Portugal has undeniably become Europe's number one surf nation over the past few years. Supporting professional surfing has become somewhat of a priority and in turn, more talent has emerged from the country, and surfers can count on a number of events to sharpen their teeth before attacking the global stage.
Jose Ferreira claimed a runner-up finish in Santa Cruz, a career-high QS result for the Portuguese - WSL / Laurent Masurel
From the junior events of Caparica and Espinho, the longboarding in Gaia, QS stops on the mainland and in the Azores, to the Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour stops of Cascais and Peniche, all levels of competitors get a chance to show their act and the opportunity to build a career.
Enters Santa Cruz.
Bird's eye view of the coast around Santa Cruz - WSL / Laurent Masurel
The quiet coastal town, nested halfway between the surfing meccas of Ericeira and Peniche, is quickly making a name for itself and now hosting a pivotal event on the Portuguese surf scene.
What started last year as a low-tier QS1,000 is graduating to a QS3,000 in 2017 and will attract a much bigger pool of talented surfers to its white and golden sand beaches this Spring.
Andy Criere and Garazi Sanchez-Ortun take out the inaugural Santa Cruz Pro 2016
History shows, results at a QS3,000 can definitely count towards a qualifying campaign for the elite tour and at the very minimum offer a chance to enter the Qualifying Series coveted Top100 who can participate in the major QS events worldwide.
Santa Cruz waves are perfect to display progressive maneuvers - WSL / Laurent Masurel
Last year's event revealed two up-and-coming talents in Andy Criere and Garazi Sanchez-Ortun in fun conditions and despite the Portuguese athletes failing to take the title home, two local finalists were enough to galvanize the crowds on a hot summer day.
Find out who has it to claim the Santa Cruz Pro from April 25-30, and check out all the content here.
Santa Cruz Joins A-List of Portuguese Surf Destinations
Nicolas Leroy
Portugal has undeniably become Europe's number one surf nation over the past few years. Supporting professional surfing has become somewhat of a priority and in turn, more talent has emerged from the country, and surfers can count on a number of events to sharpen their teeth before attacking the global stage.
From the junior events of Caparica and Espinho, the longboarding in Gaia, QS stops on the mainland and in the Azores, to the Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour stops of Cascais and Peniche, all levels of competitors get a chance to show their act and the opportunity to build a career.
Enters Santa Cruz.
The quiet coastal town, nested halfway between the surfing meccas of Ericeira and Peniche, is quickly making a name for itself and now hosting a pivotal event on the Portuguese surf scene.
What started last year as a low-tier QS1,000 is graduating to a QS3,000 in 2017 and will attract a much bigger pool of talented surfers to its white and golden sand beaches this Spring.
History shows, results at a QS3,000 can definitely count towards a qualifying campaign for the elite tour and at the very minimum offer a chance to enter the Qualifying Series coveted Top100 who can participate in the major QS events worldwide.
Last year's event revealed two up-and-coming talents in Andy Criere and Garazi Sanchez-Ortun in fun conditions and despite the Portuguese athletes failing to take the title home, two local finalists were enough to galvanize the crowds on a hot summer day.
Find out who has it to claim the Santa Cruz Pro from April 25-30, and check out all the content here.
Andy Criere
The Estrella Galicia Santa Cruz Pro pres. by Noah Surf House wraps up with Vasco Ribeiro's first-ever QS victory.
The Estrella Galicia Santa Cruz Pro pres. by Noah Surf House continues to provide plenty of excitement as we make our way to finals day.
Shock upsets, massive performances, day 4 had it all in Portugal.
Performances through the roof as top seeds enter the show at the Estrella Galicia Santa Cruz Pro pres. By Noah Surf House.
Re-live all the best moments from the inaugural French Rendez-Vous of Surfing WSL Countdown event in Anglet.
Pro Santa Cruz 2017
Check out some of the coolest shots from last year's Pro Santa Cruz.
A primeira vitória do Uruguai no Circuito Mundial da WSL foi conquistada na decisão do QS 3000 Pro Santa Cruz em Portugal.
The four remaining surfers take on bumpy four-to-five foot surf on finals day of the Pro Santa Cruz pres. by Oakley.
The Uruguayan overcomes extremely tough conditions to win the second edition of the Pro Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz pumps and surfers deliver and action-packed day of high performance surfing.