The elite surfers on the ASP World Tour will be all smiles when they arrive in Rio de Janeiro on May 9 for the Billabong Rio Pro…
As you'll hear in the short film below, the world's elite surfers love competing in Brazil. And who can blame them? Surf, samba, soccer… This latest stop on the ASP World Tour also sees the men's and women's tours aligning for the first time since the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on April 3-14.
In last year's event Adriano de Souza beat Taj Burrow in the final, while Carissa Moore beat Sally Fitzgibbons on her way to winning the women's world title.
This year's Rio Pro is the third men's event of the 2012 tour and the first since the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Kelly Slater is currently sitting pretty at the top of the overall standings, followed by Adriano de Souza and Taj Burrow. Red Bull surfers Mick Fanning (fourth) and Jordy Smith (fifth) are both well placed to take advantage in Brazil, and Julian Wilson, currently 13th, will be confident of climbing up the table.
The women, meanwhile, will be competing in their fifth event. Their last meet was at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic on the Northern Beaches of Australia on April 18-25 where America's Courtney Conlogue claimed a surprising victory. Stephanie Gilmore is still out in front after two wins and a second place, but Red Bull whiz Sally Fitzgibbons (second) and reigning world champion Carissa Moore (fifth) are looking dangerous. Red Bull's other lady surfer, Sofia Mulanovich, is back in tenth.
The Billabong Rio Pro 2012 begins on May 9.
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