Mateus Sena Defends Title as Surfing Circuit Returns to Natal, Brazil

The World Surf League (WSL) South America Qualifying Series 4,000-point event, the Circuito Banco do Brasil de Surfe, took place on Praia de Miami in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte from 7 to 9 August 2026. Two-time champion Mateus Sena, who won the 2024 edition, entered as the favorite to repeat his success in front of a home crowd.

Day one saw strong performances and a few upsets. In the men’s field, Luan Wood, the ranking leader, finished second behind Yuri Gabryel Machado by a margin of 0.03 point, while Deyvson Santos posted the highest daily score of 12.13 points. Defending champion Heitor Mueller, seeded as a head‑of‑key, did not surf until the third round. On the women’s side, top‑ranked Sophia Medina was eliminated early, finishing third in her heat, while Julia Nicanor led the female leaderboard with 10.46 points.

The circuit, now in its fifth year, has become a key development platform for South American surf talent, featuring over 2,000 entries and athletes from 15 nations.