BARRA B ELEZA 2014 Billabong Rio Pro
BARRA DA TIJUCA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
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PHOTO: C. WILSON
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2014 BILLABONG RIO PRO
PG.
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PG.
012
PG.
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CONTEST OVERVIEW
EARLY ROUNDS
LAY DAYS
201 4 B I LLA B O N G R I O P R O
RN DS 1 -3
FREE SURFS AND FIELD TRIPS
PG.
062
PG.
0 76
PG.
088
GIRLS
LATE ROUNDS
FINAL
STA RT TO F I N I S H
RN DS 4- S EMIS
KOLOH E ANDINO VS M IC H EL BOUREZ
PG.
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WCT RANKINGS A FTER THE EN D OF TH E 2014 BILLABONG RIO PRO
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S U B S C R I B E #7 ISSUE
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“Nice boards. Nice clothes. Well fed. Well
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groomed. Patriotism is a good thing when you’re the underdog. Not so much when you’re the alpha…” From Matt Pruett’s 50
50 YEARS
YEARS OF
OF
“Uh, ‘Merica?” on PG. 64
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2 0 1 4
2 0 1 4
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R E L U C TA N T PAT R I O T I S M / A M E R I C A V S T H E W O R L D / R E D N E C K RETREAT: O U T E R B A N K S / 5 C A P I TA L I Z I N G SURFERS UNDER 25 / COUNTRY MUSIC’S EVAN GEISELMAN / WHY HAWAII DOESN’T COUNT / WHO’S THAT CONNER PARKER KID?
ISSUE
B A C K-T O - B A C K W O R L D WA R C H A M P S
B A C K-T O - B A C K W O R L D W A R C H A M P S
In 1903, the Wright brothers of Dayton, Ohio, completed the first successful hu ma n f l i g ht . I n 2 0 1 4 , t h e C o f f i n brothers carry on that progressive ingenuity. Conner Coffin at Rincon, e m b ra c i n g a n A m e r i c a n p a s t i m e .
JUL
JUL
PHOTO: SETH DE ROULET
R E L U C TA N T PAT R I O T I S M / A M E R I C A V S T H E W O R L D / R E D N E C K RETREAT: O U T E R B A N K S / 5 C A P I T A L I Z I N G SURFERS UNDER 25 / COUNTRY MUSIC’S EVAN GEISELMAN / WHY HAWAII DOESN’T COUNT / WHO’S THAT CONNER PARKER KID?
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# 7 2014
# 7 2014
DIGITA L
SURFINGMAGAZINE.COM 05
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#4 YOU ARE H ERE 2 0 1 4 B I L LA B O N G R I O P R O
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EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief | TAYLOR PAUL Managing Editor | BEAU FLEMISTER Assistant Editor | ZANDER MORTON Photo Editor | PETER TARAS Associate Photo Editor | JIMMY WILSON Art Director | CHATO AGANZA Associate Art Director | NOA EMBERSON Online Editor | BRENDAN BUCKLEY
PHOTOS Corey Wilson Steve Sherman
WORDS Taylor Paul COVER PHOTO: COREY WILSON
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THE BATTLE CONTINUES s u r f i n g m a g a z i n e . c om | #tigervsbear
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BEFORE WE BEGIN... BRA ZIL’S BAD R AP… It’s ironic that such a dusky, dark-haired populace is the red-headed step-child of the surf world. We paint our Brazilian caricatures as loud, aggressive people; and when we think of their waves we picture gutless beachbreaks. Brazil, as we’ve come to know it, is “a grind.” But many WCTers love coming here. For the food: perfectly cooked meat and authentic acai (both cheap). The people: women stunning and everyone welcoming. The beauty of the land and yes, even the waves can be a pleasant surprise.
TR ENDING NOW… Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, is the most popular city in the world at the moment. In less than a month the city will welcome the FIFA World Cup and in two years it will host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Is the River Of January ready for either? No. Soccer stadiums are still being erected. Plans for a lightrail transport system and new airport terminals won’t be finished in time. The International Olympic Committee says Rio’s preparations are the worst it’s seen. But the people in Rio just say “tudo bem” and hit the sand. People can fault politics for the city’s unpreparedness, but we blame it on the weather. On the beach. On the beauty. All the construction workers are just down in Ipanema sipping coconuts and caipirinhas. And why blame them? This place is perfection. Lucky for us, surf contests are held at the beach and the 2014 Billabong Rio Pro hit the ground running on the first day of the waiting period.
PHOTO: C. WILSON 010
THE 2014 BILLABONG RIO PRO LOO KS LIKE …
S O U N D S LI KE …
Three-foot and rippable to six-foot and scary Barra Da Tijuca.
Machine-gun Portuguese. Car horns. Buzzer beaters from
Skyscraping green mountains and mountainous white sky-
Julian, Kolohe and Travis Logie. Erupting crowds. Donovan
scrapers. Rivers. Islands. A sea of surf crazed fans along the
Frankenreiter on the beach. Eddie Vedder at Citibank Hall.
shore. Kelly Slater getting a 10 (only the second of the year).
The squeak of the powder-white sand beneath your feet.
Kelly Slater on stage with Eddie Vedder. Traffic jams. A half-
Grinding Bob Burnquist’s bowl. The crowd booing Kelly.
mile long competition zone. Victory for team Firewire. Small
Humming blades of a drone helicopter. Arcade games.
bikinis on big butts.
Squealing teenage boys and girls hoping for an autograph. “The Girl from Ipanema.”
TAST ES L IKE … Acai, acai, acai — cheap and more ubiquitous than french fries. Cerveja — Brahma, Skol and Antarctica. Caipirinhas. Guarana.
F E E LS LI KE …
Rice. Beans. Meat. Mix it all together and add farofa. Lip gloss.
You’re caught in a rip. Hot days and warm nights. Cool water.
Bitter defeat for so many Brazilians with early-round losses.
Sunburn. Rain. Wind. An earthquake from Dino Andino jump-
Nescafe. Coconuts.
ing up and down when Kolohe made the final. Big hearts after the Waves For Water trip to Jardim Gramacho. Sugary-drink
SMELLS LIKE … An upset — early losses from Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning
hangovers. Sand in your ears. Sand in your hair. Sand in your bed. You might get robbed.
and Joel Parkinson. The jungle. Tequila cleaning supplies. Sunscreen. Sewage. Sweat. Cheap laundry detergent mixed with salt water. Woodfire pizza. The ocean in your sinuses.
THE WORLD TITLE DECK SHUFFLE Remember when we were three contests in and Gabriel Medi- Kelly Slater. Now is when we start the dialogue about Kelly’s na was getting comfy in his No. 1 spot? Well, he’s not there any- “quest for 12.” You’ve got to wonder, though, if Kelly does win more. Travis Logie climbed his stocky little frame up the lad-
another world title, who’s going to make his “KE12Y” victory
der, removed Gabriel from his perch and dusted off a spot for
shirts? Quik already sent theirs to Africa. 011
EARLY RAIN AND SHINE
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ROUNDS
1 -3
Filipe Toledo. PHOTO: SHERMAN
HIGH ON
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RIO While Julian Wilson has had little success in Brazil, he loves it. For the past three years (away from much press) he’s worked with the surf association in Rocinha, a favela just around the corner from Barra Da Tijuca. PHOTO: C. WILSON 015
Well, this looks familiar. Jadson Andre beat Owen Wright and Michel Bourez in his first heat, but fell to Jordy Smith in Round 3. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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WAX ON...
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...WAX OFF
Round-1 winners Nat Young, Kolohe Andino and Joel Parkinson kill time during Round 2. PHOTOS: SHERMAN 019
SOME THINGS ALWAYS CHANGE
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Remember when these two were going event-for-event back in 2011? After his Round-2 loss, Owen Wright now sits 16th in the world, and Kelly Slater doesn’t have any stickers on his board. PHOTOS: C. WILSON 021
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DAVID DID IT
That’s a long walk back to Australia. Mick Fanning makes his way home after his Round-2 loss to wildcard David Do Carmo. PHOTO: SHERMAN 023
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END OF RND 3
Did you know that Bede Durbidge grew up on North Stradbroke Island in Australia? There, you’ll find top-to-bottom barrels not unlike the ones we saw in Rio. In Round 3, Bede [left] embraced the square tubes as kin and ousted Brazilian favorite Filipe Toledo [right]. ACTION: C. WILSON // PORTRAIT: SHERMAN 025
BOOOOO!
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After squeaking out a win against wildcard David Do Carmo, Kelly Slater was jeered by the local crowd. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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8.63 STOMPING AIRS. (AND DREAMS.) Julian Wilson staged a last-minute aerial assault to beat Brett Simpson 15.37 to 15.13 in Round 2. Brett has yet to win a heat this year. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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PHOTOS: SHERMAN 030
UNFAIR WEATHER FANS
PHOTO: SHERMAN 031
RINGLING BROS.
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If the circus has taught us anything, it’s that nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. John John Florence tames a tube fit for a bearded woman during his Round-3 loss to Sebastian Zietz. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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LAY DAYS & FR EE SU RFS C IDA D E MA R AV I L H O SA
PHOTO: C. WILSON
Mitch Crews and Michel Bourez.
Nat Young PHOTOS: C. WILSON 036
OURCADE
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Mythy Crews
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Whethy Simpson
Net Young
Breag Andino
Pauline Ado, Nikki Van Dijk, Tyler Wright. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
THINKING AHEAD Michel Bourez was so confident in his surfing in Brazil, he started practicing for Fiji midway through the event. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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Filipe Toledo, Prainha. PHOTO: C. WILSON 043
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Prainha. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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WE LOVE RIO THIIIS MUCH
PHOTOS: C. WILSON
Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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JARDIM GRAMACHO
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PHOTOS: SHERMAN
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In a garbage-dump community just outside of Rio, Waves For Water and the ASP kick thirst in the groin. PHOTOS: SHERMAN Jon Rose and Alejo Muniz 052
Carissa Moore
Alejo Muniz
Miguel Pupo 053
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PHOTO: SHERMAN
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PHOTO: C. WILSON
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PHOTO: C. WILSON
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PHOTO: C. WILSON
G I R LS FI T FO R A Q U EE N
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ALL
Bianca Buitendag PHOTO: SHERMAN
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SPARK PLUG
PHOTO: SHERMAN
PHOTO: C. WILSON
Silvana Lima spent seven years on tour and was Steph Gilmore’s main competition in her heyday. She just won a 6-star. Her knee is healed. And with her wildcard performance in Brazil, she had the current WCT a bit nervous for 2015.
PHOTO: SHERMAN
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“Jes, iz jus’ like Hossegor.” France’s Pauline Ado embraces familiarity en route to a 5thplace finish. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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While we celebrated Mother’s Day during the 2014 Billabong Rio Pro, there are some jobs a father is uniquely suited for. Michael and Coco Ho. PHOTOS: SHERMAN
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(Bottom left) Last year’s event winner Tyler Wright reached the Semifinals with the aggression, flair and floaters we’ve come to expect from the Aussie, but lost to Sally Fitzgibbons 070
in the Semis. PHOTO: C. WILSON
Nikki Van Dijk [top left] and Lakey Peterson [right] flash some impressive backside talent. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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GOT THAT FUNNY FLAVOR IN MY MOUTH...
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The waves weren’t quite there, but the surfing was. Sally Fitzgibbons tops Finals-mainstay Carissa Moore for her first win of the year. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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...TASTES LIKE TRIUMPH 074
Sally Fitzgibbons, 2014 Billabong Rio Pro Women’s champ. PHOTOS: SHERMAN 075
LATE ROUNDS
4- S E M I S
HIDE -A ND - G O B EAC H B R EAK
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Round 5. First heat. First wave. Kelly Slater, unanimous 10. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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651:
The number of points Taj Burrow needs to overtake Kelly Slater in the world title race. More fun with numbers: 10 to 1 is the ratio of guys to girls in the competitor’s area. PHOTO: SHERMAN
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PHOTO: C. WILSON
HANDY WORK
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Giving a “thumbs up� is common practice in Brazil. Since Sebastian Zietz has three thumbs, his potential for signed enthusiasm rises 50 percent. On an unrelated note, Sebastian finished equal-fifth in the contest. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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Now leading the season, Kelly Slater is carrying the weight of the surfing world on his shoulders. They get sore from time to time. PHOTO: C. WILSON
PHOTO: SHERMAN
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PHOTO: SHERMAN
ANGELIC RISE Dressed in all white like vintage Slater (whom he took out in the Semis), Kolohe Andino rose nine spots in the rankings and now sits comfortably in 12th place. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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Sometimes you talk to God, sometimes you are a god. Adriano De Souza and Gabriel Medina walk the line. PHOTOS: SHERMAN
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DEITIES
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FIN KOLOHE ANDINO
VS
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NAL MICHEL BOUREZ
PHOTOS: SHERMAN
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In the 2014 Billabong Rio Pro, Kolohe Andino surfed loose. He surfed aggressive. He surfed like he belonged — because he does. PHOTOS: C. WILSON
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THE LONG WAY Michel Bourez surfed in every round on his way to his second victory of the season. He sat in the barrel in the final and now sits fourth in the world. PHOTO: C. WILSON
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ALL GOOD. TUDO BEM. TOUT BON. 092
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WCT R A NKI N GS AFTER THE END OF THE 2014 BILLABONG RIO PRO
M EN ’ S 01. 02 . 03. 04 . 05 . 06 . 07. 08 . 09 . 10 . 11. 12 . 13. 14 . 15 . 16 . 16 . 16 .
Ke lly S l ate r Taj B u r row Jo el Pa r k i n s on M ic h e l B ou rez Gab r i e l M e d i n a Ad ria n o D e S ou za Jos h Ke r r M ic k Fa n n i n g N at You n g Jo rd y S mi t h Be de D u r b i d g e Ko loh e A n d i n o Ju lia n Wi l s on M igu e l Pu p o Jo hn J oh n F l ore n ce CJ Ho b g ood Owe n Wr i g h t S eb a st i a n Z i etz
WOME N’ S 1 9. Freddy Patcchia J r. 2 0. Filipe Toledo 2 0. Adam Melling 2 0. Mitch C rews 2 3. Travis Logie 24 . Adrian B uchan 24 . J adson A ndre 2 6. A ritz A ranburu 2 6. D ion Atk inson 2 6. Tiago Pires 2 9. Kai O tton 30. J eremy Flores 30. Matt Wilk inson 30. A lejo Muniz 33. G lenn H all 34 . R aoni Monteiro 34 . B rett Simpson 36. Mitch C oleborn
01. 02. 03. 04 . 05. 06. 0 7. 08. 08. 10. 10. 12. 12. 12. 15. 16. 1 7. 18.
Ca r issa Mo o re Sa lly Fitzg ib b o n s Tyle r Wr ig h t Ste p h a n ie Gilmo re La key P ete rs o n Ma lia Ma n u e l Bia n c a Bu ite n d a g Co u rt n ey Co n lo g u e Co c o Ho La u ra En eve r Dimity Stoyle P a u lin e Ad o Alessa Qu izo n Nikki Va n Dijk P a ig e Ha re b Jo h a n n e Defay Ala n a Bla n c h a rd Tat ia n a Westo n -We b b
BIGGEST JUMPS
BIGGEST SLUMPS
Koloh e An d i n o : 9 places S e ba sti a n Z i etz : 5 places Mic h el B o u rez : 4 places
Kai Otton: M ick Fanning: M iguel Pupo:
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8 p la c es 5 p la c es 5 p la c es
U P N EXT
#4
YO U AR E HER E 2 0 14 BI LLA BON G R I O PR O
#5
NEXT STOP 20 1 4 F I J I P R O ( TAVA R UA , F I J I ) JUNE 1- JUNE 13 095
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