Praia Mole hosts the 14th WSL Layback Pro

A Mole Beach in Florianópolis se prepara para receber mais uma vez a elite do surf mundial. Até o 10 de março, a praia sediará o LaybackPro, a step valid for Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 of the World Surf League (WSL). The event comes to your 14th edition, consolidating itself as one of the main professional surfing competitions in Santa Catarina. As well as attracting the attention of renowned athletes and promising athletes in the sport.

Praia Mole: a world-class point break

A Mole Beach é conhecida mundialmente por suas ondas longas e perfeitas, ou seja, ideais para manobras de fluidity and carving. Localizada no leste da Ilha de Santa Catarina, a praia atrai surfistas de todos os níveis graças à sua formação geográfica. A Baía Sul, onde fica a Mole Beach, funciona como um funil natural que canaliza o swell predominante de sul e sudeste. Ou seja, gerando long, consistent waves with well-defined walls.

Além das condições ideais para o surfe, a Mole Beach oferece uma belíssima paisagem. A praia conta com costão rochoso coberto por vegetação nativa e uma orla urbanizada com bares, restaurantes e lojinhas, tornando-se um point turístico badalado, principalmente durante a temporada de verão.

The Layback Pro: tradition and path to the top

Layback Pro debuted on the WSL QS calendar in 2010 and has since become a mandatory stop for professional surfers seeking valuable world ranking scores. The competition format includes fierce disputes in the male and female categories, therefore, with batteries made up of top athletes from different countries.

Throughout its editions, Layback Pro has revealed talents that are now among the highlights of the world circuit. Thus, names like Miguel Pupo, Caio Ibelli It is Silvana Lima já passaram pela Mole Beach em busca de resultados expressivos no início de suas carreiras. A competição também funciona como vitrine para surfistas locais e catarinenses que sonham em trilhar o caminho rumo ao CT (Championship Tour), a elite do surfe mundial.

2024 edition: promises, favorites and fierce competition

The 2024 edition of Layback Pro promises a lot of excitement. In men, Brazilian surfers stand out Alejo Muniz It is Yago Dora, both QS names and with memorable spells at CT. Other names to keep an eye on are Australian Jesse Mendes, current leader of the QS ranking, and the Peruvian Alonso Correa, known for his radical and airy style.

In the female category, the Peruvian Daniella Rosas arrives as the big favorite. In other words, the athlete holds the title of three-time South American champion of WSL South America and, in 2022, marked her name in the history of Layback Pro by achieving the highest female score in the competition, an impressive 9.33 points. The Brazilian Taina Hinckel, an experienced QS competitor, and the young promise from Santa Catarina Julia Santos também prometem dar show nas ondas da Mole Beach.

Beyond the competition: a celebration of surfing and local culture

O Layback Pro vai além do alto rendimento. Portanto, o evento funciona como uma grande festa do surfe, reunindo atletas, turistas e a comunidade local. Durante os dias de competição, a Mole Beach se transforma em um palco para diversas atrações paralelas, como live music shows, surf clinics taught by professional athletes, art exhibitions and stands selling products related to the universe of surfing and the beach lifestyle.

A realização do Layback Pro também contribui para o desenvolvimento do turismo local, fomentando a economia da região com a lotação de hotéis, restaurantes e comércios. Sendo assim, a competição reforça a vocação de Florianópolis como destino turístico internacionalmente reconhecido e coloca a Mole Beach em evidência como um point break de classe mundial.

Watch Layback Pro live and stay up to date with everything

Se você é apaixonado por surfe e não tem a oportunidade de estar presente na Mole Beach durante o Layback Pro, não fique triste! A WSL disponibiliza a transmissão ao vivo da competição através do seu official channel on the World Surf League platform. In addition, the broadcast features comments from sports experts, providing an immersive experience for the viewer.

Environmental impact: Layback Pro committed to sustainability

Layback Pro recognizes the importance of preserving the environment. The event organization works together with local environmental entities to minimize the ecological impact of the competition. Measures are adopted such as:

• Garbage collection: Separate bins for recyclables and organics are available throughout the event area, encouraging correct waste disposal.
• Beach cleaning: Beach cleaning actions are carried out before, during and after the event, with the aim of ensuring the preservation of the coastal environment.
• Use of recyclable materials: Whenever possible, the organization uses recyclable materials in the event infrastructure, such as cups, banners and signage.
• Awareness campaigns: Educational campaigns are promoted to alert the public about the importance of preserving the environment and combating sea pollution.

Layback Pro's legacy for Brazilian surfing

Layback Pro stands out as a crucial event for the development of Brazilian professional surfing. The competition provides a high-level platform for national athletes to compete against the best surfers in the world, improving their skills and gaining valuable points in the WSL rankings.

Além disso, o Layback Pro serve de inspiração para a nova geração de surfistas brasileiros. A presença de ídolos do esporte na Mole Beach desperta o interesse e a motivação de jovens atletas que buscam trilhar o mesmo caminho. O evento contribui para a formação de novos talentos, fortalecendo a base do surfe nacional e projetando atletas brasileiros para o cenário internacional.

Com ondas de classe mundial, uma organização impecável e um comprometimento ímpar com o meio ambiente e o desenvolvimento do surfe brasileiro, o Layback Pro consolida a Mole Beach como um palco icônico do surfe mundial. O evento é uma celebração do esporte, da cultura praiana e da busca pela excelência.

Curiosities about Layback Pro and Praia Mole

For those who want to delve even deeper into the history and atmosphere of Layback Pro, we've brought you some interesting facts:

• Local victory: Praia Mole has already crowned a local surfer as Layback Pro champion. In 2011, Willian Cardoso from Santa Catarina took the highest place on the podium, immortalizing his name on the list of event winners.
• Layback Beer: The event's main sponsor, Layback Beer, is a craft beer brand created by skateboarder and Olympic medalist Pedro Barros. The brand combines the beach lifestyle with the passion for sports, making it a natural partner for Layback Pro.
• Floripa Film Fest: The 2024 edition of Layback Pro will bring something new: the Floripa Film Fest, a film festival aimed at independent productions that have surfing and ocean culture as their themes. The festival will be an opportunity for amateur and professional filmmakers to showcase their work and contribute to the dissemination of surf culture.
• Accessing Praia Mole: Praia Mole is located in the north of Santa Catarina Island, about 17 km from the center of Florianópolis. Access to the beach can be done by private car, via SC-401, or by public transport, with several bus lines leaving from the center of the capital of Santa Catarina.

With information @ WSL Latin America