Hang Loose Pro Contest Preview

Last Updated on February 24, 2023 3:44 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Hang Loose Pro Contest Noronha in Brazil is the third stop in the WSL Men’s Qualifying Series Tour of 2023.

This event will be taking place at the Cacimba do Padre Beach, in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

The area of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago consists of 21 islands, and its beaches are promoted for tourism and recreational diving. 

Due to the South Equatorial Current that pushes warm water from Africa to the island, diving to depths of 30 to 40 m (98 to 131 ft) does not require a wetsuit. 

This same current allows for some huge waves around February, which turn this spot into an ideal location for the surfing event taking place from Tuesday, February 28th, until Sunday, March 5th.

The event has a lot of hype among the locals, as Brazilians have been the winners of the Hang Loose Contest in the majority of its iterations.

Top Contenders – Hang Loose Pro Contest – 2023 Surf.

The 5,000 points that will be at stake in the tubes of Cacimba do Padre will be decisive in the dispute for the eight places for the Challenger Series 2023, and may even define a new South American champion.

Miguel Tudela can achieve an unprecedented feat in the Hang Loose Pro Contest presented by Elétron Energy, of being the first Peruvian to win the WSL Latin America South American title. 

Ian Gouveia from Pernambuco, an athlete sponsored by Hang Loose, is the only one who can prevent him from being champion in advance, before the last stage of the 2022/2023 season, which will be next week in Florianópolis. 

But, the only way for the son of Fábio Gouveia to have a chance for the title is the victory in Fernando de Noronha. 

In addition to Miguel Tudela and Ian Gouveia, who are fighting for the 2022/2023 WSL Latin America South American title, other six surfers are qualified for the Challenger Series and will defend their places in the Hang Loose Pro Contest. 

These athletes are, in order of classification, the Brazilians Rafael Teixeira (3rd place) and the young Ryan Kainalo (4th), the Argentine José Gundesen (5th), the Chilean Guillermo Satt (6th), and two more Brazilians who close the G-8 at the moment, Heitor Mueller (8th) and Weslley Dantas (9th), runner-up in the last edition of the event back in 2020.