Kolohe Andino Wins Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais

Sunday, 4 October 2015, Cascais, Portugal – Kolohe Andino (USA) has won the Allianz Billabong Pro Cascais over Caio Ibelli (BRA) in 4-to-5-foot surf at the backup venue of Praia do Guincho. With his runner-up finish, Ibelli becomes the highest-ranked QS surfer not already in the Championship Tour's Quiksilver Pro France draw and will be offered a wildcard to replace Jordy Smith (ZAF) who's withdrawn due to injury.

Ranked No.4 on the Qualification Series (QS) before this event, Andino takes another firm step towards requalification for the 2016 Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour with excellent results all-year culminating with his win.

Andino came out firing in the Final with a solid display of power surfing on his backhand for a 7.67. A quick exchange on successive righthanders gave both surfers limited opportunities, but Ibelli waited until the 15-minute mark to launch his campaign, riding a similar lefthander to Andino's opening ride to collect a 7.10. Both surfers continued to surf the clean lefthanders back-to-back, without changing the situation as they were only able to post medium scores.

On the five-minute mark, Andino found a bigger, cleaner set wave and performed two beautiful turns including a huge vertical blast against the closing section for an impressive 8.90 and eventually the win.

"The tide dropped a lot and it was really hard to find the right waves, but I was patient and got that eight. I'm so exhausted. The paddle-outs were ridiculous. Now I'm on [the Championship] Tour pretty much guaranteed so hopefully I can surf the two events coming up freely."

A former World Junior Champion, Ibelli climbs even further up the QS ranks, in a good position for a maiden qualification for the Top 34 in 2016. With a ton of confidence from this result, the young Brazilian will head to France to take part in next week's Quiksilver Pro France as a wildcard before going home to attack the next QS 10,000 in Sao Paulo.

"Eight thousand points is a lot and I'm stoked to make my first Final in a QS 10,000," Ibelli said. "Making the CT is my biggest dream and when I do receive confirmation I'll probably cry a little. This is everything I've ever wanted."

via WSL. Photo © Laurent Masurel