See it here first: Leo Fioravanti dazzles!

It's an Italian storm!

Crispy Grindz from James Graham on Vimeo.

Kelly Slater is an international surf star but I would say we have not had one since he and I would also say that John John Florence will not reach international surf star level (he surfs so well, so gloriously but……the intangibles, you know?). In any case, my money for the man who will take Kelly Slater’s spot, when Kelly finally begins to age, is none other than Leonardo Fioravanti.

Leo is, of course, Italian, for uno, and speaks fluent French, English, a little Japanese and more French. His English is also inflected with the cutest continental accent. Girls melt into puddles when they hear. He is tall, for due, not the short little things the surf world generally churns out. He is blonde, for tre, with Romish curls. He has wonderful teeth and a wonderful smile, for quattro. Girls melt into puddles when they see. He has very ideal bone structure, for cinque, and he is brave, for sei even breaking his back on a heaving Pipeline bomb.

I was with Leonardo, recently, at Teahupo’o and he paddled fearlessly into many waves that left me quaking in the boat and he did it with style. He has small wave game and big wave game. He would be given a role in Baywatch if it still existed. He has all……..the intangibles, you know? Just watch this video and try to argue.

Viva Leo!