“Peniche – Capital da Onda”

Rip Curl has officially announced that Peniche, Portugal, will host this year’s Rip Curl Pro Search, Stop No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour – to be held October 19 to 28.

The location has been a mystery to most all season, but the official press launch in Lisbon unveiled the secret to media and the surfing industry.

Supertubos is a powerful A-frame barrel that feeds off deep Atlantic Ocean swells and handles waves up to the 12-15ft (4-5m). Many surfers have nicknamed it the “European Pipeline” due to its similarities to Hawaii’s
infamous Banzai Pipeline.

The North Atlantic Ocean swells peak in the later part of the summer, that’s why the event window was created in October, instead of the June-July period as it was for the past four years.
The change of schedule will also make this year’s Rip Curl Pro Search the second-to-last event on the ASP Men’s World Tour calendar, meaning for the first time it could be the event where this year’s ASP World Champion is crowned.

The date move of this year’s event has also allowed Rip Curl to include an ASP Women’s World Tour contest during the Rip Curl Pro Search. The event will run from October 26 to 30 and is Stop 5 of 8 for the ASP Women’s elite.

“The Rip Curl Pro Search has had incredible success since is started, so I think it’s really exciting that the ASP Women’s World Tour is jumping onboard for the adventure,” said Stephanie Gilmore, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion. “I’m sure it’s only going to make the best event on tour, even better!”