Samuel already has a solid result under his belt, finishing third at the Telstra Stores Tweed Coast Pro in February. - WSL
It's rough making a name for yourself in a surf family. Just as either Hobgood or any Ho. But Samuel Pupo, brother of Championship Tour (CT) surfer Miguel Pupo, seems to be handling it just fine. When he lit up Bali on a surf trip last year, he put the world on notice: If you like Miguel's acrobatics have no fear... there's more where that came from.
Samuel Pupo surfing beyond his years at Trestles, San Clemente, California. (Music: First Floor Power/Le Jaquet (The Tremolo Beer Gut Version))
"I feel like I'm so lucky to have my dad and my brother," Samuel said. "I grew up watching them surfing and I think since I was five years old I already had a dream to be on Tour against the best surfers in the world... and of course a heat against my brother."
Samuel's inspiration may come from the other competitors in his family but his style is all his own.
"We have a completely different surf and style," Samuel said referring to Miguel. "My surf is all about airs and power, and his surf is all about style and flow."
That kind of dynamic surfing is getting Samuel recognition and results. Last year, Sam won entry into the QS10,000 in Sao Paulo -- an event his brother won -- and made the finals of the junior event in Peru and won the Rip Curl Grom Search at Maresias. He's starting strong in 2016 with a third-place finish at the Tweed Coast Pro.
"This is my third time in Australia and I really love this place," Samuel said. "I arrived in Australia a week before the contest started and that was enough to try my new boards and get ready mentally for my first year on Qualifying Series (full time)."
Samuel Pupo earned entry into the 2015 Oi HD São Paulo Open, a QS10,000, after winning the local trials. - WSL
Samuel says he doesn't have a non-competition board, coming into the season literally giving it everything he's got. At a freesurf session off the coast of Australia, an onlooker came up to Samuel and said, "You have the best style and I haven't seen someone surfing like that in ages! Hopefully you'll be on Tour soon."
Not many doubt that we won't.
Watch List: Samuel Pupo
WSL
It's rough making a name for yourself in a surf family. Just as either Hobgood or any Ho. But Samuel Pupo, brother of Championship Tour (CT) surfer Miguel Pupo, seems to be handling it just fine. When he lit up Bali on a surf trip last year, he put the world on notice: If you like Miguel's acrobatics have no fear... there's more where that came from.
"I feel like I'm so lucky to have my dad and my brother," Samuel said. "I grew up watching them surfing and I think since I was five years old I already had a dream to be on Tour against the best surfers in the world... and of course a heat against my brother."
Samuel's inspiration may come from the other competitors in his family but his style is all his own.
"We have a completely different surf and style," Samuel said referring to Miguel. "My surf is all about airs and power, and his surf is all about style and flow."
That kind of dynamic surfing is getting Samuel recognition and results. Last year, Sam won entry into the QS10,000 in Sao Paulo -- an event his brother won -- and made the finals of the junior event in Peru and won the Rip Curl Grom Search at Maresias. He's starting strong in 2016 with a third-place finish at the Tweed Coast Pro.
"This is my third time in Australia and I really love this place," Samuel said. "I arrived in Australia a week before the contest started and that was enough to try my new boards and get ready mentally for my first year on Qualifying Series (full time)."
Samuel says he doesn't have a non-competition board, coming into the season literally giving it everything he's got. At a freesurf session off the coast of Australia, an onlooker came up to Samuel and said, "You have the best style and I haven't seen someone surfing like that in ages! Hopefully you'll be on Tour soon."
Not many doubt that we won't.
News
The women left nothing to chance in their fight for 2024 CT survival as the rankings leaders continued to push the pace into the
The world's best women returned to the lineup with heavy implications to finish their Round of 16 duels and decide more fates with each
With her CT season on the line, Sawyer Lindblad posted an excellent 8.10 to move straight into the Quarterfinals over the early World Title
2x World Champ Tyler Wright and perennial World Title threat Tatiana Weston-Webb went wave for wave in a clash of veterans with Tyler
World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers made easy work of the smaller conditions on offer and dismantled Sophie McCulloch's surge toward the back half