PENICHE, Portugal — Australia's reigning world champion Molly Picklum won the Portugal Pro in thumping tubes at Supertubos on Friday, October 23, claiming her first victory of the season and jumping to the top of the rankings with just two events of surfing's world tour remaining, Reuters reported.
In a finals day shaped by the powerful Portuguese beach break, California's Griffin Colapinto scored a near-perfect barrel to come from behind and claim the men's win over Brazil's Gabriel Medina, securing his third victory at Supertubos and climbing to third in the rankings.
Illustration: A surfer riding deep inside a glassy barrel wave at the Supertubos beach break in Portugal.
What Happened
Picklum, 23, faced California's 2024 world champion Caitlin Simmers in the women's final and slipped behind in the early exchanges before locking into a deep, overhead tube on her backhand that scored 7.83 out of 10 and gave her the lead. Simmers threaded some nice tubes of her own but ended with a two-wave total of 12.84 to Picklum's 13.33.
"It was a dream of mine to win here," Picklum said after the final. "Portugal is like the cross between the Brazilian energy and Pipeline. Those are two of my favourite things."
"I'm really happy to hit my stride at the right time. We work so hard and not many people get to win, but I'm so stoked to get my win this year."
The men's final delivered a duel between two of the tour's great tube riders. Colapinto, 28, started strongly, hustling Medina for the first wave, pulling into a deep barrel on his forehand and finishing it strongly. He scored an excellent 8.17 and backed it up quickly with a similar wave to pile the pressure on Medina.
But Brazil's three-time world champion responded with an incredible barrel of his own on his backhand, squeezing out when all hope seemed lost, then took the lead with another long tube. Needing something special, Colapinto found a gem on his backhand, disappearing behind the curtain for the entire wave and emerging near the packed crowd on the beach for a 9.43 out of a possible 10 — a lead he held until the clock ran out.
"That's the dream. How good were the waves out there?" Colapinto said. "The battle with Gabriel was unreal ... Portugal has a big place in my heart."
Illustration: A surfing champion celebrating with a trophy on a Portuguese beach at sunset with a cheering crowd.
Background
Picklum has had a strong if not spectacular season after winning her first world title in Fiji last year, but had made only one final and set her sights on securing a win in Portugal ahead of the season finale in Hawaii in December, Reuters reported. The Portugal Pro victory finally delivered it — and with it the rankings lead at the business end of the season.
Colapinto has developed a special relationship with the powerful, punchy tubes around the seaside town of Peniche, securing event wins in 2022, 2024 and now 2026. Supertubos — one of Europe's most famous beach breaks — delivered a full day of heavy barrels, living up to its reputation as a venue where contests are decided inside the tube rather than on the face of the wave.
Medina, one of the sport's defining competitors with three world titles to his name, pushed Colapinto to the limit, but the Brazilian's backhand heroics were ultimately outscored by Colapinto's 9.43 — the single highest score of the final.
Illustration: Powerful Atlantic waves breaking along the Peniche coastline in Portugal at dawn.
Why It Matters
With only two events left, the rankings math has sharpened. Picklum's first win of the year could hardly have come at a better moment: she now leads the women's rankings heading into a new stop in the Philippines and the season finale at Pipeline, where 1.5 times points will be on offer — a format that keeps the title race alive until the final day.
For Colapinto, the win moves him to third in the men's rankings and cements his status as the master of Supertubos, a venue where three wins across four editions is a rare achievement. And for Medina, the final was a reminder that the three-time champion remains a genuine threat, even in a season where the rankings have not always reflected it.
The Portuguese leg also underscored the depth of the current women's field: Picklum, the reigning champion, needed her best tube-riding of the season to get past Simmers, the 2024 champion — a changing-of-the-guard rivalry that is now the tour's defining storyline.
What Happens Next
The tour heads next to a new stop in the Philippines before the last event of the year at Pipeline, where 1.5 times points will be on offer, Reuters reported. That means the rankings lead Picklum seized in Peniche is far from secure: a big result at Pipeline can overturn the standings in a single heat.
Expect the final two events to be shaped by the surfers who peak at the right moment — precisely the lesson Picklum drew from her Portugal week. "I'm really happy to hit my stride at the right time," she said. The season finale in Hawaii in December will decide who joins her among this year's world champions.
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FAQ
Who won the Portugal Pro 2026?
Molly Picklum won the women's final against Caitlin Simmers 13.33 to 12.84 on October 23, 2026, at Supertubos in Peniche, Portugal. Griffin Colapinto won the men's final over Gabriel Medina, sealing it with a 9.43 barrel.
What does the win mean for the rankings?
Picklum jumped to the top of the women's rankings with two events remaining, strengthening her title defense after winning her first world title in Fiji last year. Colapinto climbed to third in the men's rankings.
Why is Supertubos special in surfing?
Supertubos, near Peniche, Portugal, is one of Europe's most famous beach breaks, known for powerful, punchy tubes. Colapinto has now won there three times — in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
What is left in the 2026 world tour season?
Two events remain: a new stop in the Philippines and the season finale at Pipeline in Hawaii in December, where 1.5 times points will be on offer — meaning the title race stays open until the end.
What were the key scores of the finals?
In the women's final, Picklum's deep backhand tube scored 7.83, and her two-wave total of 13.33 beat Simmers' 12.84. In the men's final, Colapinto opened with 8.17 and sealed the win with a 9.43 on his backhand.
Sources
- Reuters, "Reigning champion Picklum takes first win of season in Portugal tubefest," October 23, 2026 — Picklum's win over Simmers (13.33 vs 12.84); first victory of the year; top of the rankings with two events left; Colapinto's 9.43 win over Medina; third Supertubos win (2022, 2024, 2026); quotes from both winners; Philippines stop and Pipeline finale with 1.5x points.
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