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Cover photo: Two of the favorites are Lele and Nacho. By ISA/Franco

There are more than 30 entrants in the Rip Curl Pro Playa Grande and these are five that, according to DUKEsurf.com, have a great chance of taking home the cup, with their corresponding justifications and in no particular order:

Matthew Herdy

The Brazilian is the owner of a very complete surfing style, in small and medium waves he shines doing old school maneuvers as well as new ones.

If the sea is rough, he will know how to fit the board where it hurts but also how to fly through the air if necessary.

She is doing pre-season for the challengers for which she received an invitation from the WSL.

Dangerous for continuing the Brazilian dominance in the Mar del Plata QS.

Lele Usuna

Leandro has been Argentina's best hope at the Rip Curl Pro Playa Grande in recent years; he has excelled but has not made it. This time he is motivated by a runner-up position in Punta Rocas and a good performance in Fernando de Noronha.

Other factors are in his favour for this championship: There will be waves and he knows Biology and Yacht like few of the entrants.

This could be the year in which he breaks Brazilian hegemony in the tournament.

Nacho Gundensen

Another one who comes motivated to the tournament and to 2023, another one who plays at home and who has the advantage that the sea will have power. Unlike Lele, Nacho's surfing has the aerial factor that can be decisive when defining a series. He is young and has the rebelliousness typical of his age, it is his sponsor's tournament and he wants to shine in front of it.

Another one that can break the Brazilian hegemony in the event.

Ornella Pellizzari

Like Lele and Nacho, she has just returned from Santa Catalina where she trained with the Argentine team for the Pan American surfing championship. She is motivated to be the first Argentine to win an event that has been dominated by a Peruvian and an Ecuadorian who, by all indications, will not be in the championship.

He likes the sea with size and shines when he is strong, a combination that the forecast indicates will be fulfilled during the championship.

He has what it takes to win.

Melanie Giunta

The Peruvian power surfer shines when the sea is strong, as it seems it will be in Mar del Plata, like at home in Señoritas. And she is also strong going from the front and backside, in case the mythical wave of the Yacht breaks and the tournament is moved there.

He already has a lot of experience competing and lacks the drive to find victory again. He has not won since 2018, a year in which he had two victories in completely different conditions: Sao Chico in Brazil and Peñascal in San Bartolo.