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Caption: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time World Champion, defeat Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time World Champion, and Laura Enever (AUS) in Round 3 Heat 6. Gilmore will move straight to the Quarterfinals, while Moore and Enever will compete in Round 4 to avoid elimination from the event. 
Image: WSL / Smorigo

Courtney Conlogue (USA), current Jeep Rankings Leader, continued the hunt to defend her event title as she beat Sage Erickson (USA) and Malia Manuel (HAW) in Round 3 Heat 2. Taking advantage of the non-elimination round, Conlogue attempted radical maneuvers throughout the heat. Conlogue showcased her power surfing and control to earn a 13.50 two-wave score. Erickson stayed selective and secured a 13.13 to take the second position. Manuel tried to chip away at Conlogue’s score with her vertical snaps, but was not able to close the 1.10 point gap.

“The waves today were very similar to the beach breaks I was raised in,” Conlogue said. “With that you draw off knowledge from what you know. Conditions here at Grumari are tricky, but you have to adapt to what the waves are doing. These conditions are when you draw on those tricky maneuvers and have a bit of fun. Sometimes you have to manufacture a score on a wave and that was what I was trying to do.”

The final heat of Round 3 witnessed impressive performances from Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time WSL Champion, Carissa Moore (HAW), reigning three-time WSL Champion, and Laura Enever (AUS). With multiple lead changes exchanged between Moore and Gilmore, the two went wave for wave. Gilmore used her lethal rail-game to earn a 15.44 two-wave score, forcing Moore to chase a 7.27. In the last two minutes, Moore received one last opportunity to respond, but fell short by only 0.27 points. The win will see Gilmore advance directly to the Quarterfinals while Moore and Enever will surf again in Round 4.

“Every time you have a heat against Carissa, you have to give it two-hundred percent,” said Gilmore. “Carissa is always on and focused, and you have to bring your A-game. I was a little wobbly out there with the tide filling up, but I figured I could get a couple of good scores. Carissa threw down an 8, but I just kept at it and waited for a big one to do try to do a decent turn. This is my first event all year where I have won my Round 1 heat and my Round 3 heat, so I am pretty happy with that result so far.”

Tyler Wright (AUS) delivered a dominant performance in Round 3, posting an excellent 9.17 in her heat against Johanne Defay (FRA) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS). Wright unleashed her powerful carves on both her frontside and backside to lock Defay and Macaulay in a combination situation with a 16.90 two-wave total. Wright sails through to the Quarterfinals, sending Defay and Macaulay to Round 4.

“Before this year and before working with Micro [Glenn Hall], I can honestly admit that I had no idea what I was doing competitively in the water,” Wright said. “I just did what I was good at, which was surfing. After working with Micro over the last three contests, what we have been working on is becoming more natural and easier. That type of heat is what we are working for and is pretty much how you would want a dream heat to go with heat strategy.”

Two-time event winner Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) also earned her place in the Quarterfinals after defeating Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) and 2016 WSL Rookie Keely Andrew (AUS) in Round 3 Heat 1. Fitzgibbons set the tone early in the heat with a 7-point ride. Fitzgibbons continued to improve her score and locked down a 13.77 two-wave score. Andrew, with a 12.70 heat score, needed a 7.20 to take the lead. Falling short with a 6.57 on her last ride, Andrew was not able to regain control from Fitzgibbons. Weston-Webb landed solid 6-point rides, but it was not enough to make the Quarterfinals.

“It was a challenge today with how the rip is and on those different tides, you really have to be on it,” Fitzgibbons said. “I was on different equipment today. It felt nice and lively, so I am just trying to harness the speed and throw a bit of flair and creativity into my rides.”

Earlier in the day Johanne Defay (FRA) blazed through elimination Round 2 to eliminate 2016 WSL Rookie Chelsea Tuach (BRB) in Heat 5. Defay unleashed her innovative maneuvers to land a pair of 8.83 point rides, earning her a 17.66 two-wave heat total, the highest of the day. Tuach, with an 8.10 heat total, was not able to find the score she escape the combination and defeat Defay who will face Laura Enever (AUS) in Round 4.

“I am trying to push myself in the progressive surfing category,” Defay said. “It is so much fun to try some new things and I have been doing a lot of carving. I knew I needed to do something different, so I just tried and I am really happy about it.”

Round 2 also witnessed Moore battle against Silvana Lima (BRA), event wildcard and former CT superstar, in Heat 3. Moore opened up the heat with a solid 6.50 to take an early lead, but Lima fought back with a critical 7.43. Moore, under Lima’s priority, needed a 6.87 to reclaim the lead. With sets out the back in the last two minutes, Moore responded with an 8.50 to eliminate Lima from the event.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am local time for a possible 7am start.

Highlights from the Oi Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

High Res Images from this event available for editorial use via Reuters.

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com.

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.67 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 9.10
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 13.17 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 13.00
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.00 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.73
Heat 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 11.80 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 9.64
Heat 5: Johanne Defay (FRA) 17.66 def. Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 8.10
Heat 6: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.67 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 11.60

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.77, Keely Andrew (AUS) 12.70, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.66
Heat 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.50, Sage Erickson (USA) 13.13, Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.40
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.90, Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.97, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.23
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.44, Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.17, Laura Enever (AUS) 10.00

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 2: Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
Heat 3: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Oi Rio Pro Men’s Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Bino Lopes (BRA)
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 7: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 10: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) vs. Stuart Kennedy (AUS)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Heat 12: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

 
Caption: Italo Ferreira (BRA) took to the air during Round 1 Heat 4 against Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Bino Lopes (BRA). Ferreira's progressive maneuvers paid off, as he won his heat and will advance straight to Round 3 of the Oi Rio Pro. 
Image: WSL / Smorigo

Host country to back-to-back WSL Champions Gabriel Medina (2014) and Adriano de Souza (2015) as well as 10 countrymen within the WSL elite Top 34, Brazil has firmly established itself as the new superpower in the surfing world. Additionally, in a year where results have signalled a tectonic shifting within the elite guard, the Oi Rio Pro will prove pivotal to the 2016 WSL Title race as well as the emergence of a new class of global elite.

Today’s Round 1 further ensconced the unpredictable nature of the sport, and this season in particular, with the Brazilian establishment, wildcards, rookies and replacements dominating the opening day’s affairs.

Filipe Toledo (BRA), the defending event Champion, is back in competition after suffering an injury on the opening stop of the 2016 Championship Tour. After a two-event absence Toledo came out the gates charging in his Round 1 heat to defeat 2016 WSL Rookie Kanoa Igarashi (USA) and injury replacement Dusty Payne (HAW). Toledo will advance directly to Round 3 and avoid the heated two-man match-ups of Round 2.

“It definitely feels so good to be back and to put a jersey on,” said Toledo. “It was hard for me to be away for more than forty-five days. I didn’t know if those days would be enough time to heal and feel one-hundred percent. I am still feeling something, but I am happy to be back in Rio to defend my Title.”

Italo Ferreira (BRA), the 2015 WSL Rookie of the Year, set the bar high in his heat by landing a massive throw-tail reverse on his opening wave and earning the day’s top single-wave score, an excellent 9 points. Ferreira continued to improve his score with a 7.50 against Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Bino Lopes (BRA) for a 16.50 two-wave heat total. Pupo threw down an 8.43, but could not find the second score he needed to challenge Ferreira. Pupo and Lopes will battle in Round 2 to stay alive in the competition.

“I have great support here in Brazil and I am so happy to be back,” Ferreira said. “I am feeling really good. My board feels amazing. On my first wave I scored 9 points and that gave me a lot of confidence.”

Matt Wilkinson (AUS), current Jeep Ratings Leader, was not able to hold the lead against Marco Fernandez (BRA) and Jadson Andre (BRA) in Round 1 Heat 5. Fernandez, who gained a wildcard entry into the event after winning the Local Trials, won the heat with a 13.43 two-wave combined score, while Andre secured the second-place position with an 11.57 heat total. Wilkinson, who sat with an 8.73 two-wave total, was not able to find the 8.83 required to challenge Fernandez. Wilkinson and Andre will be sent to Round 2, where they will battle to remain in the competition.

“This has been a good year for me,” Fernandez said. “I started early and went to Australia January 1st then I have been surfing the Qualifying Series events, and now I am here on the World Tour. I am so happy. I was out here for the Trials yesterday where I knew I had to do my best, and it worked. Today I just won the first heat and it is a good day for me.”

Adriano de Souza (BRA), reigning WSL Champion, fell short of taking the heat win against reigning WSL Junior Champion and injury replacement Lucas Silveira (BRA) in Heat 6. Silveira and De Souza started strong with 7-point rides, but it was Silveira who separated himself with an 8.67 to give him a 15.84 two-wave combined score. De Souza fought to close the 2.04 point gap, but could not find the score on his closing ride. Keanu Asing (BRA) trailed closely behind De Souza by only 0.06 points. Asing and De Souza will surf again in elimination Round 2.

“I tried to keep calm, but I was very nervous when I started the heat,” Silveira said. “I got some good ones at the beginning, but these were not really the waves I wanted. I got two good scores and then I became more relaxed. I was waiting for the good one, and then one came where I got a high 8-point ride. I am pretty stoked.”

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), replacement surfer in the Oi Rio Pro, fought through his heat against CT superstar Gabriel Medina (BRA) and injury replacement Stuart Kennedy (AUS) to advance directly to Round 3. Fioravanti held the lead for the majority of the heat, but was challenged in the last two minutes by Medina and Kennedy. The Australian locked in a 7.10 point ride to take the lead away from the Italian, but Fioravanti answered back to regain the top spot. Medina, needing a big score to take the lead, pulled off a clean aerial maneuver, but it was not enough to beat Fioravanti.

“It was hard to find the good waves, but luckily I got a good one right from the start,” Fioravanti said. “Throughout the heat I was trying to back it up. I let Stuart go on a good one, which I thought was a bit of a mistake, but luckily I got back in the lead. These guys on Tour have pressure, whether it is win a World Title or stay on tour.  I am here to have fun, make heats and show I can surf well.”

Courtney Conlogue (USA), defending event Champion and current Jeep Rankings Leader, earned an early lead in Round 1 Heat 3 against injury replacement Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and event wildcard Silvana Lima (BRA). Conlogue continued to strengthen her position with an excellent 8.83, the highest single-wave score of the Women’s event. Conlogue’s 14.76 two-wave heat left Macaulay to chasing an near-perfect 9.59 and Lima looking for two new scores. Macaulay and Lima were not able to combat Conlogue and will battle again in elimination Round 2.

“I did make a few mistakes out there, but it did not cost me in that heat,” said Conlogue. “I am really happy to get through. There is definitely some emotion that came out after I caught that last wave under third priority. I was trying to time it to where my opponent couldn’t take it. There are some tricky conditions, but I am trying to work all the banks and get in sync with the ocean. It paid off for sure and my emotion definitely showed.”

Tyler Wright (AUS) blazed through her Round 1 heat against Coco Ho (HAW) and Nikki Van Dijk (AUS). Wright showcased her powersurfing to lock in a solid 8-point ride and backed that up with a 7.00. Ho needed an 8.10 to take the lead, but fell short with a 7.00. Van Dijk was forced into a combination situation and could not find the scores to close the gap on Wright.

“To train for the beach break, I pretty much surfed waves at home and made my little brother watch me the whole time,” Wright said. “It was fun and I absolutely loved it. I was looking for close-out sections, and one or two turn maneuvers. I had the best time at home, and we had so many family gatherings. My cousin got married and it was a beautiful time.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), six-time WSL Champion, won the last heat of Women’s Round 1 against Alessa Quizon (HAW) and Johanne Defay (FRA). Gilmore secured a 15.93 two-wave total, the highest of Women’s Round 1, putting the pressure on Quizon and Defay to close the gap. Defay, who earned a 9.17 two-wave combined score needed a 9.76 to combat Gilmore. Quizon was not able to get out of combination to challenge Gilmore.

“I have been on the beach since 5:30 this morning, so I have waited a long time to surf that heat,” Gilmore said. “I was more or less wanting to get the job done so we could go home, but I actually had fun. There is a little bit more water on the bank and there’s a fun right. It actually reminded me of a lot of Merewether and Newcastle, and I did pretty well in that event this year. I thought back to that, and I got some fun waves.”

Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time World Champion, battled in Heat 5 against Sage Erickson (USA) and 2016 WSL Rookie Chelsea Tuach (BRB). Moore started with an early lead, a 9.50 two-wave combined score, but Erickson’s 7.83 threatened Moore’s control. Erickson was able to find a second solid score to put herself in the first-place position. Moore needed a 6.74 to take the win, and attempted to do so in the last two minutes of the heat, but her wave option was not able to stand-up enough to provide the required score. Erickson will move straight to Round 3, while Moore and Tuach will surf again in Round 2.

“I think anytime you can take down one of the top girls, you gain a lot of confidence,” Erickson said. “In the last two minutes of my match-up against Carissa in Margaret River, she threw down an 8 and a 7, so she is more than capable of those excellent scores in very small amounts of time. Even though my backup was not my proudest score, I felt good on the 7.83.”

Event organizers will convene tomorrow at 6:30am local time for a possible 7am start.

Highlights from the Oi Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE at  WorldSurfLeague.com.

High Res Images from this event available for editorial use via Reuters.

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com.

Oi Rio Pro Men’s Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.77, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 11.60, Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.30
Heat 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.30, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 12.93, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.80
Heat 3: Davey Cathels (AUS) 12.00, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.24, Deivid Silva (BRA) 7.43
Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.50, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.86, Bino Lopes (BRA) 8.66
Heat 5: Marco Fernandez (BRA) 13.43, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.57, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.73
Heat 6: Lucas Silveira (BRA) 15.84, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.80, Keanu Asing (BRA) 13.74
Heat 7: Nat Young (USA) 15.04, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.37, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 5.83
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.37, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.83, Jack Freestone (AUS) 10.70
Heat 9: Adam Melling (AUS) 15.23, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.13, Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.04
Heat 10: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 15.53, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.44, Kolohe Andino (USA) 7.67
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.50, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.46, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.77
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 11.34, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.84, Matt Banting (AUS) 6.34

Oi Rio Pro Men’s Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Bino Lopes (BRA)
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 7: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Keanu Asing (BRA)
Heat 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 10: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) vs. Stuart Kennedy (AUS)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
Heat 12: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.50, Laura Enever (AUS) 11.06, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.67
Heat 2: Keely Andrew (AUS)13.17, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.00, Malia Manuel (HAW) 7.07
Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.76, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 6.10, Silvana Lima (BRA) 5.50
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 15.10, Coco Ho (HAW) 9.10, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 5.33
Heat 5: Sage Erickson (USA) 12.40, Carissa Moore (HAW) 9.50, Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 7.53
Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.93, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.33, Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.14

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)  
Heat 5: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
Heat 6: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

 
Caption: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Carissa Moore (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) are ready to do battle at the 2016 Oi Rio Pro. 
Image: WSL / Cestari 

Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA) lead the Jeep WSL Leaderboard heading into Rio. Wilkinson and Conlogue will wear the coveted yellow Jeep WSL Leader Jerseys throughout the event and battle to remain at the forefront of the world elite.

“I have been working really hard, and obviously I have had a bit of luck come my way,” Wilkinson said. “Everything feels right and it has been such a fun year for me so far. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going. I feel like my surfing and competing has grown-up a lot in the last year.”

“The motivation for this year came from the ending of last year,” Conlogue said. “The women have been absolutely performing amazing this season and the end of last season, and I knew I needed to step up my game. The CT stops have been providing some great waves, and I am looking forward to getting the Oi Rio Pro going and seeing how it ends up.”

Conlogue will face injury replacement Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and event Wildcard Silvana Lima (BRA) in Women’s Round 1 Heat 3. Conlogue will battle for a back-to-back win at Rio after taking home the win last year. Conlogue’s strong performance on the Australian leg this season has positioned her as a major Title contender.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), defending WSL Champion, will fight to rebound from a slow start in Australia. De Souza earned a Quarterfinal finish on the Gold Coast, but was not able to advance out of Round 3 at Bells Beach or Margaret River. The reigning World Champion will battle Keanu Asing (HAW) and injury replacement Lucas Silveira (BRA) in Round 1 Heat 6.

“It’s always an honor to compete in my home country,” De Souza said. “I have had a tough start this year. I think it’s always more difficult holding onto something as opposed to going after something. I am the target this year. That’s okay though. I feel like I am surfing well and I am focused on getting a good result in Rio.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 2014 WSL Champion, has yet to advance past Round 5 so far this season. Medina will battle to take down injury replacement Stuart Kennedy (AUS), who defeated the Brazilian powerhouse on the Gold Coast. Medina will also face injury replacement Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), who made a splash at Margaret River when he eliminated De Souza.

Filipe Toledo (BRA), who suffered an injury during the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, is ready to return to competition in Rio after a two-event absence. Toledo, the reigning Oi Rio Pro Champion, is excited to be back in the water and will battle for a back-to-back event win. Toledo will face 2016 WSL Rookie Kanoa Igarashi (USA) and Dusty Payne (HAW) in the opening Round of the Men’s competition.

“It’s amazing to be back in the water,” Toledo said. “It was very hard to watch those events from home, but the way you have to surf these days, you cannot come back at less than 100%. I’m feeling good and looking forward to being back in the singlet here in Rio.”

Italo Ferreira (BRA), 2015 WSL Rookie of the Year, is currently ranked World No. 3 on the Jeep Leaderboard. With Semifinal finishes at Bells Beach and Margaret River, Ferreira will fight to break into the Finals for the first time this season. Ferreira will face Miguel Pupo (BRA) and injury replacement Bino Lopes (BRA) in Round 1 Heat 4.

“My goal when I qualified was just to requalify,” Ferreira said. “Now that I have had a good rookie year and some good results, I want to finish in the Top 5. That’s my goal. There are a lot of good surfers on tour now.”

Carissa Moore (HAW), reigning Women’s WSL Champion and current World No. 3, will battle to strengthen her 2016 Title campaign. Moore has come away with three straight Semifinal finishes on the Australian leg and will try to break into the Finals at Rio. Moore will meet Sage Erickson (USA) and 2016 WSL Rookie Chelsea Tuach (BRB) in Round 1 Heat 5 when competition gets underway.

“It has been an amazing start to the season and I’ve been impressed with how well all the girls are competing,” said Moore. “We have been getting great waves. I have gotten three Semifinal finishes. It has definitely fired me up to see Courtney and Tyler do really well. I am excited to be here.”

The Oi Rio Pro will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the WSL app.

The event is also being carried by the WSL’s LIVE broadcast partners Fox Sports Australia, CBS Sports in the United States, ESPN Brasil, Globosat, Edgesport, Sky NZ, Sport TV, Canal + Deportes, Channel Nine, MCS, Starhub, and Oceanic Time Warner Cable 250 & 1250 in Hawaii.

The Surfline forecast is projecting surf in the head-high range for the opening day of the event window on May 10.

Owen Wright (AUS) and Bede Durbidge (AUS) remain out with injury while Kai Otton (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA) have withdrawn for personal reasons. Mick Fanning (AUS) continues to take time off in 2016 for his personal year and the recent retirement of Taj Burrow (AUS) has him absent from Rio as well. Joel Parkinson (AUS) has withdrawn to mend a knee injury ahead of the remainder of the year. The men’s replacements include Adam Melling (AUS), Stuart Kennedy (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Dusty Payne (HAW), Bino Lopes (BRA) and Lucas Silveira (BRA).

Deivid Silva (BRA) has been allocated a wildcard from the WSL Commissioner's office as he is the highest ranked Brazilian on the Qualifying Series. The second wildcard has been allocated to Marco Fernandez (BRA) following today’s win at the local Trials at Grumari.

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com

Oi Rio Pro Men’s Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Kanoa Igarashi (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Stuart Kennedy (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS), Davey Cathels (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Bino Lopes (BRA)
Heat 5: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA), Marco Fernandez (BRA)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Keanu Asing (BRA), Lucas Silveira (BRA)
Heat 7: Nat Young (USA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Conner Coffin (USA), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 10: Kolohe Andino (USA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 11: Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 12: Caio Ibelli (BRA), John John Florence (HAW), Matt Banting (AUS)

Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sage Erickson (USA), Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Alessa Quizon (HAW)