All eyes are on Peniche, Portugal as the 2012 Rip Curl Pro Portugal is set to commence at Supertubos October 10-21. Getting the nod to challenge the world’s best is 22-year old Californian Dillon Perillo (USA).

Perillo has solidified himself amongst some of the most exciting freesurfers in the world after dedicating the last couple of years to various film projects including Dear Suburbia, Lost Atlas, and Rip Curl’s FLOAT. While his smooth style and progressive repertoire define his surfing, Perillo is anxious to attack the hollow conditions of Supertubos.

“I’ve surfed as a wildcard in two ASP World Championship Tour events before, and am again just super excited to take on the world’s best surfers, especially if the surf is pumping,” said Perillo. “All you can do is give it everything you have and I’m just hoping to surf some incredible waves.”

The other wildcard spot will be determined from the winner of the Moche Wildcard Trials event featuring 10 of Portugal’s best surfers plus a stacked invitee field of European talent like Jayce Robinson (UK), Pablo Guetirez (ESP), PV Laborde (FRA) and Francisco Alves (PRT) as well as Brazil’s Bruno Santos.

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Moche will host the world’s best surfers from October 10 – 21, 2012 and will be webcast live at live.ripcurl.com, broadcast live on Fuel TV in Australia and Portugal, ESPN in Brazil and MCS Extrême in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Africa and Mauritius. Or catch the event via the Rip Curl Live Events iPhone and Android App, free download available in the iTunes or Android App Store.