Brazil Natal the City that Surfs...for Fun

World Surf League June 21 Facebook Rush hour -Willie Kessel Photography

Brazilian surf athletes are on the rise. As they go pro and take over the rankings they are praised internationally. The World Surf League WSL called this Brazilian Riders Phenomenon “the Brazilian Storm”. Three of the top 9 Elite Men Surfers of the WSL are from Brazil and even more are surging in the Qualifying Events and other categories including Women Surf Elites. The pattern of this rise has given birth to many questions. 

On July 27 WSL communicated from the Vans US Open of Surfing. WSL assures that the best in the World “teared up to the storied break at Huntington Beach”. 

Men's Elite top athletes kicked open the event known as Surf City shaking up the rankings. Brazilian star riders taking over the news included Italo Ferreira,  Jeep Leaderboard Adriano de Souza, Silvana Lima at Women Elite, Willian Cardoso, Alejo Muniz, Adriano de Souza, Filipe Toledo and others. 

But back home, throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Coast from North to South the local surf culture also continued its pulse. 

Brazil Natal is not only know for homing the Hells Barrier (Brazilian Space Agency Rocket Launch Pad) nor only known for rapidly becoming the Brazilian North Coast Hub through the construction of its New Airport and its rapid developing industrial sector but also homes, as many other ocean locations of Brazil the answer to where does the Brazilian Surf Storm come from and why it is forming.

In Natal Brazil -the most African close beaches of Brazil... far from high profile broadcasting cameras, far from international events, far from the pressure, far from sponsors and from the international rankings local surfers surf everyday the local waves…they do it for the fun and kicks. Incredibly some of their tricks have nothing on those televised globally.   

Looking out into the open ocean from Natal Punta Negra-Black Tip Beach one can marvel at remarkable sunsets. The ocean and its vast horizon, its waters sometimes emerald green, the constant break, the shallow mountains that dive into the bay, the sun and the rain, these are views which do attract the eye but there is something else out there which cannot be dismissed by some. As sunset hours set in and work hours come to an end, the mid waters and deep breaks of Punta Negra are filled with surfers. From North to South the entire beach which spans over 1 kilometer becomes populated with riders. Hundreds of them are every day out there. But who are they? They are just local surfers, home based, young, men and women, which until the hours go black into the night surf with the east winds that bring a splending break and a tide that rises and swallow the sands. 

The break in Punta Negra is a double-classic-break with constant waves rising every day varying from 1 to 2 meters near shore and up to 3 meters in the deep. Close to the South rocks where the most talented locals venture another break forms rising up to 3 meters high or more. 

Mostly breeding on Brazilian tourism and lacking much of the international tourists waves of Natal are taken over by Brazilian surfers. 

Influenced by strong East winds which hit the most Eastern open ocean location of Brazil, Natal and surrounding areas are known for boosting the best surf locations of North Brazil. Off, near and on Natal there are several surf hotspots. Beach of the Artists, Beach of Pipa, and more secluded beaches are some of the most well known. 

Natal offers to locals an open to the ocean and an open door to a well installed and operating city. There locals can work during the day and surf in the afternoon and time off. Of course, and if you were to travel there you would see it, Natal like any other large city -now tracking up to almost one million residents has its good and strange locations. From long industrial zones to strange highways in which any GPS can get lost to favelas (local slums) and the infamous and famous BR 101 Route. 

But for the lucky or hard working clever ones who live near the coast of Natal the psychological impacts of surfing or living side by side the Atlantic ocean becomes evident....these guys are just happier than most. Natal local sunset surf youngsters stretch out before taking to their paddle out and as they warm up they know they are in for discreet magic. They surf waves like young skaters skate a city. 

Hidden, secret surf spots and surf travel experiences are still part of the culture despite the much increased audience reached by Surfing Magazines, International Events and Grand Brands. Recent articles ran by Surfer Magazine “The Originals” and “Along for the Ride” as well as the Documentary “Bella Vita” provide testimony that the Spirit which has been hitchhiking and backpacking, travelling generations and decades is still today alive.

"Before smartphones, GPS, and Surfline.com, there were these guys, Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson, and they helped establish nomadic surf travel for what it is today,” Surfer Magazine in the report “The Originals” states. 

"It’s been just over 40 years now since the surf world got its first look at Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson, the lovable dirt-bag explorers who doubled-down on the Endless Summer notion of the “Search for the Perfect Wave”. Like Bruce Brown before them, the two Orange County boys went global, literally and figuratively. The travel articles they produced for SURFER, with Peterson handling the photography and Naughton doing most of the writing, were comic and adventurous, and the surf world debate continues…” the inspiring article goes on. 

In the article “Along for the Ride” fragments of the life of Journalist William Finnegan and his life-long surf obsession are revealed in a similar tone. Bella Vita documentary continues setting a similar pattern. The Lost Soul of Surf Reporting seems to roll back and roll endlessly again. 

Looking out into the views from the Majestic point break of Natal Brazil a sense of that same Spirit seems to be living nearby. It can actually be breathed in along with the salt on the strechted skin and the ocean-humidity set and installed in the air. In these surfs young kids not a day older than 15 take on the same tricks that Top World Athletes take on live for millions in the Vans US Open of Surf. Two Surf Cities...thousands of Surf Cities...not expecting to being discovered, not interested in making a name, with a mind set on different things…

...the waves they break one after the other, after the other...and after the other...and the sun sets down behind the foam.