LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (Sunday, August 28, 2022) - Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Samuel Pupo (BRA) have been awarded Rookie of the Year honors after outstanding performances on the 2022 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) season.
Bryan (20) made it clear in 2022 that she belongs on the elite Championship Tour, finishing the year as World No. 9 and being the only rookie to survive the Mid-season Cut. She overcame CT veteran Courtney Conlogue (USA) in order to progress to the Final at the Margaret River Pro and get the points she needed to stay on tour, and she rose to the occasion under pressure. In addition to her finals appearance at the Margaret River Pro, she placed 3rd at the Oi Rio Pro and Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, where she defeated seven-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS). She finished her season making history with the return of the women's CT to Tahiti for the first time in 16 years.
Pupo (21) joined his older brother, Miguel Pupo (BRA), on the CT this year, adding their names to a long list of brotherly duos that have competed at the elite level together. He made his first Finals appearance at the Oi Rio Pro, finishing runner up to current World No. 1 Filipe Toledo (BRA). Pupo finished the year as World No. 10 on the rankings, with 15 heat wins, and an average heat score of 11.42.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.