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| Jornal Olho nu - edição N°131 - outubro de 2011 - Ano XII |
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Surfer "Boys" by Pedro Ribeiro*
Tambaba Surf Open IV wouldn't have happened without its protagonists. Not all the boys who doffed their clothes and braved the waves of beautiful Tambaba au natural are naturists. In fact, even those who are face practical difficulties in exercising their right to be natural because of the restrictions that Tambaba Beach imposes, barring men unaccompanied by women from frequenting its sands. But that is another matter. What Jornal OLHO NU will show below is a quick profile of some of the 16 competitors who made the event shine and appear in the media. These "boys" range in age from eight in the "mirim" (meaning "small" in Tupi-Guarani) category to veterans over fifty. Although this edition debuted the Open Bodyboard category, especially aimed at women, not a single one entered. A pity. Perhaps in future editions women will lose their shyness to surf and to take their clothes off, and take part in this great fraternal meeting? So let's meet the characters who made history at Tambaba Beach this year. Fernando Eduardo participated in his first surfing competition, naturist or not, but it's not the first time he's surfed naked at Tambaba. He visits the beach as a naturist only to surf, along with the gang from the Arca do Bilu inn, who are already used to it. He's a Paraiba native, from Joao Pessoa, and has been surfing for two years. He's 21 years old.
Reger Santos from Natal is a veteran surfer, but somehow still a newcomer in naturist surfing, as this is only his second time participating in the tournement. However he's a veteran in surfing naked, because near his city of Natal, there's a deserted beach where as a boy he used to catch waves naked with his shorts on his head. He's 45 years old, and was the only participant who took his wife along to cheer for him and and enjoy the beach. He considers naturist surfing perfect because it combines "the most natural sport there is with the the most natural way to be."
He is a physical education teacher, working in an academy and as a personal trainer. He considered this year's event better organized and better portrayed by the media. He also noted the larger number of participants, compared to prior years. Hopeful of placing well, he recognized, though, that surfing depends heavily on luck, because each battery is allotted only fifteen minutes, and the contestants have to hope for good waves in that window.
Dã Maciel ("Dan Ma-ci-EL"), although only 24, is a veteran of the competition, as he's participated since the first edition and is a veteran naturist surfer because he's the son of Bilu and lives at the neighboring Arca do Bilú, and has practiced surfing nude at Tambaba ever since his family moved to the region, about eight years ago. He said this year's competition "was great" with all the support that was needed. He has participated in other sufing competitions, but currently only takes part in the naturist one. He has great expectations for future editions and was confident he would place well. Dã took a trophy for his fourth place classification in the Local category.
Paraiban Linho Neto is another long-time veteran. Age 52, he has already participated in numerous surfing competitions and this is the fourth time he's participating in the Tambaba Open. He is one of the few surfers in the world who can do a headstand while surfing. And imagine doing it naked! He thinks the Tambaba event has grown better organized every year. He likes the prestige given by the presence of the president of the FBrN for the event. He thinks that this could lead to the organization of a national naturist surf circuit. He is also pleased that the event has the recognition of the Brazilian Surf Federation. He has previously frequented the nudist area along with other surfers, who were allowed to enter unaccompanied by women, but could only arrive, catch waves, and then leave, without being able to fully enjoy the beach. He is married but his wife does not practice Naturism which makes it impossible to take part along with the other naturists.
He is an official photographer for the Legislative Assembly of the State of Paraíba, located in João Pessoa, working with the chamber's press office. His activity as a naturist surfer is known to all his friends and colleagues and he has no embarrassment about it. His wife and mother don't enter the beach, but stay on the other side, in the non-naturist area, waiting for the competition's end to return home together. He took fourth place in the Open category.
Klauber Lins, 30 years, but with boyish looks, is another Tambaba Open veteran. A professional tattoo artist, he displays his skill with the large tattooed area of his own body, with amazing designs. In naturist surfing he has always managed to place well having won prizes several times, but dreams of first place this time. Surfing is his passion and he frequently participates in competitions on the state's South Coast. He also regrets not being able to visit the beach outside the times when he's together with the surf crowd, as he's not married. He joined the other interviewees in praising the organization of this year's event. Klauber won the Expession Session category, with a maneuver known as a reverse 360. He also took second place in the Open category.
David Quirino, 19, a freshman in this type of competition. A practitioner of the sport at such nearby beaches as Coqueirinho and Praia Bela, he has already been to Tambaba a few times before to practice surfing without clothes. When he learned of the championship, he had no doubts, and decided to sign up immediately. When he's not catching waves he's a house painter. Of course, he signed up to win and had high expectations. He said that clothing hinders surfing, and now that he's tried it he'll be back often to keep surfing naked. He feels more relaxed, more comfortable. As a resident of the town of Conde he won't have problems to keep in practice. He came in third in the Open category.
Reginaldo da Silva, 31, is competing in the Tambaba Open for the second time. A single parent, he took along his seven year old son who shares his name, who'll be eight in a few days, to participate in the competition along with him. A construction worker, he was born and raised on Coqueirinho beach, adjacent to Tambaba. He's the only one who admitted to visiting the beach as a naturist, not just as a naturist surfer, before the competition. Most of his sufring experience has been on his home beach.
The younger Reginaldo seems much older when he's seen conquering the waves on his surfboard. He looks like a teenager of 15 or 16, mostly because of the maneuvers that he tries - and pulls off. The father goes with him into the sea until beyond the break, buf after that he's on his own. He's already followed his father in various situations and that's why he would up being invited by the other participants to take part in the competition. The father guarantees that if he keeps working at it, in about ten years he'll be a champion. Even though he's so young he's already participated in another surfing competition, held in the region, in his he won first prize in his mirim category. So Reginaldo, senior, did not hesitate to allow his son to participate. And whenever he can, he'll be in the lineup.
João Pessoa resident Alan Henrique, only 21, is another veteran who's participated in evey other edition of the Tambaba Open. A surfer for six years, he always practices the sport on Tambaba Beach along with the rest of the gang led by the boys from Arca do Bilu. He does not compete on other circuits. He participated in the Local and Open categories, the latter for the first time.
* Editor of Jornal OLHO NU. |
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