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Rio Pro moves to new venue

Xinhua, October 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The primary venue for the 2017 Rio Pro has been shifted from Barra da Tijuca to Saquarema, the World Surf League (WSL) said on Wednesday.

The move follows concerns about poor waves and pollution at Barra da Tijuca's Postinho beach, where the event has been held since 2012.

"I'm excited to confirm the new location of Saquarema for the 2017 Rio Pro," WSL commissioner Kieren Perrow said in a statement.

"The athletes will benefit from its consistency and potential for excellent waves. Postinho was a great spot, but we rarely got it at its best and the water quality in recent years has been a big challenge. We were committed to keeping the tour in Brazil, and look forward to delivering an outstanding event for fans all over the world."

The winner of this year's men's Rio Pro was John Florence of Hawaii while Australia's Tyler Wright claimed victory in the women' s competition.

Located about 100km east of Rio, Saquarema's Itauna beach has previously hosted WSL qualifying series events. Endit