- WSL
- WSL

Heavy rains and subpar conditions at Praia de Itauna have forced event organizers for the Quiksilver Pro Saquarema to call a lay day. But despite the heavy downpour and adverse conditions, several athletes hit the event site to test out equipment and get acclimated to competition during a morning freesurf.

Freesurfing Saquarema
1:16
Surfers arrive in Brazil and warm up for the second QS 10,000 of the season.

"I arrived at 5:40 am. It was still dark, but there were two people in the water already," said Ian Gouveia (BRA), currently sitting in 17th place on the Qualifying Series (QS) rankings. "You could tell from the horizon that a huge storm was coming. Soon it started pouring, but you could still find some good waves."

After beginning the year in the QS Top 10, Gouveia is looking for a solid result after an early exit at last week's QS 10,000 Oakley Lowers Pro in San Clemente, Calif.

"These are the [events] you want to do well in and are the most important to make it onto the CT," said Gouveia. "The first QS 10,000 was at Trestles, but I didn't do too well and ended up falling in the rankings. But I have another chance here."

With the exception of Kolohe Andino (USA), currently No. 4 on the QS rankings, all of the remaining athletes on the Top 10 scheduled to compete in the Quiksilver Pro Saquarema, hungry for the substantial amount of ranking points available at Praia de Itauna.

Heat 1 of the Round of 96 will see Adrian Buchan (AUS), Torrey Meister (HAW), Alex Ribeiro (BRA) and Tomas Fernandes (PRT) kick off competition and showcase the diverse field of international athletes competing.

Watch all the action LIVE here.

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