By Chico Padilha – Brazilian Surfing Confederation - www.cbsurf.com.br

The Brazilian Surfing Confederation (CBS, for its initials in Portuguese) declared its national champions in the State of Santa Catarina, at the same venue used by the South American ASP World Tour stop: Praia da Vila, Imbituba.  The Open Women’s champion was Barbara Muller, while Vicente Romero and Gabriela Leite won in the Boys and Girls Junior category.  João Paulo Abreu won in the Under 16 division thus completing the winning quartet from Santa Catarina.

The State of São Paulo showed off their skills with Deivid Silva taking the Under 14 category and in the Team Standings, while Kristian Kimmerson from the State of Espírito Santo took the Open Men’s category.

On October 23^rd and 24^th, in Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil will hold the fourth and last event of the South American Under-20 selection tour. The third round was concluded last Sunday in the waves of Arpoador, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, the newly announced host to the 2016 Olympic Games.  The leader is the current Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Runner Up, Miguel Pupo, who most recently faced off against Jadson André. Andre is Brazil’s new shining star and confirmed athlete for the 2010 ASP World Tour as well as a 2007 ISA Junior Champion.

For the women’s side, the Bahia event will be the third and decisive stop. Diana “Tininha” Cristina, third in the Under-18 division at the 2006 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, remains undefeated which places Gabriela Leite in second for the second time.

Gabriel Medina, current Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Under 16 Runner Up, won the Under 16 division at the Quiksilver World King of the Groms event held in France. Gabriel scored a perfect 20 for his combined heats in a Brazilian final against Caio Ibelli, also from the State of São Paulo.

Two 6-star events of the World Qualifying Series (WQS) took place this month in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with victories by surfers from these two regions in Southeastern Brazil.  Renato Galvão won in Tombo Beach of Guarujá and Simão Romão of Rio de Janeiro triumphed in the “Arpex”, as Brazilians have fondly named what is considered one of the most important historical arenas for water sports since the dawn of the International Professional Surfing (IPS).

The last weekend in October will be a defining moment for Brazilian professional surfing. Jano Belo is the current leader and is pushing for the third title for his home state, Paraiba. Paraiba is also home to two-time champion Fabio Gouveia.  Fabio is Brazilian surfing’s greatest name and 1988 ISA World Surfing Games Champion.

Among the women, Suellen Naraisa from São Paulo and Gabriela Leite from Rio de Janeiro are tied for first place. The tour ends on November 1^st, and Andrea Lopes, the three-time champion from Rio de Janeiro, is the current favorite for the championship.

Team Ranking
1^st - São Paulo 3900
2^nd - Santa Catarina 3520
3^rd - Espírito Santo 3520
4^th - Ceará 2858