GET SET FOR A VERY WILD RIDE
THE world’s best surfers head to Brazil this week for the annual Oi Rio Pro.
It is an intriguing event compared with almost all the others on the world championship tour.
The unusual component it offers is that you really don’t know what to expect as far as surf conditions go.
It’s run on beach breaks that can be extremely unpredictable — and importantly they are rarely good quality.
These are the conditions that really suit the Brazilian surfers, and like the last few seasons I’d be surprised to not see Brazilian domination across men’s and women’s events.
On the men’s side, expect defending champion Filipe Toledo to come out firing in these random beach-break conditions.
If it’s wild, close-out type surf the Brazilians are incredibly adept at scoring giant aerial moves.
If it’s small, weak beach breaks, they are just as skilled in making fast moves and again using aerial moves to score big.
It’s what they have grown up surfing and they simply know how to make bad waves look good.
Of all the destinations I surfed throughout my touring years, Brazil was always the hardest place to get a decent result.
It makes you appreciate just how good the surf is in all other destinations and how good the Brazilians are in these types of conditions.
While it might not be great surf it is generally extremely entertaining viewing, with big passionate crowds and creative surfing.
My tips are Toledo in the men’s and Silvanna Lima in the women’s. The event should begin this evening our time.
Four-day surf forecast: Unusual onshore winds and fairly ordinary conditions today and tomorrow, hopefully improving for the weekend. Swells should remain moderate throughout this period and morning conditions should offer some clean reef waves right through to Sunday.