Surfer Profile: Carlos Burle

Highlights:
First place Todos 1998, first place XXL 2002 Biggest Wave, third place Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2003, second place tow-in world tour 2007, third place XXL Ride Of The Tear 2008.

‘When you think of Brazilian surfers two things come to mind. 1. Wippety-snapperty WQS soldiers pumping furiously wide-stanced on two-foot beach-break waves, desperately looking for the punt-for-points, not matter how ugly, and 2. The Brazilian boat trip of 12 or more surfers all jumping off the boat at HT’s, paddling into the lineup simultaneously at the top of their voices, and proceeding to hassle everyone out of the water including themselves.

Burle, doesn’t fit any such grouping.  Quiet and unassuming, and a big wave surfer extraordinaire. Not quite the clichéd Brazzo. Carlos has been a constant at Red Bull Big Wave Africa for a number of years now, and each year he has either made the final, won an award, or just ripped in the shadows on some of the biggest waves coming through.

When Carlos and teammate Rodrigo Resend arrived at the inaugural Reeg Big Wave World Championships at Todos Santos Island off Ensenade, Mexico in February 1998, they were both complete unknowns.

The waves were absolutely pumping, and were called by many as some of the biggest contest surf ever witnessed. Burle took first place ahead of surfers like Brock Little, Tony Ray, Ross Clarke-Jones and Peter Mel. Resende and Burle together took the team title for Brazil. Many people saw this victory as a major upset, but many other people were not surprised at all, particularly the North Shore crew who had been watching Burle charge big surf since the winter of 1986.

Burle was born and raised near the coast in Recife, Pernambuco, in the northeast region of Brazil. His dad was a chicken farmer, but helped him get his first surfboard when he was 13, and the rest is history. While his schoolmates kicked ball like Pele, Burle went surfing.

Burle’s confidence, his low-gravity approach to big drops and his fearlessness soon gave him the recognition he deserved, and he was eventually invited into the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in memory of Eddie Aikau, the first Brazilian to get such an invite. It had been difficult to get that invite as after his win at Mexico he was ignored for both the Quiksilver Eddie and the Quiksilver Mavericks. He was outspoken about this at the time, admitting disappointment at his perceived snubbings.

Still Burle persisted in big surf, and consistent big wave performances over the last decade, including some sterling performances at Dungeons, have kept him in the big wave limelight where he belongs.

What are the chances of having a legitimate big wave surfing superstar come out of Brazil? Pretty much the same sort of chances of an 8-time world champion coming from Florida I guess.