This Sunday, Maria Salgado achieved her first career triumph in World Surf League events, winning the Pro Junior Ferrol, in Galicia, the opening stage of the 2025 European Pro Junior circuit.
Also noteworthy was the presence of two Portuguese surfers in the men’s final, with João Mendonça finishing in 3rd place and Matias Canhoto in 4th place.
With five Portuguese surfers making it to the final day of the Spanish event, the action began with the men’s semifinals, where the Portuguese armada had three surfers in the first heat. Only two surfers could secure places in the final, and it was João Mendonça and Matias Canhoto who did so, with Francisco Ordonhas, the reigning European junior champion, finishing in 5th place.
In the women’s semi-finals, Portugal had two surfers in the same heat, with Maria Salgado securing the victory heading into the final, while Maria Dias finished in third place in the heat, securing 5th place overall in Ferrol.
The first final to take to the water was the men’s, and the two Portuguese surfers performed well, but were eventually beaten by two Spanish rivals. Alfonso Suarez was crowned champion in Ferrol, with a total of 16.23 points, followed by Dylan Donegan dos Santos, with 14.50 points. João Mendonça, with 14.20 points, was 3rd and the best Portuguese in the Galician event, while Matias Canhoto finished in 4th place, with 12.60 points.
The Portuguese party would come in the women’s final, where 18-year-old Maria Salgado confirmed her status as favourite, after a great campaign throughout the event. The young surfer from Santa Cruz scored 14.83 points, compared to 11.76 from Spanish surfer Carla de la Vall (2nd), 9.80 from French surfer Clemence Schorsch (3rd) and 6.20 from fellow French surfer Naia Monte (4th).
Going through a great moment of form, the reigning national junior champion, leader of the national Pro Junior ranking and current vice-leader of the MEO Surf League women’s ranking, thus won the first victory of her career in this circuit, also assuming the leadership of the European Pro Junior women’s ranking.
The European Pro Junior circuit returns to the water next week in Capbreton, France. The best European juniors return to action between 3 and 5 July, with Maria Salgado defending her lead in the race for the category title. The circuit will end in September, with another stage in Galicia, this time in A Coruña.
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