The Portuguese surfers Francisca Veselko and Yolanda Hopkins were today eliminated from the Balito Pro, third stage of the circuit ‘Challenger Series’, finishing both in 33rd place.
Veselko, currently 11th in the ranking, was third in the first heat of the opening round, due to the 8.33 points she earned, which were insufficient to catch South African Jessie Van Niekerk (9.10), who was second, and Japan’s Anon Matsuoka (12), who won. The South African Anastasia Venter was last, for not having gone beyond 7.47 points, and also fell by the wayside.
Yolanda Hopkins participated in heat five of the first round, but also failed to place between the top two – Hawaiian Puamakamae DeSoto (10.90 points) and American Kirra Pinkerton (10.37) – and advance to the next round, finishing in third place with 7.10. The last one, Adriel Wolmarans, from South Africa, scored only 3.36.
Also in the first round is Carolina Mendes, who will still face Australia’s Ellie Harrison, Japan’s Sara Wakita and South Africa’s Zoë Steyn, while Teresa Bonvalot, number five in the hierarchy, has direct entry to round two.
On the men’s side, Frederico Morais, ranked 10th, is the only Portuguese in competition and with an assured presence in the second round.
The Cascalense surfer will compete in heat seven, in which he will be joined by American Jett Schilling, Brazilian Ian Gouveia, and John Burke, from Barbados.
The next event of this circuit, which has one stage scheduled for Ericeira, between October 1st and 9th, will be held in California, USA, between July 29th and August 6th.