TRIP TO SAQUAREMA- the SURFING point of BRAZIL- 2017 OI RIO PRO - Itaúna Beach, Saquarema, RJ - Brazil by Paulo Piqueres - surfworldtour.blogspot.com
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Introduction
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Porto Alegre -RS - 5:49 am -May 3rd, 2017
Rio de Janeiro -RJ - 8:18 am -May 3rd, 2017
I passed the Christimas time and the New Year's eve, in Rio de Janeiro. I went to Reveillon in Copacabana Beach, for the third time. As in 2014 and 2015 when Gabriel Medina(BRA) and Adriano de Souza(BRA)were World Champions of Surfing respectivelly. The last year 2016, I had no much work, because the media did not release much material about the Final stage in Pipeline, Hawaii.Because the World Circuit had already a Champion since October, when John John Florence(HAW) won in the waves of Portugal, in the 10th stage of the circuit.
So in January I prepared Tributes to 2016 World Champions - Men's -John John Florence(HAW) and Women's - Tyler Wright(AUS), besides a Overview of the 2017 Wild Card -Women's Championship Tour - Lakey Peterson(USA). During this period, the blog had so many accesses, more than 8,000.
I stayed in Rio till the Carnival, this year in the final of February. I would like to stay once, because the previous years I left...
This year the Big Champion of Carnival in Rio was Portela,(blue and white)the favorite "samba school" of my dad that unfortunately passed away in 2005, leaving me an empty...
In beginning of March I went to Porto Alegre, because I had many things to do related to: banks, car, equipment, database server, IPVA, IPTU...Besides prepare my stuff to the next stage in Saquarema, RJ.There were many holydays in April, so I thought about and decided to stay till May in the South, working in thre first three stage in Australia. And also preparing a Tribute to the great surfer, Taj Burrow(AUS), that won the last World Championship in Saquarema, in 2002. Besides an overview of the Tour in Brazil in this period of 15 years, from 2002 to 2017; My first WCt was in 2008 in Imbituba, Santa Catarina, this one in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, was my tenth WCT.I am so pround of my job, last year I quitted for while and missed it a lot...
I bought the airplane ticket to May 2nd, just after the holyday of May first, Day of Labor in Brazil, a week before the contest OI Rio Pro, from May 9th to 20th.
Stay or not in Saquarema
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Before leaving Porto Alegre a nice friend of mine asked me about this "trip" to Saquarema, because I usually traveled a lot in our country, to the coast of RS, SC, and RJ, an to the West of SC, PR, and MS, Federal Capital, Brasília-I have already went there three times when I was working with documents of foreign trade- besides three trips to Overseas, two to the USA, and one to Europe. I answered her that the fist time is usually more difficult because we have no idea, ways, feelings about before, but I had experience, always keep calm, respect the people, the locals, and believe so much in "God". I am kind of lonely guy , I do everything by myself, the posts in the blog and site, prepare Version, Tributes, Overviews, take pictures and now film the events. I am enjoying so much to shoot surfing, it is not easy, but I am improving after three events in Rio de Janeiro: 2016 Oi Rio Pro; Independence Day Parade on September 7th 2016 on Presidente Vargas St snf the Olympic Games, and the last one 2017 OI Rio Pro, in Saquarema, RJ.
I searched the bus schedule from Rio de Janeiro to Saquarema, and from Saquarema to Rio de Janeiro.So I decided to stay in Rio at the hotel and catch the bus of 1001 bus company at 6:05 am and arrived around 8.00 am in Saquarema, And after the contest come back to Rio for doing my work: post the results, the photos, Versions of Newspapers articles about the stage of World Championship. I do this work since 2014 when Gabriel Medina was the first Brazil World Champion. I like prepare Versions, I am still learning, mainly the therms of surfing.
The first day
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I woke up around 4:00 am, shave myself, took a shower, drink some coffee that I prepared with the coffee machine, and ate some fruit as banana, papaya, tangerine. I usually left my "luck" backpack ready with the equipment: Video Camera, two cells phone, batteries, chargers, raincoat, bottle of water. I still do not have a tripod, but I will buy one. At 5:00 am I caught the bus line "355"-Madureira- to the bus station in Gamboa. Then I bought the ticket to Saquarema at 1001 Bus lines, and the Newspaper EXTRA, to prepare the Versions. So I caught the bus of 1001 lines, the same company that I used to go to São Paulo, and then go to Porto Alegre, 1001 bus company is excellent company.Then the bus left the bus station, and crossed the bridge "Presidente Costa e Silva", knows a Bridge Rio-Niterói, with 13 km, builded in 1974. The bus passed through Maricá, Jaconé, and finally arrived in Saquarema. Saquarema reminds me Garopaba in Santa Catarina, where I lived in 2008. Saquarema is definetely a "surfing town" with big waves, beach culture, Itaúna is close to the Church of N.S. Nazaré, a view so beautiful and unforgettable. We arrived in Saquarema before 8:00 am, so I asked for the directions to the beach. It was easier than I thought, just walking down a street straight to Oceânica Avenue, that is along the shore, so I was in Itaúna. This part I remember Praia da Vila, in Imbituba, Santa Catarina. I usually stayed in Garopaba, and took the bus around 6:00 to Imbituba, and than walked to Vila beach.
When I was approaching the structure of the event, not so huge as in 2015 Barra da Tijuca, I could hear the sound of broadcast. I realize the event is ON. I arrived in the third heat of Round 1. Gabriel Medina(BRA)was defeated at opening heat and would dispute the Recap; Adriano de Souza(BRA)won his heat and was guaranteed in the Round 3. I choose a spot at right of the structure where were many professional, photographers, video makers. It was so nice my debut in Saquarema, in Itaúna Beach, the athletes surf a little far from the shore, so I used the "zoom" all the time. I used two batteries in Men's competition.After I took some pictures of Women's competition.
Later on I went to bus station of Saquarema(foto), and took the bus of 15:50 to Rio de Janeiro, it took more time because the "rush" time, we arrived at 6:15pm. I took a bus to downtown, had a dinner, went to the hotel, took a shower, charge the batteries, and prepare the posts, versions in my notebook, by WI-FI. This was my routine during the championship when the days were "ON".
Lay days
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ON Thursday May 11th, the third day of the event I went to Saquarema, Itaúna beach, then I realized the silence so probably the day was OFF. Soon I met a friend from São Paulo, that said for me- Today is OFF, but "go to the beach", he was leaving the beach, on Oceânica Avenue. At 8:30 am I was approaching the event,so I realized the 2015 world Champion Adriano de souza, he was in the structure of 2017 OI Rio Pro in Itaúna beach, for a surfing session. Everybody wanted a selfie of the Idol, I filmed and took some photos of the champion, and said:
-Hi, My champion, good luck!!!
-The world Champion of Surfing turn the face and smiled, and said Hi...My first photo of Adriano de Souza was in Vila Beach, Imbituba, Santa Catarina, in 2009. He is so calm, polite, and humble guy.He was teaching a girl how to surf (the first steps, position on the surfboard, "pop-up",..)
After this I met a friend of Cabo Frio- RJ, the formersurfer Teco Rezende, that work in surf events for a long time, and I knew him in 2013. He is involved in Museum of Surfing in Cabo Frio, RJ ...He gave me the surf Magazine "WQS" - and later on I went back to Saquarema Bus Station. I caught the 9:50 am bus to Rio de janeiro. So I went to downtown and then to the hotel... I like to work in my room, with my notebook, and throught WI-FI, or 4G; sometimes I used broadband at University.
Round 4
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This Round has only 12 surfers, in four heats of three men.Atheletes garanteed were: the World Champions: Adriano de souza(BRA),Gabriel Medina(BRA), Joel Parkinson(AUS), Mick Fanning(AUS), besides the Australians: Adrian Buchan, Julian Wilson, Owen Wright, and Matt Wilkinson were garanteed also, besides the South African, Jordy Smith, the North American Kanoa Igarashi,besides the Brazilians: Wiggolly Dantas and the highlight Yago Dora.The Hawaiians: Ezekiel Lau, John John Florence, Sebastian Ziets were "out" of the contest. This Round was disputed on "Sunday" after the first call; on the day 6 of the event the Brazillian Adriano de Souza(BRA), and the Australians: Adrian Buchan, Owen Wrigth, and Mick Fanning went directly to the Quarterfinals.The Sea went down with small waves, compared to the first days of the event. So the Orgazition started the Women's competition in the Semifinals, till the Final, the current World Champion Tyler Wright(AUS)defeated Johanne Defay(FRA).Tyler Wright(AUS)was the Champion in Saquarema contest, she already was Champion in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, in 2013 and 2016. The three times World Champion Carissa Moore(HAW)was defeated in the Round 2, the six times World Champion Stephanie Gilmore(AUS)was defeated in the Quarterfinals.
Waiting a big Swell
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The media and organization said that would arrived a big swell in Saquarema. As the Sea went down on the weekend and remained only eleven heats to finish the competition, so one more day of competition would be enough; On Monday, the seventh day of the period, I decided to stay in Rio for updating my blog and site, to prepare the versions remaining . I also rested for while, because I traveled to Saquarema, worked in the event, and came back to Rio de Janeiro, and prepared the posts at night. I prepared my stuff to go Saquarema on Tuesday. I went early as usually, but was day OFF. I went to the beach, there was a strong wind, and the Sea was shaken, as they "say" even the outside looked like a "wash machine". I filmed some minutes, and took some photos and came back to Rio de Janeiro.
The last Day
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I went to Saquarema, because the day might be ON. It was raining when approaching to Saquarema, where there is big lagoon, called Lagoon of Saquarema. So I went walking fast to Itaúna Beach , a met my friend of Juquei, that I know since 2013 WCT; he knows many surfers from Maresias, São Sebastião, São Paulo; he said "Stand By", next call will be at 8:40 am. I became happy because I will not lose any heat from the Round 5, because probably would be "ON". I arrived on the beach, positioned with the video camera, everything ready to start the Round 5. In this moment I met Mr. Sebastian Rojas, a top photographer of surfing, other photographers from the staff, from surfing channels that I knew since my fist event in 2008. The organization the Round 5 will start sharply at 8:35 am the opening heat of Recap.
ROUND 5
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At opening heat of the Recap - Joel Parkinson(AUS)defeated Wiggolly Dantas(BRA), that surfed very well in Itaúna Beach. Than in the second heat was the "best duel" of new generation, Yago Dora(BRA)defeated Gabriel Medina(BRA)at last wave, on last second. After Jordy Smith(RSA)overcame Julian Wilson(AUS) and in the last heat Matt Wilkinson(AUS)overcame Kanoa Igarashi(USA), that surfed better this year in Itauna Beach. Fortunately the event continued ON to be disputed the
Quarterfinals
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At opening heat Adriano de souza(BRA)defeated the 2012 World champion Joel Parkinson(AUS). In the second heat, the highlight Yago Dora(BRA)defeated the third World Champion, Mick Fanning(AUS)-has already won John John Florence(HAW) in the Round 3; and overcame Gabriel Medina(BRA) in the Round 5. In the third heat, "Ace" - Adrian Buchan- overcame the second place in the Ranking Jeep Leaderboard, Jordy Smith(RSA), and in the last heat, was a duel of giants, Matt Wilkinson(AUS)defeated his compatriot Owen Wright(AUS). Than was defined: Brasil x Australia in the Final.
Semifinals
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At opening heat Adriano de Souza(BRA)stopped Yago Dora(BRA)both had the same coach, Leandro Dora. After, Adrian Buchan(AUS)defeated his compatriot Matt Wilkinson(AUS).
FINAL
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Adriano de Souza(BRA) x Adrian Buchan(AUS). At my opinion was the best heat of the event. Adriano de Souza(BRA)won for little difference; "Ace" Buchan(AUS) was so happy for disputing the Final in Saquarema, Brazil; against Adriano - who he knows from Surfing events since a long time - so crowded in Itaúna, with the beach culture, and mainly the waves: big, heavy and long with "power"...
CONCLUSION
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I went to Saquarema, and Knew the best beach- Itaúna - for surfing that I had ever known. I started in Rosa and Vila Beaches in Imbituba, and Silveira in Garopaba, all these beaches in Santa Catarina also have good conditions for surfing , however in Saquarema the Sea is more open, there is more space for surfing. The area is huge. I did my work as usually on the beach, filmed and took photos. Prepared posts with results, and Version from EXTRA- Newspaper. Now I will prepare a Video as a Tribute to the Champion Adriano de Souza(BRA)of 2017 OI Rio Pro. My simple blog overcame 50,000 accesses this month. I travel , film , took photos, prepare posts, version, overview, tributes... I always do everthing by myself, this is the way I prefer, and I a improving each day, each shoot, each post, each version, each stage, each season... I hope to go to California in September.
Let's wait for.
"Surf, the most beaufiful sport"
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TRIP TO SAQUAREMA- the SURFING point of BRAZIL- 2017 OI RIO PRO - Itaúna Beach, Saquarema, RJ - Brazil by Paulo Piqueres - surfworldtour.blogspot.com
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