Molly Picklum and Griffin Colapinto delivered standout performances at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2026, conquering Supertubos on an explosive Finals Day that produced a women’s showdown and a historic men’s victory. Picklum edged Caitlin Simmers to claim the women’s title, while Colapinto defeated three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina to become the first surfer to win the Portugal Championship Tour event three times.
Beyond the trophies, both finals highlighted a defining quality of elite surfing: the ability to find the right wave and execute under immense competitive pressure.
Picklum Holds Her Nerve Against Simmers
The women’s final brought together reigning World Champion Molly Picklum of Australia and American challenger Caitlin Simmers, setting up another chapter in a rivalry that continues to deliver high-level competition.
Simmers arrived at the final after a strong run through the draw, reaching her first final of the season. Against Picklum, she faced a competitor determined to turn her form into a statement result.
The contest remained tight as Simmers chased the lead, finishing with a heat total of 12.84. Picklum, however, had already established the advantage she needed. Her total of 13.33, built around a crucial 7.83 ride, proved enough to secure the victory.
Simmers pushed hard, but the opportunity to find the additional scoring wave never came. At Supertubos, where conditions can reward decisive wave selection and committed execution, the smallest margins can separate a title winner from the runner-up.
Picklum’s 13.33 total secured the win and moved her into the Championship Tour’s yellow jersey position, putting her at the top of the rankings heading into the next phase of the season.
“I’m so grateful to win here. Dreams do come true.”
Reflecting on the result, Picklum said:
She added that she was pleased to find her rhythm at the right time, acknowledging the work required to reach the top of the sport.
The victory gives Picklum valuable momentum as the Championship Tour battle intensifies, while Simmers’ run to the final offers encouragement after a season in which she had been searching for that breakthrough result.
Colapinto Makes History in a Barrel Battle With Medina
If the women’s final was decided by narrow margins, the men’s decider delivered a full-scale exchange between two surfers capable of producing extraordinary performances in heavy surf.
American Griffin Colapinto faced Brazilian superstar Gabriel Medina, a three-time World Champion, as Supertubos served up powerful waves and the kind of barrel sections that can transform a heat in seconds.
Medina struck first, posting scores of 8.20 and 8.57 to establish a formidable heat total of 16.77. Colapinto needed a response, and he found it when the pressure was at its highest.
Emerging from a deep Supertubos barrel, Colapinto earned a 9.43. Combined with his earlier 8.17, the score lifted him to a winning total of 17.60, leaving Medina behind.
Colapinto’s 17.60–16.77 victory made him the first surfer to win the Portugal CT event three times.
The achievement reflects more than familiarity with the venue. Supertubos demands precise positioning, commitment at take-off and the composure to navigate a powerful, hollow wave without sacrificing speed or control. Against a surfer of Medina’s calibre, there is little room for hesitation.
Colapinto recognised the significance of the duel, describing the back-and-forth exchange as an experience he had imagined while watching previous generations of surfing greats.
“The battle with Gabriel was unreal,” .
he said, recalling the era of Andy Irons and Kelly Slater and the inspiration he drew from watching their contests
For Colapinto, the victory brought that childhood ambition into the present, adding another milestone to his Championship Tour career.
Championship Tour Momentum Shifts to the Philippines
The Portugal results also carry significant implications for the wider title race. Colapinto climbs to third in the Championship Tour rankings, strengthening his position ahead of the next stop, while Picklum takes the yellow jersey after her women’s victory.
Both results underline how quickly momentum can change on tour. A single standout performance can influence rankings, build confidence and raise expectations for the events ahead.
The Championship Tour now moves to Cloud 9 for the Philippines Pro, scheduled for October 31 to November 10, 2026. The next stop will provide another test of adaptability as competitors move from Portugal’s powerful barrels to a different set of waves and tactical demands.
For Picklum, the challenge is to convert her latest win into sustained consistency at the top of the rankings. For Colapinto, the task is to carry the confidence of a record-breaking Portuguese campaign into the next round of the title fight.
At Supertubos, both surfers showed what it takes to win when the pressure peaks: patience, commitment and the ability to deliver when the decisive opportunity finally appears.
