The new venue of the Oi Rio Pro, Grumari, seeks to provide some relief to the concerns directors have with holding the event at the normal site, Postinho. Photo: WSL
What: Men’s Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour stop #4.
When: May 10th through May 21st (12-day event window)
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Venue (updated): Moved from Postinho to Grumari due to major beach erosion caused from last week’s heavy storm. Grumari is described as a punchy beach break that offers up plenty of ramp and barrel sections. (Get the full story here).
Defending champion: Filipe Toledo.
Current Jeep Leaderboard #1: Matt Wilkinson.
Recent Tour quote: “The Brazilian Storm has officially dissipated,” declared Ross
Williams during the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
Grumari. Photo: WSL
Event Intangibles: Will Grumari produce? Is the remote location an advantage/disadvantage to both Brazilian and visiting surfers? Will we see a return of the Brazilian Storm?
Persons of interest:
Filipe Toledo. How will Filipe rebound from the injury he suffered during the final at Snapper?
John John Florence. Will JJF put together heat performances and strategies worthy of the world’s best surfing moniker?
Gabriel Medina. No one will come into the Oi Rio Pro as hungry for victory as the 2014 World Champion. Will the Oi Rio Pro be the much-needed turnaround to his static start to 2016?
Surfline’s forecast: “Fun size, decreasing S [south] swell prevails on Tuesday, with small leftovers by Wednesday and Thursday. Shorter period S swell looks likely to rebuild for the end of the week and potentially peak over the weekend to offer more contestable surf. There is potential for larger surf toward the end of the waiting period.”
All the Live and On Demand action from the 2016 Oi Rio Pro can be viewed on the WSL home page.
