After the long wait, competition resumed in Portugal. The third round of the eighth stage took place today in the crowded beach of Supertubos.
The surprise of the day was the early elimination of Kelly Slater. The american was unable to reach the next phase, obtaining a final score of 5.27. As for his opponent, Brazilian Raoni Monteiro, the round could not have been better, achieving a final score of 9.20.
Slater has therefore lost almost all the chances he had on achieving yet another world title. It should be remembered that last year, the campion in title lost the final in Peniche for Brazilian golden boy Adriano de Souza.
With these surprising news the most strong contenders for the title will be John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Kolohe Andino, Australians Josh Kerr, Adrian Buchan, Joel Parkinson and Owen Right and Brazilian Raoni Monteiro. Things are getting quite interesting. It is one of the most disputed title races in recent years and the only true winners as for now are the hardcore surfing lovers all around the world.
