Cascais Capítulo Perfeito powered by Billabong introduces an unprecedented new competition format for 2026

Cascais, January 21, 2026 – The 12th annual Cascais Capitulo Perfeito powered by Billabong will debut a brand-new, unprecedented competition format, designed to increase surfers’ time in the water and enhance the public’s experience. Capitulo Perfeito will become the first surf competition in the world to introduce this format, affirming its commitment to crown the most consistent and skilled surfer across the entire event.

The key innovation is the addition of two non-elimination opening rounds, in which all 16 contenders compete on equal terms without any eliminations, along with the unique feature that allows surfers to carry over their highest-scoring wave from the opening phase to the final rounds.

How the new format works

Under the new model, all 16 surfers compete in Round 1 and Round 2 (both non-elimination). After these two rounds, the 8 contenders with the highest total scores (best wave combinations) from Rounds 1 and 2 advance directly to Round 4 (skipping Round 3).

The remaining 8 surfers compete in Round 3 (repechage), the first elimination round of the competition. Each contender starts their heat with their best single score from Round 2, which is then added to their two best waves from Round 3. The 4 surfers with the highest overall totals advance, while the others are eliminated.

Round 4 features 12 surfers: the 8 best from the opening rounds and the 4 surfers who advanced from Round 3. Once again, the same principle applies: each athlete enters their heat carrying over their best wave from Round 2, adding it to their two best waves from Round 4. The 4 top-ranked surfers secure a place in the final.

The final retains the classic surf competition format, with victory going to the surfer with the two best waves.

A more exciting and fairer format

Under this format, every surfer is guaranteed a minimum of three heats, delivering more action in the water and keeping fans engaged with their favorite athletes for longer throughout the competition.

In addition, the first three rounds span nearly an entire tidal cycle, giving every surfer the chance to ride waves under varying conditions instead of being confined to a single — and potentially less favorable — window of ocean conditions.

By valuing consistent performance throughout the day, Cascais Capitulo Perfeito stays true to its mission of crowning the surfer who delivers the best overall performance, rather than rewarding a single standout moment.

“Our goal is to give all 16 surfers the chance to compete at least three times, while also giving fans more opportunities to watch their idols in action,” says Rui Costa, promoter of Capitulo Perfeito. “This new format ensures that surfers are not limited by a single moment of tide or sea conditions, which can sometimes be less than ideal. Most importantly, it allows us to truly reward the best and most consistent surfer in the competition. The four athletes who reach the final will be those who have delivered top performances from the very beginning. In other words, the winner will be someone who has excelled throughout the entire event, not just in a single moment,” he concludes.

The Cascais Capítulo Perfeito powered by Billabong continues to closely monitor ocean and weather forecasts at Carcavelos Beach to ensure the best possible conditions that make this event a global benchmark. The waiting period runs until March 12, with the organization ready to activate the competition as soon as the ocean delivers the ideal scenario to showcase the best barrels the Portuguese coast has to offer.