Adriano de Sousa WSL Champion 2015

Congratulations to Adriano de Sousa, who after 10 years competing on the world tour, was crowned World Surfing League 2015 CT champion on the last day of the Billabong Pipe Masters. There was great excitement going in to the tournament, with four contenders still in the running to win the championship. Adriano de Sousa made the best of some sub-optimal surf conditions to battle his way through to the semi-final, at which point he had enough points to  be crowned the champion. Just to top it off he went on to win the final against his Brazilian compatriot, and departing world tour champion, Gabriel Medina. So after Brazil having their first world champion in 2014 they now have two in a row,  and de Sousa also become the first-ever Brazilian winner of the Pipe Masters. Gabriel Medina didn’t go home empty-handed however, as in another first for Brazil Medina won the 2015 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which is awarded to the surfer with the biggest points score for its three events.

Gabriel Medina and Adriano de Sousa
Gabriel Medina and Adriano de Sousa. Image copyright: WSL / Kirstin