The day was anything but slow. Before 8 AM, the first surfers were already making the most of every wave in their heat, under a sky that shifted between bright sunshine and the occasional passing cloud. On the sand, no one stood still — some took a refreshing dip in the crisp ocean (or at least got their feet wet), others played an impromptu game of volleyball, while groups of friends caught up. It was a perfect day, both in and out of the water.
As the hours passed, the crowd grew, with thousands of surf fans glued to every barrel and manoeuvre performed with precision. With a star-studded lineup of national and international talent, Carcavelos hosted one of the most unforgettable editions of Capítulo Perfeito. Families, groups of friends, and surfers eager to hit the waves after the competition brought an electric energy to the beach, making the event even more special.
As the day unfolded, the heats intensified, the waves showed their full power, and the cheers grew louder with every turn and barrel. With the competition at its peak, the surfers had to give it everything, seizing every opportunity to stand out and claim a top spot. Among them were names like Balaram Stack, Noah Beschen, and Miguel Blanco, all of whom left their mark on the event.
The biggest surprise came in the final, with Cam Richards taking the win. A last-minute replacement, he seized his chance and didn’t hold back. His standout performance included an 8.50 wave just minutes before the buzzer, propelling him to first place and securing the grand prize. “I still can’t believe I won. Getting an 8.50 was insane”, said Cam Richards. “It’s amazing to compete in an event like this — no pressure, just surfing barrels with friends and having fun”. That laid-back spirit is exactly what makes this competition so special. Noah Beschen claimed second place, Balaram Stack finished third, and Pedro Calado rounded out the podium in fourth.
Another highlight of the day was Miguel Blanco, who rode the best wave of the competition, scoring an 8.83 and earning the Best Tube by Electrikfatbike award — solidifying his dominance in the lineup. But there was still one final honour to be awarded. The Ricardo dos Santos Attitude Trophy, celebrating fearless and courageous surfing, went to Pedro Calado.
The Special Women Heat, one of the event’s biggest new additions, turned all eyes to the Portuguese surfers who tackled the barrels despite the challenging wave conditions. Yolanda Hopkins came out on top, taking home the prize after outperforming Maria Salgado, Gabriela Dinis, and Camila Cardoso.
As the event drew to a close, it was time to honour Tiago Pires — better known as “Saca” in the surfing world — winner of the very first edition of Capítulo Perfeito. He got the chance to catch a barrel between heats and later took to the stage to reflect on his connection to the event and its significance. “This is now an established international event, one of the most anticipated and well-known competitions in the world. For me, it’s a farewell to Capítulo Perfeito as a competitor, but I’ll continue to support the surfers”, said Tiago.
After a thrilling day, Capítulo Perfeito powered by Billabong wrapped up another successful edition. Finding the perfect day wasn’t easy, as event organiser Rui Costa explained: “It was an unusual winter, with very inconsistent winds. Luckily, we found this window that allowed us to hold the event on a sunny day with great waves, with Carcavelos delivering classic conditions for the surfers”. Looking back, the overall feeling is positive: “Once again, the beach was packed to watch the world’s best tube riders take on our waves”.
That’s a wrap. Carcavelos delivered, the surfers put on a show, and Capítulo Perfeito powered by Billabong lived up to its name. See you at the next edition.