• Brazil Countdown Event Witnesses Celebrities and Pros Surf Together for Charity
  • More Information Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

SÃO PAULO, Brazil (Friday, September 18, 2020) – 15 of the world’s best surfers and ten of the biggest Brazilian personalities came together for Onda do Bem, a one-night charitable surf contest as part of The WSL Countdown. 

The participants were divided into five color-themed teams named after stops on the Championship Tour: Rio, Gold Coast, J-Bay, Teahupo’o, and Pipe. Each team took part in a variety of challenges throughout the night, including Big Air, Pro and Celebrity Heats, and a Team Challenge.

Team Rio, made up of Yago Dora, Adriano de Souza, Julia Duarte, Paulo Vilhena, and Danni Suzuki, won the Oi Fibra Team Challenge after showcasing style and flair throughout their heats. Earlier this week, De Souza announced he will be retiring from professional surfing after the 2021 Championship Tour season.

Reigning WSL Champion Italo Ferreira won the Pro Men’s and Super Airs heats. Olympic qualifier Silvana Lima won the Women’s Pro heat. 

“I only compete to get trophies,” said Ferreira. “Everyone did a great job today, and I’m super proud of Jadson, Yago and Miguel. They inspire me.”

“I’ve never surfed in the dark before,” said Lima. “It was very challenging but I couldn’t be happier with my results.”

Actor and model Paulo Zulu and surfer and TV host Érica Prado won the Celebrity Heats.

“This was very difficult because we could barely see the sets coming,” said the captain of the winning team, Yago Dora. “I was focused, relaxed, and spent this time off accentuating my skills and perfecting my abilities.”

Onda do Bem raises money for charity, Projeto Ondas
By using a QR Code embedded on the broadcast, viewers were able to make donations to Projeto Ondas, which was founded in 2007 by former CT athlete and two-time Brazilian surfing champion Jojó de Olivença. Their mission is to contribute to the integral development of children and adolescents in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability by using surfing as an instrument for learning and social inclusion.

Onda do Bem Results:
Celebrity Women’s Heat: Winner Erica Prado (watch full heat)
Celebrity Men’s Heat: Winner Paulo Zulu (watch full heat)
Super Airs Heat: Winner Italo Ferreira  (watch full heat)
Oi Fibra Team Challenge: Winner Team Rio – Yago Dora, Adriano de Souza, Julia Duarte, Paulo Vilhena and Danni Suzuki (watch full heat)
Pro Women’s Heat: Winner Silvana Lima (watch full heat)
Pro Men’s Heat: Winner Italo Ferreira (watch full heat)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

About the WSL 
The World Surf League (WSL), established in 1976, is the home of surfing. The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke. 

The WSL is a global organization, headquartered in Santa Monica and with regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. The WSL possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation, and performance at the highest levels.

The WSL is comprised of Tours & Events, celebrating the world’s best surfers across all disciplines and annually running more than 180 global contests and crowning the undisputed World Champions across all divisions; WSL WaveCo, where innovation meets experience; and WSL Studios, which offers best in class storytelling across competition, lifestyle, and conservation.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com