Molly Picklum and Cole Houshmand Win VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Molly Pickle May US and Cole Hushman USA won the Vivo Rio Pro
presented by Corona Cyro stop #9on the World Surf League WSL
2025 Championship Tour Court clean long period 3 to 4 foot
swell built throughout the day, initially focusing its energy on

(00:20):
the right of Proya Daytona before the left came to
prominence as the tide and swellgrew.
The first Brazilian woman to make the final since 2007,
Luanna Silva Bra carried the torch for her nation while
Griffin Colapinto USA edged dangerously close to the top
five with his runner up finish. Pickle M capitalizes on

(00:44):
consistency with first win of the season, solidifying strong
rankings lead, capitalizing on her position as the only woman
in the top five to make it past the elimination round.
Molly Picklem AUS solidified a strong lead in the rankings
having moved to the number one position after making the
semifinals. Picklem S 3rd CT victory, her

(01:07):
first outside of Sunset Beach HI, caps a season that has seen
the 22 year old as the most consistent surfer on tour,
making at least quarterfinals ineight out of nine events,
including three finals. Often starting strongest early
in the season, Picklum now findsherself leading the pack with

(01:28):
just two regular season events remaining on the calendar.
I've worked so hard this year toreally put my best foot forward,
Picklum said. Actually, before I was going
out, I felt nearly emotional because I was just like OK, I
get another chance to try and get a victory.

(01:48):
I've dreamt so much of winning here in Rio too.
I'm a real energetic person, I love the Brazilian energy and to
get a win this year means so much for sure.
Thank you so much and shout out to everyone back at home.
I know you're all probably up watching and I felt all the
love. I actually ran in and started

(02:11):
calling my family straight away because I wanted to share it
with the people I love and the people that have supported me
through the entire time. Big love to you guys.
Picklum dominated the final, wasting no time before opening
with a strong single backhand hit for a 6.83 out of a possible
10. The Australian backed it up

(02:32):
quickly to place Luanna Silva Bra in an early combination
situation that grew exponentially after.
Picklum posted the highest single wave score of the event
for the women, an 8.17, earning the number from a dramatic
finish to a critical two turn combo on the right.
Piklum S 15.00 out of a possible20 heat total was also the

(02:55):
highest of the event for the women.
Silva was eventually able to break the combo with a 6.63, but
was left needing a better numberthan Piklum S event high score
when the buzzer sounded. Luanna Silva is definitely the
favorite and so she should be, Piklum continued.
She's been surfing so well, I knew she's such a competitor and

(03:19):
she's such a fighter. I was pretty scared all the way
till the end, even though I had a couple of good scores.
But yeah, she's capable of greatthings and I'm so happy to get
that one over her. Silva most threw world champions
to add her name to Brazilian legacy, the first Brazilian
woman to make a final on home ground since Silvana Lima bra in

(03:42):
2007. Luanna Silva BRA had undoubtedly
the most difficult run through the event.
Everyone of Silva S3 Heat wins in the event were over World
Champions, first defeating reigning World Champion and
back-to-back Vivo Rio Pro winnerKatie Simmers USA in the
elimination round before overcoming 2 time World Champion

(04:05):
and three time event winner Tyler Wright AUS in the
quarterfinals and finally 2023 World Champion and Olympic Gold
medalist Caroline Marks USA in the semifinals.
Silva as second final of her career comes shortly after
making the mid season cut for the first time as the 21 year
old continues to strengthen her standing on tour.

(04:28):
It's been an amazing year and a special week here in Brazil.
Silva said. My whole family came out to
support me, even my aunt came out all the way from South
Brazil. It's super special to see her.
It's been a while. I can't thank everyone enough.
On the beach too. It's been an incredible week.

(04:52):
The support has been amazing andthat's what kept me going.
Heushman Peaks in the final, delivering full display of
power. Cole Heushman USA went 2 for two
in CT Finals, backing up his breakthrough win at the 2024 RIP
Curl Pro Bells Beach with another victory, again defeating

(05:12):
his good friend and fellow San Clemente surfer Griffin Cola
Pinto. USA TODAY S win further fueled
the 24 year old S upward trajectory towards his stated
goal of being a final five contender this season.
After narrowly avoiding the mid season cut at stop #7,
Hewschmand has gained ground over the last two events and

(05:35):
earned the biggest leap of anyone in Brazil, moving up four
places to #12 Hewschmand became the first non Brazilian man to
win the event since John John Florence Hall in 2016, finally
ending the near decade long Brazilian winning streak.
It doesn't seem real, honestly. I'm speechless, Yuish Man said.

(05:59):
It's been a long year and it's been a lot of fun.
I freaking love this place. I love everything about it and
I'm just doing what I love. It's amazing.
I mean, the fans all week, whether they love me or hate me,
it's the most passionate people in the world and I love it.

(06:22):
I feed off it. I mean, we're competing in a
stadium here. I looked at the beach and you
can't even see open space. It's what we dream of and what
we live for. I couldn't imagine anything
better. Ushman picked up the highest
single wave score of the event in the opening moments of the

(06:43):
final, earning a 9.40 for exceptional power delivered
across a three turn combo on hisforehand.
He then built on his backup score over a series of waves,
landing on a 7.50 for another forehand combo that included a
massive layback hack. After struggling to find a score
to match, Cola, Pinto found the biggest wave of the event,

(07:07):
snapping a huge backhand hit in the most critical section to
post an 8.23 for the single maneuver.
Multiple near makes of impressive airs and turns
followed, but an opening 6.17 held in his score.
Eline leaving Hewishman S 16.902wave total as the highest of the
event for the win. To share another final with

(07:30):
Griffin Cola. Pinto is like the dream,
Hewishman continued. Honestly, I've had two finals on
tour and both have been with Griffin.
I just went out there surfing with my best friend.
We're just like hey, it's like an expression session.
We don't even know what we're doing.

(07:51):
We're just going to have fun. Cola Pinto continues to rise
knocking on the door of the top five, also arriving at stop #7
in Margaret River, WA. In danger of the mid season cut,
Griffin Cola Pinto USA has turned his season around now
making at least semifinals in four out of the last five events

(08:14):
including today S runner up finish and the same placing in
Margaret River. The 26 year old now sits just
outside the top five as world number six.
On his road to the final, Cola Pinto defeated Current world #1
Jordy Smith RSA, who claimed thevictory over him in Western

(08:35):
Australia, as well as his closest rival on the rankings,
Ethan Ewing AUS at #5 Congratulations to one of my
best friends Cole Hushman for taking the win, Cola Pinto said.
I think this week was about justtrusting life and not getting
too stressed out about the results and what's going to

(08:57):
happen and just letting the ocean call the shots because
that's really what it comes downto.
At the end of the day, we don't really know what's going to come
and how it's all going to unfold, so you just do your best
to show up every day, be the best person you can and let the
rest unfold on its own. Piupo and Ewing gain rankings

(09:19):
ground at the expense of former winners Dora and Ferreira, the
Tour S elder statesman of the Brazilian Storm. 33 year old
Miguel Piupo Bra took down another of his countrymen in the
quarterfinals, current world #2 and 2023 Vivo Rio Pro winner
Yago Dora Bra After his emotional defeat of two time

(09:41):
world champion and four time event winner Philippe Toledo Bra
in the round of 16, Pupo stayed sharp on his rail as both he and
Dora attacked the right on theirbackhand.
Now ranked within the top ten, the semi final finish is Pupo S
1st since his sole CT victory atthe Tahiti Pro in 2022.

(10:03):
It also marks his best result yet at home in Brazil and comes
after two seasons away from the event having missed competing
here since last making the mid season cut in 2022.
There were big names that I had to be to be here.
Pupo said. It's about keeping going.
I still have work to do. It's been 3 long late days and

(10:26):
just trying to rest, you know, trying to keep my mind focused
on the job. I know I don't have the ears, so
I was focusing on my turns and the waves.
I had to choose. I'm happy to come out with the
win. In a battle of two of the most
diverse styles on Tour 2023, Vivo Rio Pro runner up Ethan

(10:47):
Ewing AUS defeated defending event winner Italo Ferreira Bra.
Ewing S effective use of the rail delivered the only
excellent score of the quarterfinals, an 8.00, and
earned him advancement to the semifinals for the second time
in Brazil. With the 2 surfers sitting next
to each other on the rankings, the heat win allowed Ewing at #5

(11:12):
to gain ground on Ferreira at #4as the race for the final five
begins to tighten. Italo Ferreira's definitely the
crowd favorite. Ewing said.
Every time he runs down, the beach just erupts.
So I was definitely playing intoit a bit.
I was kind of focusing on getting the better waves, the

(11:35):
bigger waves, just to kind of show what I can do.
We're polar opposites, like styles of surfing, so yeah,
stoke to get through. For more information and
highlights from today's competition at the Vivo Rio Pro
presented by Corona Zero, pleasevisit worldsurfleague.com.

(11:56):
Vivo Rio Pro presented by CoronaZero women S final results one
Molly Piclam AUS 15.002 Luanna Silva BRA 9.23 Vivo Rio Pro
presented by Corona Zero men S final results 1.
Cole Hushman USA 16.902 Griffin Cola Pinto USA 14.40 Vivo Rio

(12:25):
Pro presented by Corona Zero women S semifinal results heat
1. Luanna Silva brought 10.43 Deaf
Caroline Marks USA 6.57 heat 2 Molly Picklem AUS 13.06 def.
Aaron Brooks CAN 7.60 Vivo Rio Pro Presented by Corona Zero Men

(12:51):
S semifinal results Heat 1 Cole Hushman USA 15.06 def.
Miguel Pupo brought 13.83 Heat 2.
Griffin Cola Pinto USA 14.84 def.
Ethan Ewing AUS 14.20 Vivo Rio Pro Presented by Corona Zero

(13:13):
Women S quarterfinal results heat 1.
Caroline Marks USA 12.16 def Tatiana Weston Webb bra 4.10
heat 2. Luanna Silva, BRA 12.80 def
Tyler Wright AUS 8.84 heat 3 Molly Picklem AUS 10.50 deaf

(13:39):
Arena Rodriguez PER 7.17 Heat 4 Aaron Brookskin 9.84 deaf Lakey
Peterson USA 8.94 Vivo Rio Pro Presented by Corona 0.
Menes Quarterfinal results Heat one Miguel Pupo brought 12.33

(14:00):
deaf Yago Dora brought 10.30 he too Cole Hushman USA 13.50 deaf
Jake Marshall USA 13.26 heat 3 Griffin Cola Pinto USA 14.90
deaf Jordy Smith RSA 9.80 Heat 4Ethan Ewing AUS 14.43 deaf Italo

(14:30):
Ferreira BRA 13.40 Next stop Corona 0 Open J Bay The next
stop on the 2025 Championship Tour will be the Corona 0 Open J
Bay, which holds a competition window from July 11th to 20th,
2025. The event will be broadcast live

(14:51):
on World's URF, league.com and the free WSL app.
Check out more ways to watch from the WSLS broadcast
partners. The Vivo Rio Pro presented by
Corona Ciro is proudly supportedby Vivo Corona Ciro, Red Bull,
Banco de Brazil, Secret, Aria deSport E Laser de Estado de Rio

(15:13):
de Janeiro, Prefiatura de Sequerma, Natura, Kayak,
Maytera, Ryakolo, Probiotica, Dr. Peanut, Yeti, EY True Serve
Surfline with additional supportfrom Galeo International Airport
and more Matuyi Motors and partners Globo Group and Inter

(15:35):
TV. For more information, please
visit worldsurfleague.com. About the WSL The World Surf
League WSL is the global home ofcompetitive surfing, crowning
World Champion since 1976 and showcasing the world S best
surfing. The WSL overseas surfing S

(15:58):
global competitive landscape andsets the standard for elite
performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports.
With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the
protection of the ocean, equality and the sport S rich
heritage while championing progression and innovation.

(16:19):
For more information, please visit worldsurfleague.com.