16 Final Contenders Announced For Perfect Chapter Powered by Billabong 2023

Nic von Rupp and Pedro Boonman on top of surfers’ choices

CASCAIS (January 9, 2023) – The 9th annual Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong
voting period ended yesterday, leading up to the 16 final contenders.

Surf fans around the world had the final say on who will be the Portuguese surfers attending the one-day tuberiding contest taking place at Carcavelos Beach, Portugal, within a 2-month holding period that starts today. The voting went on for 5 days at the event’s webpage reaching 20.000 votes.

Nic von Rupp, Pedro Boonman, Miguel Blanco and Tiago Pires secured their spot on the heat draw by dominating the fans’ preferences.
In the New Generation category (under 17), the name popping out was Salvador Vala’s.
João Maria Mendonça is also taking part in the competition as the organization decided to assign him the wildcard destined to “rescue” one surfer left out by the fans.

They are all joining the defending champ wildcard Aritz Aranburu as final contenders to the most exciting surf contest taking place in Europe today, right next to the eight (8) international surfers who received a direct invitation to take part in the competition: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Balaram Stack (USA), Bruno Santos (BRA), Clay Marzo (HAW), Michael February (ZA), Nathan Hedge (AUS) and Torrey Meister (HAW).

One final wildcard will be assigned via Trials, which are taking place within the main event’s waiting period seeking to secure the participation of a local surfer from Carcavelos.
The remaining surfers – those who were not selected – remain linked to the event as alternates, and may be called to compete in case of withdrawal by the leading Portuguese contenders.

The 16 men will go head-to-head for the trophy and a 35.000€ global prize money on a full day of competition in perfect, hollow waves. Adding a little spice to the competition, this year there’ll be a special award and prize money to the first three-time champ in the history of the Perfect Chapter, leading up to a dramatic battle between the only two surfers who have won the event twice in the past: Aritz Aranburu, winner in 2016 and 2022, and Nic von Rupp, the 2013 and 2014 champ.