Early Days in Saquarema

Joel, unlocking the backdoor on the tube of the day to roll on through to round three. At 6'0" / 81kg, he rides a 6'0" x 18 7/8" x 2 3/8" x 28.3L Monsta 6. Photo Trevor Moran

Saquarema's mixed bag has been on full display for the start of the Brazil CT leg, with everything from peeling lefts to wedgey rights throwing up sections for turns, airs, and even the odd barrel (for Parko, especially). Having so much variety on offer and a fun-sized, consistent swell, the Traktor Team's equipment is all about high performance, and the first few days have delivered in spades. Board breakdowns and gallery, below

in yet another ridiculous power gouge. Photo Trevor Moran

Show time. For maximum flow and drive, Joel's been using a mix of our JS x FCS2 template, plus the Carver (here), both in large. Photo Ryan Miller

Jeremy, throwing fins and a whole lotta spray on his way to winning a close heat with Owen in round one. Having made the final at Saquarema before in a tough QS 10,000 draw, Jezza's riding the exact same shortboard now - a 5'9 1/2" x 18 1/4" x 2 1/4" x 24.6L Monsta 6 (he's 5'9" / 68kg). Photo Trevor Moran



Owen, finding vertical lines amongst the backwash. At 6'3" / 76kg, O's riding a 6'3" x 19" x 2 3/8" x 29.3L Forget Me Not round pin. Photo Trevor Moran



Ace nailed the best wave of his heat thanks to sharp forehand rail work like this, but missed out on a decent back-up. Consolation prize - we all get to see more of this from Bucho in round two! At 5'9" / 76kg, he rides a 5'10" x 18 5/8" x 2 3/8" x 26L Monsta 6. Photo Trevor Moran

Whatever the conditions are in Brazil, Sal's shown she can adapt better than almost anyone over the last couple of years. Backhand blasting on the way through to round three! At 5'7" / 57kg, she rides a 5'8 1/2" x 17 5/8" x 2 3/16" x 22.3L Monsta 6. Photo Trevor Moran



Fred's been busy testing boards and putting his backhand to work at Saquarema in the lead up to the event, with one of his go-to shortboards being a 6'0" x 19" x 2 7/16" x 28.5L Monsta 6 (he's 6'1" / 81kg). After a tricky round one heat, we'll see him in round two along with Ace and Owen. Photo Ryan Miller



Here's hoping the main event looks a bit like these warm-ups when round two gets back underway... Fred, getting loose on his backhand. Photo Trevor Moran

We don't get to see Julian's backhand on high performance lefts as often as we'd like on the CT, and round one showed us a glimpse of why it's one of the best in the world. Jules, timing a huge fin throw perfectly over the backwash. Photo Ryan Miller

J-Dub, heavy on the back foot. Photo Trevor Moran



For Brazil's range of beach breaks, Julian's got several shortboards on hand to make up the ideal high performance quiver (he's 6'0" / 80kg):

Air 17 - 6'0 1/2" x 18 3/4" x 2 3/8" x 28.2L
Monsta 6 - 6'0" x 18 3/4" x 2 7/16" x 28.1L
Monsta 6 - 6'0 1/2" x 18 3/4" x 2 3/8" x 28L