Italo Ferreira and Lakey Peterson win in Bali and take the lead in the rankings

"There are still a few more steps to be world champion so I will enjoy this moment, but I want to win more," said the Brazilian.

June 3, 2018

Brazilian Italo Ferreira and American Lakey Peterson were the great champions of the Bali Pro, the fifth stage of the world surfing circuit that was decided today on another day of perfect waves in Keramas. They are now the two leaders of the world ranking.

Against Michel Bourez in the grand final, the show was 100% Brazilian, Ferreira did not risk as much as in past series, but the fast combination of backside attacks and a full rotation aerial at the end of his best wave gave him 18,87 which was far from the 9,83 of the Tahitian who was almost the entire final in combolandia.

“It’s great to be back in yellow lycra,” said Ferreira. “There are still a few more steps to be world champion so I will enjoy this moment, but I want to win more. The CT is full of incredible surfers but I feel confident and I want to build on this moment and extend my lead,” added the Brazilian.

Italo Ferreira wants to win the world title and he has everything to do it. All photos: WSL/Cestari/Sloane

Lakey Peterson will have to fight hard to win the title this year, but she has been doing things well.

The feeling that Ferreira conveys, especially in events that offer many opportunities like Bali, is that he is unbeatable. Because out of nowhere, on a 20-centimeter wave, he is very capable of doing the most incredible aerial and getting eight points.

The one who came closest was Jordy Smith in the semis, who based on tubes and power surfing, needing 9,1, got 8,9.

On the women's side, Lakey Peterson was superior, but in a much more contested series. The Californian combined her powerful and fluid carves with attacks to the lip, competed well and, scoring 14,33, beat Tyler Wright, who came close on his last wave and scored 13,74.

The world circuit continues in Bali, and in two days, it was announced, the Uluwatu stage will begin, which completes the Margaret River stage that was stopped due to the presence of sharks in the area.

On his way to 10 points in the semi-finals, he landed one of the best aerials of the event. He landed it perfectly.

Lakey Peterson's power carves gave him the win in Bali.

This is the top 5 of each division now:

Male
1 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 24,995 pts
2 - Filipe Toledo (BRA) 22,820 pts
3 - Julian Wilson (AUS) 21,080 pts
4 - Michel Bourez (PYF) 19,375 pts
5 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17,860 pts

Famenino
1 - Lakey Peterson (USA) 35,630 pts
2 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 34,235 pts
3 - Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 26,105 pts
4 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 23,460 pts
5 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 22,065 pts