Rising swell at Pico do Fabril kept competitors scratching for the horizon during Round Four of the MEO Rip Curl Pro. Maxing surf and onshore winds eventually put Round Five on hold.
Today, the Jeep leader pushed even closer towards his first World Title with a huge Round Four win over Michel Bourez and Adriano de Souza. He is now just two heats away from clinching the crown. Californian Kolohe Andino also found a direct route to the Quarters thanks to his tack-sharp backhand. Then, in an unlikely upset, Brazilian Miguel Pupo stepped up in the solid surf against in-form Frenchman Jeremy Flores and Hawaiian tube hound Sebastian Zietz. Finally, South African Jordy Smith secured a dramatic last-minute win over rookies Conner Coffin and Stu Kennedy.
Only one heat ran in Round Five before the event went on hold. Australian powerhouse Joel Parkinson went down swinging against World Champ Adriano de Souza in tricky conditions.