The Brazilians are coming
If you consider the final standings at the last three events of the ASP World Tour, one aspect becomes clear — the Brazilians have dominated. Gabriel Medina won both the Quiksilver Pro France and the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco, and sandwiched in between those wins, Adriano De Souza came away with at win at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
For the current crop of Brazilian surfers currently on the tour, including De Souza, Medina, Miguel Pupo, Jadson André, Alejo Muniz, Heitor Alves and Raoni Monteiro (five of whom hold spots in the top 25 on the World Rankings), there is more to a Brazilian win than just the win — it’s viewed as a win for the country. On the tour, these surfers travel together, cheer for each other and celebrate together. They are a team in a sport full of individualists.
Just a few short years ago, a a new generation of Brazilian surfers was emerging at the top junior and qualifying series events. Names like Alejo Muniz, Michel Pupo and Gabriel Medina were becoming commonplace on ASP press releases. Essentially children, they possessed a new style of surfing, aerial tricks as part of their regular repertoire and experience at vested surf spots such as Pipeline and Teahupoo.
Today, Brazilians make up more than twenty percent of the surfers on tour. Due to ASP rule changes made to even the playing field, five Brazilian surfers were allowed onto the 2011 tour, and at the mid-season ratings shift, two more entered the game.
This is a far cry from the beginning of 2010, when only De Souza and Andre remained on the tour.
“It’s been amazing to be a part of,” said Medina, fresh off his win in San Francisco. “We are all just pushing each other to do go. Brazil has never won a world title, and we all want is to make our country proud and finally bring it home.”
Traditional surfing powerhouses like Australia, South Africa and the United States best be warned, the Brazilians are indeed coming — and they’re hungry.
“There’s more kids coming up too,” says Muniz. “The surfers in Brazil, the ones that are coming up behind us, they’re gnarly. Thanks to Brazilian surf legends Neco and Fabio and guys like that, there’s a tradition now, and that’s something that we’re all developing together.”
Originally published Nov 10, 2011 at http://www.espn.com
