The World Tours European contingent have survived the first two rounds of surfings ASP Hang Loose Catarina Pro relatively intact, with five of Europes seven contenders going through to round three, at the fourth stop on the ASP Dream Tour in Brazil. South Africas Jordy Smith reaffirmed his position as one of the most exciting and progressive surfers in the world, securing the highest wave score of round two, with a 9.0 out of a possible 10.

Historically, European contenders have figured strongly at this event, with Jeremy Flores of France taking the highest wave score of the competition last year, before finishing in second place to Australias Bede Durbidge in the final. Slater slayer Aritz Aranburu, who showed much promise at the last stop in Tahiti, failed to figure in this years Catarina Pro, after going out to Hawaiis Roy Powers by just 0.23 points. Last year he was involved in an interference incident with Jordy Smith who was judged to have performed an illegal move, interfering with Aranburus wave.

Following much debate as to whether surfing legend Kelly Slater would compete at the Catarina Pro, after a poor start to the season, it looked like the decision had been made for him when his equipment bags failed to turn up at the airport. Finally getting things sorted after a three day debacle, Slater scraped through in the first round, but was looking more comfortable in round two, defeating local boy Bernardo Miranda.