Watch: Brazilians on Tour // Margaret River

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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Mate of mine was a QS warrior through the nineties. Saved money to fund his yearly campaigns where he'd release his inner mongrel and scrap to the bitter end of every heat.

These days he's the father of a rising junior and a few years back he relayed a story from the Aussie leg. How on the morning of an East Coast contest he rose early to surf the contest bank and all he heard was Portuguese being spoken throughout the lineup. Later, he dried off and got something to eat noting the young Aussies, head in phones, lounging in the cafe, the contrast in desire laid bare.

A lot of people have questioned Australia's dwindling success on the Men's CT, and there's no obvious answer. More likely, it's a convergence of many factors, social and cultural.

While Aussie surf fans wring their hands, it's worth observing what works for the Brazilians - who currently dominate Men's pro surfing and wil do so for years to come.

In this vid - which appears to be a Brazo verison of Tour Notes - we see all of the Brazilian CT contingent hanging as one unit. The first half is simple surf checks, life on the road etc., but the second half is where the support for each other is revealed. Even Gabriel, who often comes across as cold as a White Shark, is seen celebrating the success of his countrymen.

Comments

loofy's picture
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loofy Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 4:07pm

Filipe's got that cross eye'd, inbred isis fighter look about him.

billie's picture
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billie Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 7:10pm

That's fucken racist rude bulllshit

Blowin's picture
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Blowin Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 4:41am

Now you’re not allowed to offend Isis fighters who’d cut your head off for not believing their chosen religion.

Classic

billie's picture
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billie Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 9:00pm

I said it is rude to describe a surfer; anyone, as "cross eye'd, inbred isis fighter look about him". I didn't refer to offending an Isis fighter. You can see that Blowin. Read it again.

But regardless, why are Isis fighters Isis fighters? Hardcore bastards. Beyond the shitty journalism we read about them, something pretty hardcore must be driving their behaviour. I don't know, but I'd like to.

loofy's picture
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loofy Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 12:41pm

Since when is being cross eyed and having a bumfluffy beard a race?

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billie Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 9:14pm

In my judgement, the fact that the only thing you have to say after that video is a hugely derogatory comparison of dark skinned Brazillian (Filipe's) appearence, to a terrorist fighter of another dark skinned race; it was obviously inherently racist.

loofy's picture
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loofy Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 1:11pm

Jesus christ, clutching at straws aren't you? Filipe and arabs "dark skinned", drawing a long bow there.
Was my comment offensive and rude, yes. Was it "obviously inherently racist." - no fccckn way.

billie's picture
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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 12:41pm

If we were privy to the content of a Brazillian surf forum where a Cooly kid video special was aired, and the first comment was "Parko looks like a big nosed Frenchman", or, "Fanning looks like a Pommy Football scummy chav" would that be considered racist? By me, yes. Not by you? Do people have to be dark black skinned to be victims in your judgement?

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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 12:41pm

And no, I'm not clutching at straws. It looks crystal clear from here. Perhaps your racism or bigotry is so ingrained and subtle you lack awareness?

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goofyfoot Friday, 28 May 2021 at 2:04pm

Anything to get your social justice warrior level up eh Billie you painful person

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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 5:38pm

That doesn’t feel fair or nice goofy foot. Obviously I am not going to back down on what I consider an unnecessary rude and racist comment, and I won’t back down because ultimately I’m correct. I am not a social justice warrior but I don’t think it is fair or nice to be that rude to such an amazing surfer, just because he is brown skinned Brazillian low fruit for the old school Aussie undertones of Racism.

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AndyM Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 1:34pm

“ That doesn’t feel fair”

Thanks for the laugh Billie.

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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 5:45pm

And if you think I’m a painful person, have a go at being the recipient of the subtle Aussie racism and see what it feels like. It’s painful. Really fucken painful. Maybe the pain I make you feel is the pain of truth. I offer that it hurts for you to have your racism exposed by me. Yes, I’m painful, talk in a racist manner to me and I’ll make you pay for it. In the surf or on this forum. Say something worthy of an argument rather than a stab at my personality, I look forward to it.

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goofyfoot Friday, 28 May 2021 at 6:18pm

You’re painful because you twist what was obviously not a racist comment into something much bigger than it needs to be to suit your narrative. fuck off Billie.
You’re defending isis fighters lol

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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 6:30pm

Where's that argument I asked for? Something vaguely intellectual and weighted.

I'll say it again because like year 11 algebra the concept is not obvious to some. It IS a racist comment. And even if the racist component is removed, it is a very RUDE and UNNECESSARY comment. And if Filipe, proud, happy and checking the comments after putting his children to bed, were to read this comment we speak of, he would be offended and upset.

"than it needs to be to suit your narrative"
What is my narrative? That I argue for a deeper understanding? Am I blowing something up to suit that part of me? Nope. Just not going to back down to what is right.

"fuck off Billie."

You wouldn't say that if I was standing in front of you. To say that behind the safety of a keyboard is troll behaviour. I offer that you stay, but that troll behaviour "fucks off".

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goofyfoot Friday, 28 May 2021 at 6:47pm

So it’s a racist comment with the racist component removed? Okayyyy.
Have a good weekend billie, I’m done

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stunet Friday, 28 May 2021 at 6:49pm

"fuck off Billie."

You wouldn't say that if I was standing in front of you. To say that behind the safety of a keyboard is troll behaviour. I offer that you stay, but that troll behaviour "fucks off".

I reckon the sentiment is exactly the same but in fewer words.

Some people don't like typing you know

billie's picture
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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 7:20pm

I think I know what you mean.

I don't think I am asking too much. An adult conversation or even argument, debate. I love this site for the adult interaction. If people want to say things on here, especially caustic, derogatory things, I think it is fair for me to ask for some adult, well reasoned engagement. I'm a year ten drop out, I bought my first computer last year. I don't like typing. I do want to engage on a deeper adult level than the participants of this particular thread of this forum, and that's ok. I don't want to be told to fuck off. That's ok too. I think that is reducing the arguments to yobbo "fuck you" "no, FUCK YOU!" patterns. It only ever results in a fight.

I see no one else wants to engage here in a serious debate. That's ok. A wasted opportunity in my opinion.

I do hope we can do better than to compare fine humans to inbred warriors of an enemy to our country. I'll keep typing till I exhaust your seemingly small mental stamina, as difficult as I also find it.

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Surfalot67 Friday, 28 May 2021 at 7:22pm

Fuck off lol

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stunet Friday, 28 May 2021 at 7:28pm

You know, sometimes people just like being irreverent, and that might include giving stick to "fine humans".

It doesn't mean they're being iconoclasts. It doesn't mean they're being disrespectful. They're simply indulging in dark or ironic humour, something that has a very long tradition, though it's become endangered in the age of offence.

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Surfalot67 Friday, 28 May 2021 at 7:40pm

Thank you Stu. The virtue signaling is exhausting

billie's picture
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billie Friday, 28 May 2021 at 8:00pm

He did make good sense. I agree. I'm debating though, not virtue signalling. Big difference. I feel misunderstood. Cheers

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mattlock Friday, 28 May 2021 at 9:25pm

It was just a bad joke Billie.
I don't think there is any need to take offence to it.
I hate typing too.

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Blowin Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 11:54am

The offensiveness of the comment runs even deeper than we’ve discussed. Imagine how traumatised an upstanding Isis fighter would feel being likened to a Christian pro surfer?

It’d be enough to turn him off beheading infidels and throwing homosexuals off rooftops for a few hours.

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loofy Monday, 31 May 2021 at 1:42pm

It wasn't a bad joke it was a good joke.

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Jono Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 4:14pm

12.40 Medina and Toledo doing the cha-cha - good work. Looks like they're having fun. Most winning teams have a good culture going on.

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megzee Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 4:34pm

Ahhhh. but who can forget this gem....
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/12/20/gabriel-medin......
Outside the WSL 30 minute surfing cycle, Aussies are amongst the most stylish and individual surfers in the world......plus they know to let the tyres down when you get bogged....

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simba Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 5:09pm

well i recon the brazzos are good value and bring a lot of passion and colour to a pretty ordinary scene a lot of the time ...be pretty boring without them and between them and jjf have lifted the standard up sorta like slater did years ago....what seemed impossible is being taken head on and the rest of the world including australia better take heed....There great for the sport imo and theres some real characters amongst them ....but i hope they all dont get veneers on their teeth.

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Redmond Clement Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 6:11pm

Good on them and well deserved.

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billie Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 7:16pm

I have said it many times before, but it seems relevant here. The Aussie grommets are spoilt. Spoilt from an early age. Every local board riders "great hope" of representing their little beach break on the world stage. Every surfing fathers great hope of being a world champion, rare talent. Every coaches hope of being the talent they fostered. Spoilt and over coached too young. They are pests on the crowded peak and become pests once their talent is never realised. Those Brazzos have MONGREL! They NEED it!

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geek Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 7:35pm

Not wrong, thank fark for Morgz and Ryan.

Didn’t understand a word of the vid but it’s really entertaining

goofyfoot's picture
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goofyfoot Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 8:27pm

As above, I’m all for it. They are incredible surfers and I think the old Brazilian horrible style stereotype has gone out the door with the current crop. Mig Pupo doesn’t have the contest results but he’s an amazing surfer to with a sick smooth style.
Good to see the passion and flair they bring to the tour.

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goofyfoot Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 8:29pm

And Medina seems like such a better dude now than in years past

Surfalot67's picture
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Surfalot67 Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 12:51pm

Certainly seems more human without Charlie the Stepflog yelling burn him from the beach

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Bob Sacamano Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 8:40pm

In Brazil football is often a ticket out of the favela. They scrap their way out of there and becomes the worlds best. In my opinion this “mongrel” spirit is now appearing in surfing.

I’m sure we’ll get a wave pool and an iPhone app for our youngsters to compete though.

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hamishbro Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 10:28pm

Haven’t watched the video yet but have some instant thoughts and comments on this. Aussies were the up and comers in the 60s and 70s and by the end of that decade we ruled the surfing world in many respects, the shortboard revolution took flight here and we were responsible for replacing the aloha and California spirit with something more both mongrel, more ambitious, progressive and innovative at the same time. This led to all the success of the 80s and beyond. The thing is, the Brazilians are exactly that now. They don’t have the waves we have, but they have the hunger, the mongrel, the dedication to take it to the next level. And they come to Australia in hordes to make sure they conquer some of our best waves. And that’s really what counts. As a nation, Australia has grown fat and content from its surfing success and excess and it’s a minority of families these days who are into competitive surfing in a big way. It seems like in Brazil, they still worship competitive surfing because they are on the ascent, so it’s exciting and pioneering for them. Also, and this has been said many times, a coastal surfing lifestyle in Australia where you can ride to the beach and surf every day after school is increasingly out of reach for most Aussie families who can’t afford to buy a house within coo-ee of the coast. The pool is much less and those in it are increasingly pretty entitled, I would say. By the way I don’t even care for competitive surfing, but I find this really interesting from a historical/cultural/anthropological perspective. It gives insight in where Australia is at now and I can’t help but seeing the past in some rose coloured glasses.
We’re richer now but poorer for it in many ways.
Or maybe we are still pioneering things? Just that pioneering now is more (T) Martin and less Medina.

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billie Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 9:03pm

That felt well expressed. I feel like you said very clearly what I felt. Thanks.

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hamishbro Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 10:56am

Thanks Billie.

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frog Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 7:55am

Well, just look at Jack Freestone's results and facial expressions over this year for a hint of what the pro surfing gig can be for even talented surfers. Looks hugely frustrating. Sometimes even the ocean seems to have it in for them. What next? Modelling for K mart undy ads? A few get set for life. The rest can realise how crap "former pro surfer" looks in a resume. Be careful what you wish for surfing Dad's and groms.

The Brazzos though are just excited to be out of Brazil and finally surfing waves that actually peel along points and reefs! No downside for them.

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stunet Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 8:20am

Agree with a few things written above, and like Hamishbro when it comes to questioning the situation I'm driven by broader curiousity, what it says about Australia as a whole, and how the country is tracking.

Few things to note:

Not all Brazilians are driven by a desire to escape poverty or the favelas. For every story such as Adriano's or Italo's, there are just as many, if not more, success stories that don't include a Dickensian escape from a wretched childhood. Gabriel Medina, Mig and Sammy Pupo, Felipe, Yago Dora, Tatiana WW, were all raised in relative comfort, their parents able to afford travel from a young age.

Many of the current crop of Brazilians could be considered 'mollycoddled' in that they're second generation surfers recognised early on as prodigies. Leandro Dora was a touring pro, as was Ricardo Toledo, and Fabio Gouveia, while Charlie Medina owned a surf shop and took on his kid stepson as a project when he realised his potential.

I wouldn't discount the effect of EASL on group dynamics. English speaking surfers can travel with almost anyone - for instance Morgan Cibilic and South African Matt McGillivray have been travel partners for a few years - but Brazilians are forced to travel together and rely on each other more. That element of 'having each others back' rises the tide for everyone in the pack. Australia's last bout of success was with Fanning and Parko, who went through the juniors together, who with Dingo formed the Cooly Kids, and with their wider group were the CK7 (Coolly Kids 7). Having that support, especially through the junior years, is crucial, and I doubt any of them would've done as well if they went it alone.

Perhaps more than anything the issue is cultural, in that both America and Australia have mature surfing cultures, which influences pro success in a number of ways:

1) The most obvious is that the average age in the water is far greater here than Brazil. Older surfers 'own' many of the waves and set the social rules that tend to quash youthful exuberance. In the 60s and 70s, a 25-year old surfer was ancient, there were no authority figures and kids set the rules. It was all blue sky for them. Impossible to underestimate the freedom that allows.

2) The raft of 'alternative' craft that now litter the lineups, which distracts from the pure performance ethos that built Australia's success back in the day, and built Brazil's current success. In Australia, there are now many waves to enjoy a wave, which some may see as a good thing, but the victim of this multilateral approach is the success of a singular approach whereby everyone in every lineup is riding similar craft and collectively pushing each other forward, perhaps even unknowingly.

3) The third aspect is partly to do with a mature surfing culture but could also be argued it's simply cultural. Face it, pro surfing is a magical scam. Sure, there's a competitive element, but at its heart it allows surfers the freedom to surf more, and the best of them to get paid for it. Who doesn't want that? Yet in a developed ecomony there are many ways to surf more, to break out of the 9 to 5 rut, and pick when you want to hit the waves. Most of them are more secure than the pro surfing route and have far greater longevity. Hence we see fewer kids embarking on the QS grind, hungry to climb the ranks, and more taking up trades, going to uni, or just living the Life of Riley in the lucky country.

None of the above points even touches on the detrimental effect of the HPC, which is another factor, though best tackled in a separate post.

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Roker Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 3:24pm

Looking forward to the article on the HPC, and by extension SA, if you can get that up. Looks like they are doing pretty well off the tax payer over there. Wouldn't hurt to turn the spotlight their way.

Wonder if they are successfully implementing their strategic pillars? Or whether these strategic pillars are even worth forking out for in the first place?

STRATEGIC PILLARS
SURFING AUSTRALIA
PURPOSE:
A healthier and happier Australia by enriching communities through surfing.
ORGANISATIONAL EXCELLENCE:
We strive to set world standard bench marks in sport management practices, governance
and business excellence.
MISSION:
For Surfing In Australia to maximise its outcomes for the sport and to develop our surfers
at all levels.
VISION:
To be one of Australia’s most loved and viable sports creating authentic heroes and
champions.
VALUES:
RESPECTFUL
We are appreciative of our community, environment and celebrate our surfing history and
culture.
PROGRESSIVE
We embrace change and innovation.
REAL
We live the surfing lifestyle and we share the stoke.

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bluediamond Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 4:23pm

Agree with alot of these points. And it makes me think just how good Taj Burrows was to go toe to toe with possibly the most talented generation of surfers in the sports history, and take multiple event wins, when he had no group pushing him, he came from a cruisy, happy home life (as far as i know) and he had to do it all from the other side of the country, away from all the sponsors, big contests and also had to travel more often than the average Goldy/Sydney based pro.
Also looking forward to a read about the HPC.

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Jono Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 9:07pm

Well somebody was trying to communicate with them a couple of weeks back

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velocityjohnno Monday, 31 May 2021 at 5:35pm

2) the 'alternative' craft robbing the hi-po focus... totally.
Imagine how good we'd be at Rugby Union if there was no AFL footy...

HPC - I am all ears, please do some writing on this. The idea that a dedicated High Performance Centre helps achieve the opposite result of the intention behind it is a show stopper.

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crg Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 12:53pm

It is interesting...I think another good point is what I call the “Indo effect”.
If you live in a glorious place with the worlds best waves and strong cultural family ties you never leave regardless of the mind blowing talent there.
I’d speculate that if Brazil had more perfect waves like Indo, less poverty and crime, not so pronounced would be their spread be across the world.
You can see they love their culture and their families, yet life there appears to have its challenges. And I’m not necessarily talking about the pros...it’s the communities around the world of Brazilian surfers at every surfing mecca.

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savanova Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 6:09pm

There is also the council effect with most pros - keep getting paid regardless of there performance.

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Blowin Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 6:32pm

I reckon it’s none of the above.

More to do with Australians being more easily sated by status. Back in the last century, particularly before Australia hosted the Olympics, we held ourselves to be underdogs on a global stage and this permeated into almost every corner of our national culture, especially sporting achievement. We craved and needed international recognition. Sports people in Australia aimed for the top of the world and weren’t really satisfied with less.

Now Australians have ( mostly ) lost that cultural cringe and the chip on the shoulder which led to determined efforts on the world stage to prove ourselves. Now Australians are more focused on impressing their more immediate peer group. Even national recognition is more than enough status attainment for the most part. Sometimes all it takes is likes on Instagram to stem the desire for recognition.

Look at the 1983 America’s Cup win. Australia lost its shit because we beat the US at.....anything! Even then no one gave a rat’s arse about some niche elite yacht race but suddenly the nation stopped as one cause we were showing the world that we could beat the Americans and that meant we could beat anyone. That meant something- we counted. Do you think anyone in Australia could give two fcks if we were to win another niche sport against the US? Of course not, because now we have the self belief that we can achieve things, the satisfaction has dulled our need to keep proving ourselves. That’s why Australians were punching above our weight in many sports pre 2000.

Like the US in the 80’s , Australia now considers itself a global player, at least culturally. This might not be a genuinely accurate assessment but if that’s how we feel the effect is the same. A dampening of the desperate grasping ambition to prove ourselves amongst the best.

Brazil on the other hand has not much self belief on the world stage and so they’re driven by national pride and desire to prove Brazil is a global player. Give Brazil another few world champions and they’ll be watching the next emerging nation fight for international respect.

At least that’s what I think.

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stunet Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 6:26pm

Valid theory.

Chuck it in the mix.

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Blowin Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 6:35pm

In summation:

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hamishbro Wednesday, 26 May 2021 at 6:54pm

Well put Blowin, the America’s Cup example is a perfect case study. And thanks Stu for your weighty analysis. Totally agree on the maturity of surf culture point / alternative craft etc Also most Aussies probably see through the pro surfing mirage nowadays, whereas back in the foundation days it was a revolutionary thing to come up with and to aspire towards. Cue bustin down the door.

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julioadler Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 2:54am

There's something about the general idea of Brazilians traveling and living in Australia.
So far not one relevant pro surfer was beneficiary of choosing to live abroad (the exception to the rule would be Tati, more Hawaiian than brazilian).
After one established as pro surfer, they do have some advantages but so far not many succeed.
hamishbro and Stu are both rights in many aspects of the brazzo's rise.
And maybe, just maybe, it is that time when a generation is so good that makes others look indolent and unworthy.

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zenagain Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 8:01am

I think the real take out from this is never buy ex-hire cars.

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udo Friday, 28 May 2021 at 5:53pm

Good value for the Brazzos includes Airfare
Don macking swell brewing for Maldives ?

https://www.welcomesurftrips.com.br/maldivas-com-bruno-santos

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Blowin Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 11:57am

To my ear the Brazilian Portuguese always sounds like language being played backwards. When I listen I can’t shake off the feeling that they’re referring to Satan when ordering BBQ.

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Vince Neil Friday, 4 Jun 2021 at 11:28am

No offence, but I just don't we were even half as good as the number of 1980's 'world titles' won by northern beaches kids hassling in onshore slop at Manly beach suggests...

Pro-surfing in 2021, still makes swimming, rowing, and F1 look culturally diverse..

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Blowin Friday, 4 Jun 2021 at 2:41pm

Who honestly gives a fuck if it’s culturally diverse or not? If that’s the lens through which you evaluate everything then you lead a sad existence. It must make you shiver with fury when you visit places that still exist as the same monocultures they’ve been for the last few hundred years. Old issues of National Geographic showing villages consisting exclusively of one race must make you tear your hair out.

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AndyM Friday, 4 Jun 2021 at 4:30pm

Gotta agree with you there Blowin, the whole diversity argument is full of holes and reeks of sanctimony and white guilt.