Australia’s reigning world champion Molly Picklum celebrated a significant victory at the Portugal Pro on Friday, marking her first win of the year. This success elevated her to the top of the rankings with only two events left in surfing’s world tour.

In the men’s final, Griffin Colapinto from California triumphed over Brazil’s Gabriel Medina. Colapinto showcased his skills at the renowned beach break of Supertubos, securing his third victory at this challenging venue.

Picklum, who had a solid yet unspectacular season after clinching her first world title in Fiji last year, aimed for this win to gain momentum ahead of the season finale in Hawaii in December.

"It was a dream of mine to win here," the 23-year-old stated. "Portugal is like the cross between the Brazilian energy and Pipeline. Those are two of my favourite things. I’m really happy to hit my stride at the right time."

In the final, Picklum faced off against Caitlin Simmers, the 2024 world champion. Despite a slow start, she found her rhythm with a deep, overhead tube, scoring 7.83 to take the lead. Ultimately, she secured a two-wave total of 13.33, edging out Simmers, who finished with 12.84.

Colapinto, aged 28, began his final strong, scoring 8.17 on his first wave, while Medina responded with impressive barrels. However, Colapinto found an exceptional wave, earning 9.43, which solidified his lead until the end.

"That’s the dream. How good were the waves out there?" expressed Colapinto, who climbed to third in the rankings.

Looking ahead, the tour will next visit a new stop in the Philippines before concluding at Pipeline, where competitors will vie for 1.5 times points.