Local wildcard Vasco Ribeiro pulled the first big upset of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal on Saturday by eliminating World No. 4 Owen Wright in pounding conditions in Peniche. The loss was put an end to Wright's 2017 World Title hopes. To his credit, Wright was quick to put his year in perspective, "Coming into this season I thought I'd be lucky to be fighting for requalification at this point," he said. Indeed, this time last year the big Australian was learning how to surf all over again. To be in a World Title hunt less than a year later is a stunning feat.
