While fans can debate whether Pipeline or Teahupo’o is the holy grail of contest tube riding, they are not the only events that give primacy to the pit.    

Held in the heaving, sand-bottom kegs of Carcavelos Beach, Portugal, the ‘Perfect Chapter’ competition boasts it is ‘The Original One-Day Tube-Riding Contest’. It’s a bold claim, but you’ve gotta give event organisers props for creating a criteria that openly states that the only thing that matters is how well you ride the tube.

Now entering its ninth year, the 2023 ‘Perfect Chapter’ event has assembled an eclectic field of surfers to chase the 35.000€ (over 50k Aus) total prize pool. This year’s invite list is a mix of celebrated tube hounds and former CT pros. Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Balaram Stack (USA), Bruno Santos (BRA), Clay Marzo (HAW), Michael February (ZA), Nathan Hedge (AUS), Torrey Meister (HAW).

Balaram Stack recently claimed a win in the Vans Pipe Masters event, whilst Clay Marzo (former Rip Curl Padang Cup winner) is an undisputed tube virtuoso. One wonders exactly what Michael February will ride? Meanwhile for former CT evergreen Ace Buchan (who won at Teahupo’o in 2013) it’s a welcome opportunity to get back in a jersey after COVID helped kill his WSL career.

The remaining competitors in the 16-man field are a combination of local contenders and wildcards. (See the selection criteria below). Aritz Aranburu and Nic von Rupp are both two-time winners and look set to join the field and strive to become the first surfer to claim the event three times. The two-month waiting period kicks off on Jan 9 and stays open until March 9 – surely enough time to ensure there is one day of magic waves. While Carcavelos, located 15-mins from Lisbon, may not have the raw volatility of Pipe or the muscular coils of Chopes, it packs a punch and a sand-bottom tube duel in solid, A-frame funnels is always going to be fun to watch. The WSL could well take note. There’s no reason why it couldn’t organise a couple of its own one-day specialty events that sit outside the regular tour schedule. In the meantime, check the event trailer below.

Selection Criteria for Portuguese Surfers and Wildcards

The most voted young man together with the four (4) most voted Portuguese surfers will be filling in the remaining spots on the 2023 Perfect Chapter heat draw. To complete the 16 final challengers list, the event’s organization is assigning wildcards to the defending champ Aritz Aranburu and to one (1) surfer among those left out by the voters. One final wildcard will be assigned via Trials, which are coming about within the main event’s waiting period. The online voting is already taking place at capituloperfeito.com and will go on until next Sunday (including). The final results will be officially released the day after (January 9th).

CANDIDATES AND WILDCARD LIST

 International Surfers (Locked in): Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Balaram Stack (USA), Bruno Santos (BRA), Clay Marzo (HAW), Michael February (ZA), Nathan Hedge (AUS), Torrey Meister (HAW).

Portuguese Surfers (decided by online vote): Filipe Jervis Pereira, Guilherme Fonseca, Guilherme Ribeiro, Henrique Pyrrait, Jácome Correia, João Maria Mendonça, Luís Perloiro, Martim Carrasco, Miguel Blanco, Nic von Rupp, Pedro Boonman Correia, Tiago Pires.

New Generation (decided by online vote): Francisco Mittermayer, Martim Fortes, Matias Canhoto, Salvador Vala, Santiago Graça, Tiago Faria.

Wildcards: Aritz Aranburu (defeding champ), Winner of the Trials, Portuguese Surfer TBA (rescue wildcard)