| Monday, 28-Aug-2006 17:32 |
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Good on ya, Amiga
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Itacaré`s famous waves just became more so with the arrival of the international Billabong WCT - WOS Girls Pro Itacaré That's right, some of the best female wave riders in the world participated in the biggest surfing event this little town has ever seen. Tiririca Beach is not exactly a well-kept secret among surfers anymore and Billabong is no longer a "Mom and Pop outfit" hidden in some Australian garage so I guess the two were bound to meet. Kudus to both the organization and the participants. I think the operative word here is "pro" and I sure hope our civic leaders were taking notes.
When you first meet people around Itacaré whether residents or visitors, one inevitable question will come up, "Pega onda?", 'Do you take a wave?' I always drop my head in shame and admit that although I'm from California, I've never even tried the sport. No one's terribly shocked but the follow-up question is usually, "California, eh? Ever been to Hawaii?" When I answer truthfully that I've been there about a half a dozen times, THAT causes surfers to shake their heads in disbelief that I've never 'taken a wave.' After all Hawaiians invented the "Sport of Kings." Brazilians have a well-known phrase for a lack of knowledge or interest in a subject; they say, "Não é minha praia," 'It's not my beach,' and when I use that as a comeback, I usually win a few smiles.
My dictionary defines 'surfboard' as "A board used in the sport of riding toward shore on the surf." Sounds simple enough but they don't mention a word about how these young women assault a wave and sustain the attack until there is nothing left but a few inches of foam. That same dictionary weighs several pounds but nowhere in there could I find, 'hang loose' or 'hang ten.' And what the hell is a 'goofy footer?' Goofy himself probably couldn't answer that. The girls I saw in this event, (Yes, I think it's 'politically acceptable' to call them 'girls'.) came from The U.S. (funny how they consider Hawaii an independent country), South America, Europe, South Africa and Australia to compete for cash prizes, international rankings and a heavy dose of pride and joy. It's a competition of individual effort but to see them hanging out together on terra firma you'd think they're all on the same team because there's so much comraderie. I guess the real adversary in this sport is the ocean itself. There was plenty of Bahian sunshine at Tiririca Beach but unfortunately the surf was weak and uneven during the four days of competition and the girls had to impress the judges with style and finesse rather than power and velocity. On the first day I spoke to some Australians (heavy favorites) having lunch and having fun at the "Mahalo Restaurant" and I was impressed by their light mood and good attitude; 180˚ opposite the mentality of locker room jocks. The following day I met Maria "Tita" Tavares, one of two Brazilians in the competiton and favored by our local surfers. She was incredibly relaxed and self confident. (Also very kind and patient with yours truly trying to get a photo and ask a few questions with my 'funny accent'.) Sad to report that Hawaiian surfers were eliminated early and on the third day, quarter finals eliminated my personal favorite, Julia Christian, from California of course. When I met her later in the afternoon she walked with poise and wore a warm smile. There was not a hint of sour grapes anywhere among the surfers already eliminated and I thought to myself, "These are the real champions."
Unable to attend the final round I did get an emotional account of events from a co-worker, an avid "surfer girl." She and her closest friends live and breathe with the tides and moon. I like to call their little group, "A mulherada da onda," 'Womanhood of the wave'. In fact one of them wanted to enter "Girls Pro Itacaré" but wasn't allowed to because she is already 3-time Bahia State Champion.
For the record the final results are as follows:
Silvana Lima from Ceará, Brazil finished 3rd with Chelsea Georgeson from Australia. 20 year-old Australian, Jessi Miley-Dyer who eliminated my girl from California finished 2nd AND to no one's surprise, the event dominated by Australians was won by an Australian veteran, 38 year-old Layne Beachly, 6-time champion. By nearly all accounts, people say she deserved it. Me; I'm just a goofy, bow-legged, gringo/haoli who thinks that sex wax is a marital aid but even I could see her potential in earlier rounds. Good on ya!
One last word of praise to all the visitors who came to Itacaré during this past week; Thanks for showing so much respect for the ocean, the earth, the town and its people. "Volte sempre."
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