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Brazilian surfing boasts a rich history marked by passion, perseverance, and global dominance. Though its roots trace back to Hawaii, Brazil has cultivated one of the sport's most fervent fan bases. From its humble beginnings on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazilian surfing has evolved into a global leader.
Introduced in the 1930s by pioneers inspired by Hawaiian surfing, the sport gained traction in the 1960s and 70s with local competitions and surf associations. Iconic beaches like Arpoador, Ipanema, Guarujá and Maresias became hubs for surfers, fostering a community that embraced nature, music, and a free-spirited lifestyle.
Brazilian surfers began competing internationally in the 1970s, led by Rico de Souza, Pepê Lopes and Daniel Friedmann, but they faced many challenges, travelling was expensive and strong sponsors were not available at the time. The 1990s marked a turning point with surfers like Teco Padaratz achieving notable victories. The 2010s witnessed the "Brazilian Storm," a generation of surfers including Gabriel Medina, Adriano de Souza, Italo Ferreira and Filipe Toledo, who dominated the World Surf League (WSL) and solidified Brazil's status as a surfing powerhouse.
Today, Brazilian surfing continues to thrive, with both men and women making significant contributions. Male surfers like Medina, three times a world champion and a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, Toledo, a two-time world champ, and Ítalo Ferreira both WSL champion (2019) and Olympic Gold Medalist (Tokyo), maintain a strong presence on the world stage. Meanwhile, female surfers like Tatiana Weston-Webb who just won the silver medal in Tahiti, and Maya Gabeira, a former world record holder and giant wave rider, are at the sport’s forefront. With increased support and a growing talent pool, the future of Brazilian surfing looks promising.
Photo: Reproduction Instagram/Time Brasil
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