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Carlos Burle |
 The Largest Surfing EncyclopediaA-Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Advertisement
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There's no question that Brazil has become a conveyor belt for contest-savvy, small-wave soldiers. But does the country known as the Sleeping Giant have any surfers who will rise to grandeur in waves of consequence?
That question was answered in February of 1998 when virtual unknown Carlos Burle went to Todos Santos Island off Ensenada, Mexico, with his teammate Rodrigo Resende to compete in the inaugural Reef Big-Wave World Championships. In some of the biggest contest surf ever witnessed, Burle stomped all over a field of big-wave bullies, including Brock Little, Tony Ray, Ross Clarke-Jones and Peter Mel. Burle and Resende also took the team title, sending the Aussie, American and Hawaiian contingents back to the border with ceramic Bart Simpson booby prizes. Although Burle and Brazil's victory was seen by many as a major upset, North Shore observers knew otherwise -- Burle had been charging big surf since 1986; he just needed a chance to do it when the world was watching. Burle was born and raised near the coast in Recife, Pernambuco, in the northeast region of Brazil. His father, who raised chickens for a living, helped his son acquire his first surfboard at age 13. While the rest of the country kicked a ball around in worship of national star Pele, Burle and his friends spent their time in the ocean. When he bailed his post-graduation job placement test for a surf trip to Fernando Noronha (Brazil's version of Hawaii) at age 17, he knew he was committed for life. Inspired by Brazilian big-wave riders Ricardo Bocao and Renan Pitangue, Burle left the chickens and devoted his efforts to the triple-overhead-plus club. Although he found moderate success in regional ASP and local pro events, the true groundwork for his pivotal moment in 1998 was laid at spots like Waimea and Easter Island, where he developed a fearless low-gravity approach to the biggest swells from both ends of the Pacific. Back home, Burle and Team Brazil's win at Todos Santos was received like a World Cup victory -- it was front-page headlines throughout the country, and Burle made numerous appearances on TV and radio talk shows. But while his country embraced him, the surf world at large received his triumph with little more than raised eyebrows. When his name was conspicuously absent from the invitee lists from both the Eddie Aikau and Maverick's events the following year, Burle publicly criticized the near-sightedness of the surfing establishment. "I was really disappointed that I wasn't invited -- it ruined my whole season," he later said. "We've proven that guys from other countries can ride big waves, too, so why don't these people realize that by including surfers from other countries, so many more people get involved? It just doesn't make sense." By the winter of 1999-'00, however, Burle got the recognition he deserved. As the only Brazilian on the Eddie Aikau invitee list and an alternate for the Quiksilver Men Who Ride Mountains, a recharged Burle was in the thick of it for a handful of big-wave sessions during the sporadic turn-of-the-century winter. Although the Eddie didn't go and all invitees showed for the Maverick's event, Burle bounced back between the North Shore and Half Moon Bay and got his first taste of the West Coast's nastiest wave. "Rodrigo and I had a couple of good bombs and a few good wipeouts," said Burle. "Maverick's is definitely the heaviest wave I've surfed so far." Burle continues his ongoing pursuit to sharpen his skills in the 20-foot-plus realm in preparation for future big-wave events. And as he continues to go bigger, the reputation of his homeland will grow along with him. -- Evan Slater, October 2000
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