<strong>Perfect Chapter Team’s thoughts are with Ricardo’s family and friends </strong>

<em>Cascais, 20 de janeiro de 2015 </em>

CASCAIS (January 21, 2015) – Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong team couldn’t be sorrier to announce the replacement of Ricardo dos Santos by countryman and friend <strong>Bruno Santos</strong>. Even if it’s a pleasure to be welcoming Bruninho to the event, the replacement is taking place for the saddest reasons: Ricardo passed away yesterday at the Regional Hospital of Saint Joseph in Santa Catarina, Brazil, victim of gunshot wounds.

Ricardo dos Santos took three gunshots Monday morning just outside his house, as a result of confrontation with a man who had parked his car over a pipe that was being used to restore Ricardinho’s place. The Brazilian surfer was immediately carried to the closest hospital by helicopter in serious condition. After a 24-hour battle and over 100 bags of blood, Ricardo was unable to recover from the wounds to his back and abdomen and died from cardiac arrest.

As the first surfer up for replacement under the <strong><em>International Surfers </em></strong>category, Bruno Santos will be replacing Ricardo at the barrel-oriented competition taking place at the iconic <strong>Carcavelos Beach</strong>, Portugal, over a waiting period that concludes on <strong>March 15th</strong>. A great tube rider himself, we’re sure Bruninho will be able to honor his friend’s memory by completing some intense, magic barrels.

American <strong>Cory Lopez </strong>is now the first alternate over the <em>International Surfers </em>category, being next in line to replace <strong>Aritz Aranburu</strong>, <strong>Pedro Scooby </strong>or <strong>Bruno Santos </strong>if any of them fails to attend the competition.

“I won’t be speaking as Perfect Chapter organizer only. This sad occurrence asks for much more than that”, <strong>Rui Costa </strong>said. “I was fortunate to witness myself Ricardinho’s good energy and soul. From the first moment, he had an attitude that made me feel like we were longtime friends. That will never go away. As the event organizers and knowing Ricardo was one of the best in the world surfing the conditions we seek for this competition, we will be honoring his memory by setting up the tribute he deserves alongside with his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”

2015 Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong is sponsored by Allianz, the Municipality of Cascais, Billabong, Kia, MOCHE and MEO and it’s associated with the 2

&nbsp;

media partners RTP, Fuel TV, Jornal i, Mega Hits, SURFPortugal, SurfTotal, Carve, Surf Session and Hardcore.

<strong>ALLIANZ PERFECT CHAPTER POWERED BY BILLABONG INVITEES </strong>

Frederico Morais (competitor)

Vasco Ribeiro (competitor)

Tiago Pires (competitor)

José Ferreira (competitor)

Miguel Blanco (competitor)

Marlon Lipke (competitor)

Francisco Alves (free surfer)

João Guedes (free surfer)

Ruben Gonzalez (free surfer)

Alexandre Ferreira (soul surfer)

Aritz Aranburu (international surfer)

Pedro Scooby (international surfer)

Bruno Santos (international surfer)

Nicolau von Rupp (winner of the previous edition wildcard)

Rodrigo Herédia (local wildcard)

Nathan Hedge (rescue wildcard)

Follow us:

<strong>perfect-chapter.com </strong>

<strong>facebook.com/capituloperfeito</strong>