As of today tube riding specialist, Anthony Walsh, is on call for a contest that will fully test his skills. The Australian goofy footer is waiting for organisers to green light the 10th annual Capitulo Perfeito powered by Billabong. In this unique event, the judges reward one thing – getting barrelled. “It’s such a cool event,” explains Walsh. “Because they have a big window and just wait until it’s going to be the day of the season and call it on!”
Viewers will be able to watch the live-stream of the event on Tracksmag.com
The Capitulo Perfeito event is designed to showcase world-class tube riders in the best day of waves of the European Winter. It boasts a two-month waiting period that extends from Jan 9 to March 9 and once the event is called ‘On’ an all-star cast assembles for a barrel duel that is run and won in a single day. This year’s designated location is Portugal’s Carcavelos, a playing field of hollow A-frames that is considered one of the best beachbreaks in Europe when it turns on.
Walsh, who won the Capitulo Perfeito event at Carcavelos in 2019/2020, will be up against 15 other barrel aficionados, competing for a total of 40.000€ prize money. “ It would be amazing to come back and win!” enthuses Walsh… “To beat all the past winners would be insane and just to get barrelled off my brain is good enough!”
As usual, this year’s Surfers List is a combination of celebrated tube hounds and former CT pros. Rob Machado (USA), Nathan Florence (HAW), Michael February (ZA), Balaram Stack (USA) and Dylan Graves (PR) are in for the win once Carcavelos roars to life, and will be joined by all previous Capitulo Perfeito winners – Tiago Pires (PRT), Nic von Rupp (PRT), Bruno Santos (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (SP), William Alliotti (FRA) and Anthony Walsh (AUS) – as part of the 10- Year Anniversary celebrations.
Walsh is well aware that winning the event involves a balance of committed tube riding and savvy tactics. “It’s a fine line obviously from being too deep and getting that score you need to progress and win, to getting a low score. Because everyone is at such a high level you need to get sooo deep! ”
Winning the Capitulo Perfeito means going deep. Former winner, Tiago Pires, applying the criteria.
The remaining competitors in the 16-man heat draw are a mixture of long-time and forthcoming local stars with the final word belonging to the fans. Just like in the previous editions, the surf community is being called out to vote for their favourite tube riding experts in both the Open and the New Generation categories (U-18), conceding four (4) Portuguese surfers direct access to one of the most exciting events of the year. Among the candidates, current World Junior Champion Francisca “Kika” Veselko stands out as having decent chances of becoming the first woman to enter the competition in the history of Capitulo Perfeito.
World Junior Champion Francisca “Kika” Veselko
INVITEES & CANDIDATES LIST
International Surfers (locked in – 11): Anthony Walsh (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (SP), Balaram Stack (USA), Bruno Santos (BRA), Dylan Graves (PR), Michael February (ZA), Nathan Florence (HAW), Nic von Rupp (PRT), Rob Machado (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), William Alliotti (FRA).
Portuguese Surfers (decided by online vote – 3 out of 7): Francisca Veselko, João Guedes, João Maria Mendonça, Joaquim Chaves, Luís Perloiro, Miguel Blanco, Pedro Boonman Correia.
New Generation (decided by online vote – 1 out of 6): Jaime Veselko, Martim Fortes, Matias Canhoto, Salvador Catarino, Salvador Vala, Simão Prazeres.
Wildcard (1): Winner of the Trials (TBA).
Capitulo Perfeito In a nutshell:
- A one-day surfing event taking place in Portugal, Europe;
- Location: Carcavelos, a heavy beach break near Lisbon, the capital;
- Waiting period running from January 9 to March 9;
- A contest where getting pitted is the only thing that matters;
- Competition runs on the best day of the European Winter,in perfect, hollow waves;
- Featuring some of the best tube riders in the World (including former WCTers and former Pipe Masters);
- The Portuguese surfers attending the competition will be chosen by the fans through online voting;
- 1 wildcard will be assigned to the Trials winner;
- A €40,000 global prize money (+ performanceawards/prizes);
