Yago Dora and Caitlin Simmers Win Rio Pro
Yago Dora and Caitlin Simmers Win Rio Pro
NOTE: Steve is away so unable to provide a recap. Instead we've rerun the Wozzle's dead-ahead, opinion-free press release. Feel free to correct the balance in the comments below.
PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Saturday, July 1, 2023) - Today, Yago Dora and Caitlin Simmers won the 2023 VIVO Rio Pro in beautiful conditions, in front of a massive crowd at Praia de Itauna. Tyler Wright and Ethan Ewing earned runner-up finishes in an exciting close to competition here in Brazil.
The rankings have been significantly shaken following this event. With their big wins today, Simmers and Dora now sit within the Top 5. Wright’s runner-up finish means she will remain at No. 2, and has become the second competitor to clinch a spot in the WSL Final 5. Ewing’s runner-up performance elevated him to No. 3 on the rankings. Carissa Moore will maintain the ranking's lead going into Stop No. 9 at J-Bay. Filipe Toledo will take the yellow Leader jersey from Griffin Colapinto, who is now at No. 2.
Yago Dora Earns Maiden CT Win In Front of Home Crowd
Yago Dora earned his maiden CT event win today in front of a massive, cheering crowd. This is Dora’s fifth year on Tour and the win couldn’t have come at a better time or location. Dora overcame the likes of World Champions Gabriel Medina and John John Florence on his way to victory. With his big win, Dora has moved all the way from No. 12 to No. 5 on the rankings and is within World Title contention.
JJF (WSL/Diz)
“It hasn’t even sunk in yet, it’s amazing," said Dora. "This week was something special. It was the best week of my life. Even on the flat days, I had so much fun, and every day was special here. I just had a feeling something special was going to happen, and it did. It took a long time, but that first win came at the right time and the right place. I’m beyond happy. Nowhere else better to win my first event; I’m so excited.”
The men’s Final witnessed a tactical battle between Dora and Ewing. Dora held a slim lead heading into the halfway mark before throwing caution to the wind and launching himself into a full-rotation air to earn a perfect 10-point ride. The crowd cheered Dora on the entire match and erupted in the final seconds as he claimed his first-ever CT victory.
Yago (WSL/Diz)
On his way to the Final, Dora overcame event threat and injury replacement Jadson Andre in the Quarterfinals. Andre had established himself as the one to beat after eliminating defending event winner Filipe Toledo in the Round of 16. Dora then took down two-time World Champion John John Florence in the Semifinals. Florence had put on an exceptional performance in the Quarterfinals, but could not find a score of significance during his match with Dora.
Rookie Caitlin Simmers Earns Second CT Victory
Rookie sensation Caitlin Simmers added an impressive second CT win to her name today here in Brazil. Simmers has had an outstanding year and came to this event ranked No. 7. The 17-year-old has now positioned herself within the Top 5 going into the last two events of the season, and it is possible she could win a World Title her first year on Tour.
Simmers started the Final by putting two-time World Champion Tyler Wright on notice early with an excellent 8.33 (out of a possible 10) for a lip-line floater. Simmers then found a backup of a 6.33 to put Wright in a combination situation, needing two scores to match her heat total as the halfway point approached. Wright’s efforts took her out of the combination situation, but she still needed a near-perfect score as time expired.
Tyler (WSL/Diz)
“Tyler (Wright) is really good and the ocean was kinda on my side that one," said Simmers. "I just want to thank all of my friends, all of my sponsors, my dad, my coach, and my brother. This is probably the craziest moment of my life. Looking in from out there in the water and just seeing everything and everyone on the beach. You can’t even see a spot of sand. It’s crazy. I’m just really happy right now.”
Simmers caused one of the biggest upsets of the day on her way to the Final, eliminating defending event winner and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore in the Semifinals. The match was the first time the CT rookie and five-time World Champion have competed head-to-head. Halfway through the heat, Simmers whipped several turns on a well-overhead left to earn a solid 7.50. Simmers then attacked another big section, posting a 6.17 and raising the requirement on Moore. Moore answered back under priority but her two final attempts were not enough to reclaim the lead.
Current No. 2 Tyler Wright Clinches Spot in WSL Final 5
Tyler Wright became the second competitor to clinch a spot in the WSL Final 5 today, after securing herself a place in the Final. This will be Wright’s first appearance at the Rip Curl WSL Finals. This is also the first time she has been in contention for a World Title in the last five years.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in World Title contention so the main thing for me is to stay in my process,” said Wright. “I have ideas and thoughts about what I want to do. I think that’s where the joy is going to come back into it for me. I haven’t finished a year in five years so that would be pretty cool. I’m just going to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Wright's road to the Final started with overcoming season standout Caroline Marks in the Semifinals. Marks struck first, earning a 4.83, but couldn’t find a backup score until the last minutes of the heat. Wright was in tune with the ocean and capitalized on two lefts to post a 6.90 and 6.83.
Ethan Ewing Moves to No. 3 on the Rankings
Ethan Ewing moved from fourth to third on the rankings today with his clutch runner-up finish. This marks his second Final appearance of the year. He made it all the way to the Rip Curl WSL Finals last year and is close to doing so again with only two events left to go.
Ewing started his day by overcoming an in-form Leonardo Fioravanti in the Quarterfinals. He then met fellow Australian Ryan Callinan in the Semifinals for a rematch of their Bells Beach Final earlier this year. Ewing emerged victorious once again by landing a tail-slide maneuver and posting an excellent 8.00. Callinan responded with a beautiful grab-rail carve but the wave didn’t offer any further opportunity and his great run in Brazil came to a close.
“It was pretty amazing here," said Ewing. "This crowd here is unlike any other event we get to surf in, it’s been an amazing week. I have my dad here with me and I’ve been staying with a good crew, and I'm really happy. I want to say a huge thank you to the fans for being so nice to me this week, thank you.”
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Women’s Final Results:
1- Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.66
2 - Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.80
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Men’s Final Results:
1 - Yago Dora (BRA) 14.83
2 - Ethan Ewing (AUS) 10.83
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.73 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 10.50
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.67 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 9.56
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.50 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.00
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 10.60 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 6.50
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Men's Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 9.40
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.77 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.33
HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Jadson Andre (BRA) 8.13
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) 15.43 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 15.34
Comments
Yago's air was unreal, but... a 10?
Nope not a 10. 8.5 maybe
Absolutely agree.. one turn on a close out is not a ten.. 8.5 maybe .. now this is a ten… https://www.facebook.com/reel/805462464565665?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V
One turn is never a 10. Ever
when you’ve just fired the boss because of the outrage from half your fan base and need to make them happy again… throw them a 10.
Remember Kelly got a 10 at bells for an air. Didn’t Agee with it but there you are.
That was a long time ago - the worlds moved on even if Kelly hasn’t.
white lightning still won the heat from memory yes....
That air was absurd for the time and at that moment.
But the wind was hard offshore and it was huge and he landed flat. Certainly a mid-nine. (Slater at Bells I mean)
The timing of the absence of the Loganslayer's from his usual contest write up is suspicious following recent earthshaking events....
Many theories swirling around.
Keyboard still too hot to touch?
Turpel tunnel syndrome?
Big retainer from Ziff not to write?
10
So predictable,,,, one manoeuvre ,,10,,,, I can’t see how
agree, but impressive air is what the judges specifically asked for in the criteria release..
The final needed something exciting to happen. Impressive really. Pop up, whoop, cleanest landing this year and the crowd lapped it up. Why not give Yago a 10. Well deserving competitor and his maiden ct victory on home soil.
Eh, why not.
I struggled to watch most of this but pretty much the form surfers got through. Glad Caity won, she goes for it. Tyler was surfing well throughout.
Yago was a deserved winner imo and it was only a matter of time. Ethan always impressive but a couple of uncharacteristic falls. Felt for JJF, but basically no waves in his semi, tough way to go down.
Best heat was Mamiya and Florence I reckon.
Shit contest overall.
Did the broadcast mention Elo leaving at all?
Check out tubes' start of coverage for day 2. Starting around the 9.30 mins opening commentary box with Stider mentioning elimination of men and exiting hotel rooms. That's the closest I'd heard.
"It is time for people to check out"
Thanks Remi! Such a crazy, gross operation they're running.
Im sure they only gave him a ten so people post contest actually had something to talk/argue about other than how crap the contest was.
Anyone else agree that johns backside is kinda flat and boring especially during his first excellent score of the day. I’d much rather watch Connor O’Leary go vertical, and most the goofys just look much sharper on their backhands in general.
Jonny just looks like he can’t be bothered being there in the slightest
Goofies have had a lot of practice. Mostly rights on your for many years now.
Agree re: Connor, best backhand in on tour
Didn’t mind this event like north narra with back wash, still entertaining
The Biggest win was that this Shitty Shitty comp is finally fucking over....Poxy closeout beach break with a backwash WTF...WSL need to change it up or they lose all...
The core audience tunes in not just for the competition but also partly to mindsurf places like Jbay and Chopes.
That is another reason quality locations and swell matter.
Whilst there are oodles of clips on YouTube of those spots, a competitive event has more of the long linep shots and the slower pace of watching sets form on the horizon and move in than tightly edited close up vid clips. Jbay contests have this in spades. Pipeline too, especially with the drone shots showing sets bending on 3rd reef.
It is just another dimension to the experience overlooked by a corporatised WSL seeking eyeballs with a sprreadsheet / esg / MBA / monetise mindset. Would the new Ms Hof (joint ceo) and formerly Chief of People and Purpose even realise that the surfer desire to leisurely look at high quality line ups and even just empty waves peeling away was a thing?
Not based on their location choices.
It is a dimension rarely found in Brazil, Portugal and Trestles. Impossible in a tub.
Nor, is it evident by the way they cut away to inane interviews of surfers, with mostly just cliches to say, whilst perfect sets form out the back out of shot.
"The core audience tunes in not just for the competition but also partly to mindsurf places like Jbay and Chopes.
That is another reason quality locations and swell matter."
This is 100% correct.
Basically you need waves/set ups where people watching are going, fk id love to surf that or just go and see that wave in real life like Pipe or Chopes.
Lets be real this comp has enticed NOBODY to go to brazil to go surfing, surfers might go for girls and drugs but these waves nah.
Don’t worry, Kelly will get it back on track after he’s appointed ceo at the end of the year.
I thought the commentators were a smidge more open and honest last night.
As a surfer whom enjoys watching the best perform; manufactured drama (soap opera), does not compare with the real thing...
High scores for making one critical manoeuvrer, can be a matter catching that lucky wave within 40 minutes.
versus
Thinking the real transparency in surf journalism issue is the SN mob probs watched the ashes instead and found their commentary more bearable
You want good commentary?
This was on last night too. Turn it up, and if nothing else just watch the first two runs from where I've auto started it.
Redbull roof ride was on last night as well. Now there were some serious aerials by comparison to Yago.
...and that's the difference between surfing and other sports as a spectator. Any average Joe can get excited by this stuff. Watching a couple of surfers sitting around for most of their 20 minutes is simply uninteresting most of the time - even for their 'core' audience.
Just like looking in a mirror really……………………I wish
Epic. Still into the MTBing ? So much fun.
Had my first ride back yesterday. Rubber on the dirt the whole way but great to be back in the bush.
Been for a surf too?
Few unsuccessful ones a week or so ago, then on Friday arvo I had my first surf on a fibreglass board. Ribs were real sore the next day, even after wearing a foam floatation vest
I'm flying to Bali on Thursday and into a heap of swell. Not sure how it's gonna pan out.
Hit me up if you want to hit some private flow trail :)
Imagine if Rob Warner was commentating this race! He is the sound of DH.
"Look at the time!"
Agree he's a fantastic race caller but even though they lack the swagger of Warner, I reckon the new two go OK.
Geez those guys have zero protection if they come off. MX and enduro has full body armour they go faster but even so no wonder you smashed up when you come off.
G'dsy Stu , have you seen Jackson's run in the 2022 Hardline , this kid is re-writing Downhill laws of physics , unreal .
Yep, been watching him come on strong, Hardline, Cannonball, NZ nationals. Thought it was unreal that Jordan Williams got a World Cup before him - those two are gonna take DH to a new level - but without doubt Goldstone has the personality, the style, and the don't-give-a-fuck attitude when he's riding a bullet through the trees.
Fella has a massive future ahead of him.
Just watched those two rides.. incredible. I could sit down and tune into a whole evening of this.
.
Baby steps... Strider calling a misread from Sammy Pupo dodging a potential barrel...'He went for the LA Dodgers on that one"... Joe Turpel quickly laughing saying "I don't know I mean do you think he barrel dodged then?"
IrishEastlake
No pic of one of Womens event winners, Caitlin Simmers, turns in the presser? Poor form Woz as usual. The girl kicked Tylers arse.
My first thoughts too. Caity surfed twice, semis and final, and there wasn't a single surf photo of her in the whole daily library.
Watched the replay of the mens final.. hilarious that they were on a break when Yago got the 10.
Crowd was going crazy on the kayo "we're on a break" camera and I was wondering what went down. They get one highlight and they couldn't even get that right.
Caitlin Simmers - “ i’m not goin to say i don’t know” .. then says i don’t know eight more times..
Thank fark that's over. Worst comp of the year, that 10 was personal protection for EE, listen to that crowd of kooks cheering when he fell...peak Brazzo behavior. Oh, and the prize for the most stupid comment in the history of WSL contest commentary from Salazar "Filipes 10 at Jbay was the most dominant performance in pro surfing history"...what a fucking toss-fest
Not that I have watched the final day highlights but couldn't agree with you more regarding the crowd.....seem to be fairly uneducated in the finer points of surfing and sportsmanship but got to love their enthusiasm.
I haven't heard that comment yet but yet again must agree with you, he is a tosser.
Booing Ethan everytime he fell.
50K primitives.
although it went quiet toward the end, i actually watched (and enjoyed ) the whole thing last night- i am so happy for cs - no fuss- just went out there and took it on
yago’s air was excellent but don’t know about a 10, - in any case he’s a deserving winner - his rail game is as good as any
I heard them say 50 maybe 60 000 on the beach watching.
I just went to the mcg .. 65 000. There is no way there was that many on the beach.
Don't think the wozzle has ever been good with numbers haha
One air gets a 10 .. one turn .. that just sums up how shit this comp and beach was .. NEXT .. hopefully we can talk about excellent surfing etc
Hey Gra & Macca -
Here's what went down in Brazil
ELO was on the flight to Shaqarama. Somewhere, in a moment of clarity between the downers wearing off and the uppers kicking in he's had a vision of a content so powerful the wsl will be on every television in the world tmrw night.
He's called a meeting .. with who ever it is that's in charge of 'the narrative' and whoever it is that stands over the judges to enforce it.. He says "Sit down and watch!"
"Whatever happens out there Ethan must defeat everyone's favourite Brazilian, must be one we all love, make it a buzzer beater, a controversial one, hold down the scores on his airs, yes, Ethan goes to the rail and wins by point 1.
Muahaha"
"I want the crowd to loose their collective mind, storm the tower, Ethan doing a dundee-esque sheepdog crowdsurfing ninja move escaping by walking on the heads of the rabid drooling crowd baying for pieces of him and his judging brotherhood to be removed from their god forsaken bodies…"
That's when The Big Ziffer walked in, saw the eerie collection of uncanny puppet lookalikes and dropped the hammer.
I'm cool with a Brazil comp too, not a popular opinion but they deserve it. That crowd deserves it! Feral as it is
It also represents well the kind of waves we all most often surf and better if the other end of the beach is also on the menu.
Pros who win on their backside really impress me. Caity's done it twice this season
6 at best
Salazar is unbelievably bad. It’s like he has
taken the WSL “everything is great” script and taken it to a new level. Also just says same inane shit. Why is he on the team?
Ok…
So where’s Steve
Hopefully just taking a well earned break to recharge for J bay
Some guys pulled up in a black van and said they were taking him waterboarding, whatever that is.
Yeh I thought so
He’s an anti corporate terrorist.
hows how saazaar was saying how good the apple watches were etc,,,,not long after jordy's interview saying he was clue less in heat as said watch never got working
Noticed that. Hilarious!
Did Jack have a brain fart????
One positive of giving single manoeuvres a 10 is that it allows for more progression to see the craziest of moves being created and pushed. Because no one is going to risk something super extreme if they won’t get rewarded for it and if your trying something g extreme your not going to worry about doing other turns on that wave.
Abominable comp…..BUT, it was really nice to see the natural footers go left. We’ve all been calling this for years. We need to see a world champion’s backhand snap and their forehand carve if judged the best in the world.