After the sand-bottomed tubes settled for the 10th annual Capitulo Perfeito event, a unique contest hosting international and local keg-tappers in Portugal, and Cam Richards had won the whole thing, it was time to start the party. At least for an eclectic, select few surfers who stuck around.
“The afternoon of the event, when the waves got good, that was great,” said Joel Parkinson, who flew in for the strike-mission style event. “It was cool to be in a jersey again, and to get that feeling again.”
But that was just the kickoff to what would be become an extended European holiday, From there, Parko was joined by Craig Anderson, Balaram Stack, Victor Bernardo, and a gang of local Portuguese surfers enjoy the finer things the country has to offer – wineries, exquisite eateries, and a futbol match. The crew got the premier Portuguese experience; see the highlight reel below.
Whereas during most surf contests, once the final horn blows, the competitors are en route to the airport, either on their way home for a little r&r, or onto the next event location. But with Capitulo Perfeito, they did things a little different. After all, this wasn’t your typical event – a one-day, winner-take-all competition, solely focused on tubes, and featuring former pros (Parko) and folks who typically wouldn’t don a jersey (Ando, Bal, Victor, et al).
“This trip has been a way better experience,” said Ando. “I’ve been with the local people, the local surfers, and they’ve shown me the best restaurants and the best wine and the best food. We’ve also had some amazing waves. I think, for me, this is definitely my favorite trip to Portugal.”
Related: Cam Richards Slays $26,000 Tube Dragon in Portugal (Video)
Of course, there was some surfing, too, during their Portuguese tour. But that was almost secondary to all the other indulgences the country had to offer. Ando added:
“We’ve had a couple of surf sessions, but mainly just eating lovely food, and drinking wine, and seeing the countryside. It’s been a trip I’ll never forget.”
Stay tuned for next year’s Capitulo Perfeito.
Related: 10 Years of Portugal's Premier Tube-Riding Contest (Video)
