way with you! Tubeshooter...needs a real good pipe clean.
While ever there is a comp in Brazil it can't be the dream tour, or even a true representation of the highest level of surfing. Would say the last few years have been a flop.
"Unfortunately, our correspondent on the ground, Julio Adler, reports that the heavy right-hand barrels of Barrinha are off limits thanks to the immobility of the competition site away from the eastern end of the beach."
Just when you think Elo and the WSL couldn't get any dumber..,
How cheap would labour be in Brasil to move a site ?
Ha.
It's not just dumb - they think the actual surfing is less important than all the media and marketing infrastructure they've built around it.
2 sites Ala Snapper Kirra ….
Can’t be that hard …
Just put tents up and fuck the commentators …
Lose the entitled wanky backdrop…
noooo, I look forward to the climb up the village people ladder, he just needs to break out the ymca moves and the circus will be complete
That just seems completely self defeating.
It's one end of the beach to the other and they've already proven that they can do it.
For the WSL other things are more important than good waves.
Looking at the footage, the bank must be there. My gosh if they choose to ignore it..........actually what am I saying of course they will. Contestants and commentators alike will be strictly forbidden to mention Barrinha. Cameras won't be pointing in that direction.
How is it. The WSL’s ability to pretend like nothing ever existed or happened.
Absolutely, just like at Margs - Box?? What Box?? Never heard of it
The one year the rest of the world thought Brazil was a decent comp was when they held it at Barrinha.
Maybe the security guards hired to protect the judges and foreign surfers from the unruly crowd are too fat to walk to the other end of the beach??
What's the bet it'll be 5 days of doggy door exits in closeouts while up the beach is pumping.
Two turns to closeout claim. Meh
You can't script this.
What a shewozzle.
They have no shame.
anyone been murdered yet?
Jbay live cam firing.
https://www.youtube.com/live/2X9M6MFn74A
Ahhh
Shemozzle bashing is a sport in itself.
He he
Not bad (as usual, before contest starts)
And the day before...
And another one...
The bank looks good!
Ian Gentil speaking fluent Portuguese in that first vid - what’s his background?
Couple of other take aways:
a) Jack is not injured any longer, looks totally fine in those clips.
b) Jordy may be right re: Italo and Gabby’s forehand carve. In those lefts not even a stitch on what Ethan and John produce on their forehand. So much flickier / less engaged
c) despite appearances that wave to me still looks like it’ll be 1.2 or 3 max hits on a wobbly closeout to a huge gutter.
Enjoy the contest crew.
Ian Gentil's parents are Brazilian.
That's awesome!
He didnt hear you Stuart :-]
Hey! I only posted the videos that have relevance. Here on the forum and the relevant news, like any other! The last video was duplicated, but that was not the intention. The next ones I will post only in one place. Sorry about that
Best option for a surf trip this year seems to be to go to a WSL event site the week before or after the event. Guaranteed it'll be pumping either side of the window.
Andddddd Slats is out. Who didn’t see that coming
Where did you see that KS is out ?
Saw he was surfing Trestles the other day but haven’t seen that he’s pulled the pin on Brazil
Basically a tabloid. Channel 7 have picked up said tabloids story. Doesn’t state that he has withdrawn, but has come down with something. My above comment is probably in poor taste really. Shouldn’t comment on people’s health.
So chances of it kicking off tonight?
High!
Kelly is still in the draw, heat 3.
He's disappeared now. How long can they avoid mentioning his absence?
What time this evening gents?
800pm Eastern time
Thanks Surfalot, hopefully it's watchable.
i highly doubt it..... but we will all tune in anyway.
So Kelly has pulled the pin ???
Hmmm gets the wildcard but picks when he wants to surf ?
Maybe it’s time to call it Kelly and let someone who really wants to be there take your place
Real fucked up if he ‘just doesn’t want to surf’
This further showcases the flaw of the cut and finals.
Anyone without a chance at the top 5 has NO consequence for cruising.
eg. Seth Moniz could turn up to every spot from the pool to Teahupo’o, paddle out in Round 1, do an aqua nard, paddle straight in and he’ll be fine to go come Pipe 2024.
Forecast for the low pressure setup still looking pretty nice for later in the week
It's all a bit weak unfortunately Dawn, will have an update tomorrow.
Yeah right, thanks.. easy to lose the sense of scale when I scroll over there!
Checking a little closer, that swell for the last day just scrapes inside the window, not too bad and possibly a touch bigger than opening day. Just windy, cross-shore.
how many days do they need to finish the comp?
Not sure, I'm guessing two?