<strong>The RdS Award will honor the most committed surfer at the event </strong>

CASCAIS (February 3, 2015) – The <strong>Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong </strong>is paying tribute to <strong>Ricardo dos Santos</strong>, who passed away on January 20th after being shot outside his house in Guarda do Embaú, Santa Catarina, Brasil. The event is gathering some of the best tube riders in the world at the iconic <strong>Carcavelos Beach </strong>for a one-day barrel-oriented competition, which will take place on the best day of the European winter.

Ricardinho, as known among surf community, was one of the surfers chosen by the fans to take part in the event and is being replaced by countryman and friend <strong>Bruno Santos</strong>, the first alternate under the <em>International Surfers </em>category.

At 24 years of age, Ricardo dos Santos was unanimously considered one of the greatest tube riders in the world. The Brazilian surfer won the Billabong Pro Tahiti Trials twice in a row (2011 and 2012) and was the man on the Wave of The Winter in 2013, a massive bomb surfed with unique style at Pipeline. As a free surfer, Ricardinho was a regular standout at the heaviest barreling spots in the planet.

As a tribute to his legacy, Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong is awarding the most committed surfer at the event with a trophy named after Ricardo dos Santos. From 2015 on, the <strong>Rds Commitment Award </strong>will remain a standard Perfect Chapter feature honoring the <strong>most passionate surfer </strong>according to commitment and raw courage criteria.

Ricardinho is also being honored at the beach by the 16 contenders who will rest silent for a minute in his memory before the competition starts. Plus, the organization is running a <strong>video tribute </strong>at the event’s opening ceremony (scheduled for the event’s eve).

“This tribute is dedicated to Ricardo dos Santos not only as the wonderful human being he was, but also as a surfer who showed a genuine enthusiasm towards this event from the moment we first reached him, as it would be expected from someone who constantly searched for the same kind of waves Perfect Chapter seeks since 2012”, event organizer <strong>Rui Costa </strong>said. “It would make no sense at all not to pay homage to such a great surfer who synced with this Portuguese project and would honor us with his presence in Portugal if a shameful tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”

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With a <strong>15.000€ </strong>prize money, Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong is one of the biggest surfing competitions currently taking place in Europe. This is a unique event where participants have been <strong>chosen by the public </strong>through an online voting system, giving the fans the opportunity to pick up their favorite surfers.

<strong>Nic von Rupp</strong>, <strong>Aritz Aranburu</strong>, <strong>Tiago Pires</strong>, <strong>Pedro Scooby</strong>, <strong>Bruno Santos</strong>, <strong>Frederico Morais </strong>and <strong>Vasco Ribeiro </strong>are among the athletes taking part in the show.

Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong’s holding period ends on <strong>march 15</strong><strong>th</strong>. Surfing forecast’s being closely monitored by Surfline experts to make sure the event takes place in the best day of winter (offering the best barreling conditions). Surfers are notified of the event status within only a <strong>72 hours’ notice</strong>.

The <strong>Allianz Perfect Chapter powered by Billabong </strong>is sponsored by Allianz, the Municipality of Cascais, Billabong, Kia, MOCHE and MEO and it’s associated with the media partners RTP, Fuel TV, Jornal i, Mega Hits, SURFPortugal, SurfTotal, Carve, Surf Session and Hardcore.