Prior to 2015, most surfers and surf fans had no idea who Italo Ferreira was. Italo who? Sounds like a European high fashion designer or a male model or something. But after his maiden year on Tour, donning a jersey and competing with vicious ambition against the top surfers in the world, Italo became a household name.
And solidifying his mainstay arrival as one of the top Brazilian contenders vying for a World Title, Italo just signed on the dotted line with Billabong, a major sponsor worthy of supporting such a raw talent.
As his first year on the World Tour, Italo made his presence known by making jaws drop and the palms of fellow competitors perspire. His above-the-lip progression matched with a thirsty drive for greatness aligned him perfectly with proud countrymen, aptly described as the “Brazilian Storm.”
One such moment of said lofty, enthusiastic surfing came in the final for the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Filipe Toledo had Italo combo’d so he knew he needed something big. On a wonky right-hander, the young Brazilian sent himself flying shockingly high, his tail tweaked to an illogical degree, rotating fully, and ultimately, returning to orbit. It wasn’t enough to take down Filipe, but still, it showed that this kid’s the real deal.
Italo ended the season in the number seven spot and effortlessly winning the coveted Rookie of the Year title. Not bad for a newcomer.
“Italo has quickly established himself as a force on the World Tour,” Billabong’s Global Team Manager Chris Heffner said. “To watch him go from a rookie to Top 10 in his first year on tour was incredible, and we believe he has just scratched the surface. We couldn’t be more happy to have him flying the flag for Billabong as he continues his ascent in the world of surfing.”
