PRAIA DO PARAISO, Costa da Caparica - Portugal (Monday, March 18, 2024) - The Caparica Surf Fest 2024, final stop on the 2023-24 European Qualifying Series (QS), is just around the corner with a competition window that opens on March 26 and runs through March 30, 2024 in Portugal.
Caparica will celebrate its ninth installment on the QS, cementing its place as a surfers and fans favorite on the schedule. Nice weather and beautiful waves are the norm in the Portuguese Spring and the endless beachbreaks offer unlimited opportunities south of the capital.
The European QS season launched in August 2023 in Cornwall and has since traveled to France, Spain and Portugal before it wraps at the end of the month in Caparica. A lot hangs in the balance as this event will determine who gets a spot on the 2024 Challenger Series (CS) and ultimately a shot at making the Championship Tour (CT).
The men's rankings are dominated by the French with nine surfers in the Top 10, but only seven spots are available for the CS and the battles will be fierce in Caparica to lock it all in. The women's field is a lot more open with athletes from all over Europe competing for one of only four spots on the CS. One man and one woman wildcards will be awarded as well for entry into the 2024 CS.
The European QS title is also on the line and while Yolanda Hopkins (POR) is in a great spot to go back-to-back, Marco Mignot (FRA), who just competed at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona as a wildcard, has some serious work to do if he wants to claim a second consecutive regional crown.
Before the Caparica Surf Fest, here's where the 2023-24 European Qualifying Series rankings stand:
2023-24 European Men's Qualifying Series Top 10:
1 - Tiago Carrique (FRA)
2 - Charly Quivront (FRA)
3 - Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
4 - Marco Mignot (FRA)
5 - Gatien Delahaye (FRA)
6 - Kauli Vaast (FRA)
7 - Jorgann Couzinet (FRA)
8 - Joan Duru (FRA)
9 - Kai Odriozola (ESP)
10 - Kyllian Guerin (FRA)
2023-24 European Women's Qualifying Series Top 10:
1 - Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
2 - Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP)
3 - Tessa Thyssen (FRA)
4 - Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
5 - Nadia Erostarbe (EUK)
6 - Camilla Kemp (DEU)
7 - Maud Le Car (FRA)
8 - Hina-Maria Conradi (FRA)
9 - Ariane Ochoa (EUK)
10 - Mafalda Lopes (POR)
Watch LIVE
The Caparica Surf Fest will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and the WSL's YouTube channel.