Vitor Oliveira

Tom Morey was one of the most fervorous supporters of the concept of "surfers united." The legendary surfboard shaper, inventor, philosopher, surfer, and father of the modern boogie board believed surfers, bodyboarders, kneeboarders, and all wave-riding enthusiasts were surfers. No matter what you're riding on a wave, ultimately, you're a surfer. Morey, an accomplished stand-up surfboard rider of his time, created an alternative craft that allowed people to glide down a wave with their eyes closer to the water and more in touch with the sense of speed. He had no prejudice toward any watercraft. If you could ride it and you were having fun, that was all that mattered. Tom Morey , founder of Morey Boogie, introduced the Mach 7-X, a best-selling model , in 1991. The board would become one of the riders' favorite vehicles and can still be seen in the lineups today. The Bodyboard Turned Surfboard In 2011, inspired by his fond childhood memories on a Morey Boo...

Nike has returned to professional surfing. The American athletic footwear and apparel company signed Italo Ferreira. The story of Nike in competitive pro surfing is turbulent. It all started in 1990 with Nike Aqua Gear, a segment that targeted surfers and volleyball players, with the support of Laird Hamilton . The project lasted only two years. In 2002, the large conglomerate multinational bought Hurley International, a surf brand founded by Bob Hurley, which at the time had sales of $70 million. The decision surprised some people in the industry, but for Bob, it was part of the natural process. "It was easy. It felt like destiny. I don't mean to sound glib, but it just seemed like it was meant to happen. We just always loved Nike," Hurley told the OC Register in 2013. "We grew really fast within three years. Then, we started needing capital. Should we take the company public, or should we get a partner?" "I didn't want to take the company pub...

If you've ever felt a buzzing sensation under your feet or heard a faint hum while carving a wave, your surfboard fins are likely the source. Let's break down why fins hum and how to fix it - no physics degree required. Surfboard fins hum for the same reason a flag flutters in the wind: turbulence. They both fit into the science of fluid dynamics (hydrodynamics and aerodynamics). The mysterious noise isn't a sign of danger, but it does reveal how water interacts with your gear. As water flows around a fin, pressure builds on one side and drops on the other. When these uneven pressures collide at the fin's trailing edge, they create swirling vortices - like tiny underwater tornadoes. These vortices tug and push the fin, causing it to vibrate. The vibration sends out sound waves, which you hear as a hum. The hum gets louder during fast turns or steep drops because the water moves faster, creating stronger pressure differences. In other words, the faster you surf, ...

If you're giving surfing a go for the first time or aiming to improve your confidence and improve your intermediate skills, wave pools are a fun alternative to the ocean. The controlled environment eliminates many of the challenges of open-water surfing and provides the right environment to focus on technique and consolidate previously learned basics. There's even a growing number of experienced surfers refining their aerial and tube-riding game in these transparent water basins. The silent inland freshwater surfing revolution is here to stay and may very well duplicate the number of worldwide surfers in a couple of decades. Although it can be different to ride an artificial wave , the feeling will always be the same. And the ocean will always be there for you. Here are some of the coolest advantages and benefits of wave pools: 1. No Getting Swept Away In the ocean, strong currents can carry you far from your lineup. In a wave pool, you stay in a confined area, so you...

Getting barreled is probably surfing's ultimate thrill. Finding shelter in the "green room" is usually a short yet intense experience. But how can you know that a wave is going to barrel? Tube riding is an art that takes time and practice to perfect. The more times you pull in, the faster you'll get shacked . If you live in a tubular wave region, the chances you'll find yourself inside these blue, fast-moving liquid cylinders more often than anyone else are higher. For the less fortunate surfer who only rarely witnesses tube conditions, it's harder to spot the wave that will form a rideable hollow section. Identifying a wave with the potential to barrel is a skill similar to reading waves as they appear on the horizon and march toward the lineup. Surfers getting barreled on an almost daily basis will know when and on which waves to go for the golden moment: riding inside the hollow, curling section of water as it throws over. However, identifying a wav...

Maya Gabeira announced her retirement from professional surfing and big wave riding. The 37-year-old goofy-footer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, decided to hand her leash after 20 years of pursuing her dream. "I am finally ready to step away from professional surfing and big wave surfing and find something else. I have fulfilled my purpose," expressed Gabeira. "When I started this life, it was unthinkable for a woman to compete with men, for a woman to surf the biggest wave of the year among men and women, for Nazaré to exist, for world records for women to exist." Maya Gabeira rode her first waves in 2003 at Arpoador Beach in Rio de Janeiro. She was 14. Three years later, the Brazilian moved to Hawaii and started working as a restaurant waitress. Gabeira rode her first big wave - a 35-foot wall of saltwater - on February 6, 2006, at Waimea Bay. From that moment on, the goofy-footer went on to win five Big Wave Awards (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012) and a ...

The era of subjectivity in scoring sports performances might be coming to an end. Artificial intelligence (AI) as an action sports judging system is making its debut at the 2025 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. The bold trial will be tested unofficially in the snowboard SuperPipe competitions using an AI tool developed in partnership with Google Cloud. While human judges will continue to make the official decisions, the AI system will offer scores and analysis visible to commentators and TV audiences. The interface uses video cameras to capture each athlete's run and analyzes every flip, spin, and landing in detail, generating a score based on a sophisticated understanding of snowboarding techniques. Jeremy Bloom, the CEO of X Games and a former professional athlete, called the AI system a potential "superpower" for judges. "Sometimes humans make mistakes, and that's not to say the AI won't too, especially in its early form, but our goal is to give th...

John John Florence, Stephanie Gilmore, and Gabriel Medina announced they won't compete on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). In other words, three former world surfing champions revealed they will take a year off to focus on their several interests and personal issues. Florence, Gilmore, and Medina have a combined total of 14 world titles. They are some of the biggest stars and assets WSL has to capture audiences and sponsors and make competitive surfing a profitable business. Their contribution to the growth and popularity of the sport is undeniable, and their charisma kept millions of people glued to their screens during events for more than a decade. But the decision to temporarily step away from heats leaves an unfillable hole in the heart of pro surfing. Gilmore: "Focus on Injuries and Adventures" In Stephanie's case, 2025 will be her second consecutive season without putting a jersey on. "After careful consideration, I've ...

The last time a human being set foot on the Moon was in 1972. That same year, Snoopy got seriously barreled in a double overhead wave. The 1972 animated classic "Snoopy, Come Home" opens with a sunny, beachside adventure featuring Snoopy showing off his surfing skills in a fun, action-packed sequence. Right from the start, viewers are treated to Snoopy's playful and daring spirit as he tackles the waves with style and confidence. The beautifully executed animation truly mimics the flow and dancing movement that best characterizes surfing. The scene, though, begins with Charlie Brown and Linus at the beach, building sandcastles. Linus proudly shows off his intricate creation, but all attention soon turns to Snoopy. Snoopy, the Tube Rider Clad in his trusty red boardshorts, the iconic beagle grabs his yellow surfboard with a red stringer and paddles out to ride some towering double-overhead waves. What follows is a showcase of Snoopy's incredible surfing prowe...

The last time a human being set foot on the Moon was in 1972. That same year, Snoopy got seriously barreled in a double overhead wave. The 1972 animated classic "Snoopy, Come Home" opens with a sunny, beachside adventure featuring Snoopy showing off his surfing skills in a fun, action-packed sequence. Right from the start, viewers are treated to Snoopy's playful and daring spirit as he tackles the waves with style and confidence. The beautifully executed animation truly mimics the flow and dancing movement that best characterizes surfing. The scene, though, begins with Charlie Brown and Linus at the beach, building sandcastles. Linus proudly shows off his intricate creation, but all attention soon turns to Snoopy. Snoopy, the Tube Rider Clad in his trusty red boardshorts, the iconic beagle grabs his yellow surfboard with a red stringer and paddles out to ride some towering double-overhead waves. What follows is a showcase of Snoopy's incredible surfing prowe...

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta, has taken his love for water sports to new wave heights. Known for his passion for wake surfing on freshwater lakes, Zuckerberg recently posted a video showcasing his hydrofoiling skills on ocean waves. The American businessman's first public appearance as a water sports enthusiast took place in 2019 when he shared a few shots taken while trying wakeboarding with a foil board. Then, he progressed to an e-foil surfboard in the unforgettable 2020 sunscreen session. On July 4, 2021, Mark Zuckerberg rode another hydrofoil while flying the American flag to the sound of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." In 2022, the social media mogul released footage of him and his friends wakesurfing in Lake Tahoe. In 2024, also on Independence Day, Mark went wakesurfing while wearing a tuxedo, flying the American flag, and drinking a beer. Raising the Bar This time, at 40 years old, Zuckerberg shared a video o...

In the midst of the destruction caused by the 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire, one image has emerged as an unexpected source of hope and wonder: a bright blue 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 van named "Azul." It could've been a bike, a surfboard, a love letter, or any other gentle item. Against all odds, a beautiful blue and white van remained intact while the surrounding neighborhood near the Getty Villa was reduced to ash and rubble. Azul's survival, captured in a viral photograph by Associated Press photographer Mark J. Terrill, stunned millions and provided a moment of light during a dark time. Is this the sign Los Angeles needs to rise like a phoenix? A Surf Van with a History The story of Azul began years before the fire. Preston Martin, 24, a mechanical engineering student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, bought the van during his junior year. What started as an impulsive purchase turned into a meaningful project. Martin transformed the van into his...

Waxing the tops of your feet may seem unconventional, but it's a trick that's gaining traction among surfers looking to tackle an old problem. Here's why. For surfers, staying reasonably glued to the board is everything. Slippery feet can make the difference between catching the perfect early wave and an embarrassing wipeout. While many surfers focus on waxing just their boards and traction pads, a lesser-known trick could change things: waxing the tops of your feet. Yes, it may sound strange, but this simple hack might give you the edge you need in the water, especially in the first minutes of your session. The Problem: Slippery Soles Surfing often begins with a trek across wet sand, rocks, or cobblestones. This unavoidable walk can leave the soles of your feet slick, making your first wave harder to stick. Many surfers find that their feet don't achieve the perfect grip until they've ridden a few waves. Do you feel the same? That's where waxing the t...

Alan Green, the co-founder of Quiksilver, passed away peacefully at his Melbourne home at 77 after a short battle with multiple forms of cancer. He was one of the highly regarded figures in the surf industry. "Love you, Greeny. You were one of a kind and a great friend and mentor for so many. I'll miss you forever," wrote Kelly Slater , who was sponsored by Quiksilver for 24 years (1990-2014). Alan "Greeny" Green was born in 1947 in Pascoe Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He started surfing in 1960 and grew up far from the coast but would hitch rides or travel 90 minutes to Torquay to ride waves. Began making wetsuits in 1968 with Rip Curl co-founders Doug "Claw" Warbrick and Brian Singer in a rented holiday house in Torquay. One year later, with a $2,500 loan from his father, he co-founded Quiksilver with Victorian surfing champion John Law, focusing initially on designing functional boardshorts. The duo introduced a Velcro fly, metal pre...

It's a sign of the times for the whole surf industry. After 25 years as a fixture on Pacific Avenue, the flagship O'Neill Surf Shop in downtown Santa Cruz, California, has closed its doors for good. The iconic store, known for its rich display and offer of surfboards, wetsuits, and surfwear, shut down on January 14, 2025. While the downtown shop is gone, O'Neill continues to operate four other locations in Santa Cruz County. The closure marks the end of an era for a store that became synonymous with Santa Cruz's surf culture. Jack O'Neill, the late surfing legend and wetsuit pioneer , opened the brand's first shop in 1952 in San Francisco before moving to Santa Cruz. The Cooper Street/Pacific Avenue location, part of the city's Cooper House building, was a central hub for surfers and visitors alike. Sadly, all Steamer Lane locals will now have to find alternatives to get their gear and apparel supplies. Shifting Retail Challenges The store's ge...

Koa Rothman claimed the 2025 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout in Memory of the Duke at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu. The prestigious invitational Pipe event winners have been announced after six rounds of beautiful surfing, which began on January 4 and concluded ten days later. For the 2025 edition of this unique surfing competition, a total of eight teams paddled out in gorgeous Pipe and Backdoor conditions: 96712: Makua Rothman (captain), Koa Rothman, Ivan Florence, Nathan Florence, and Jose Angel; Japan: Kawika Stant (captain), Shinpei Horiguchi, Riaru Ito, Riku Matsumoto, Shogo Harada, and Shohei Kato; New Earth Project: Peter King (captain), Kelly Slater, Bethany Hamilton, Kai Lenny, Koa Smith, Kaulana Apo, Luke Tema (alternate), and Hayden Pacarro (alternate); North Shore Boys (NSB): Billy Kemper (captain), Barron Mamiya, Billy Kemper, Kala Grace, Eli Olson, and Jamie O'Brien; NSSS Ohana: Coral Chandler (captain), Eala Stewart, Makai McNamara, Landon McNa...

Surfers can be the best at self-criticism while simultaneously funny and controversial. One of the reasons why surf culture is such a vibrant and diverse universe of thoughts, behaviors, and opinions is because we're talking about something that is way beyond the boundaries of the definition of sport. Surfing expands its sphere of influence off the ocean water - sometimes just into the parking lot and, in some cases, into downtown bar chats. Gladly, everyone who surfs has a unique view of wave riding and its performers. They range from humorously self-aware to cuttingly critical and provide a deep dive into the nuances of the surf community. Here's a curated selection of the funniest, sharpest, and most unpopular and relatable takes on the surfing world found in online forums. Take a deep breath and prepare for a pinch of humor, saltiness, and brutally honest observations. 1. Surfer Personality and Behavior "All surfers would do well to go to a skatepark, not to i...