Indonesian surfer Rio Waida has qualified to compete in the World Surfing League (WSL) Championship Tour 2023 after advancing to the Round of 24 of the EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira event on Tuesday.
The EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira is the fourth out of the seven events of the 2022 WSL Men’s Challenger Series. It is being held in Ribeira D’Ilhas, Ericeira, Portugal, from October 1–9, 2022.
Waida, who is currently at the top of the table at the 2022 WSL Men’s Challenger Series, is expected to finish as one of the top 10 surfers, which is the requirement to contest at the WSL Championship Tour 2023.
Based on information accessed on the WSL website from here at 7 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) on Wednesday (October 5), he has collected a total of 21,050 points, giving him a more than three thousand-point lead over his closest rival, Leonardo Fioravanti from Italy.
“By advancing to the Round of 24 in EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira and dominating the 2022 Challenger Series, Rio Waida has officially qualified for the 2023 Championship Tour. This marks the first Indonesian to have qualified for the CT (Championship Tour),” the WSL announced on the website.
In Heat 7 of the Round of 48 of the EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira on Tuesday (October 4) local time, the Indonesian surfer secured 11.33 points, the highest score in the heat.
He competed against Willian Cardoso from Brazil, Kauli Vaast from France, and Carlos Munoz from Costa Rica in the heat.
Waida faced a little difficulty at the start of the heat, collecting only 0.20 and 2.33 points in his first and second waves, respectively.
However, in the fourth and fifth waves, he was able to record his two best waves during the heat to collect 6.00 and 5.33 points, respectively.
In an interview regarding his qualifying for the WSL Championship Tour after the heat, the Indonesian surfer said that he was surprised by the news.
“I do not know (about the news yet). I am still trying to focus on the next round (of the EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira). I do not know what to say. Is it official that I am eligible?” he asked.
When the reporter confirmed the news, Waida said that he was very happy to be the first Indonesian to contest the championship tour.
“I hope I will not lose in the next round (and) I cannot wait to represent Indonesia in the Championship Tour,” he added.
In the Round of 24 of the EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira event, he will compete against Liam O’Brien from Australia and Crosby Colpanto from the United States in Heat 5.
Source: Antara News