Come see Leonardo Fioravanti, Kanoa Igarashi and Jack Robinson, when they were so young!
The best surf photographer in the world (maybe), Nate Lawrence, and I spent 2010s summer in Australia living the dream but also searching for surfing’s future. Kelly Slater was still doing it, Mick, Joel, etc. not yet over the hill. The Brazilian Storm not even a twinkle in Huey’s eye. It was exciting. The future seemed free for the grabbing except there were three twelve year olds who already seemed swathed in destiny.
They were all riding for Quiksilver, at the time, and each phenomenal. Leonardo Fioravanti hailed from Italy but spent most his surfing days in France. Kanoa Igarashi was, ethnically, Japanese but lived in Huntington Beach. And Jack Robinson who was as Western Australian as the very Kangaroo.
Today, they are on the very cusp of real fame. Leo surfs with a ferocity that belies his Continental upbringing. Kanoa is going to qualify for The Dance. And Jack Robinson? Could he usurp John John’s throne before the Hawaiian has even gotten comfortable?
Watch the video, shot by Nate, marvel at their youthful exuberance. Wonder at how high each can fly. If you had to bet on one to be surfing’s next megastar which would you choose?
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whoa, that was as creepy as all hell. A middle aged photog told a twelve year old boy he had a “sexy italian accent”
That wasn’t Nate…that was me!
phew, surf writers are OK, it’s only photogs with creepy tendencies.
I think we are in a comfortable climate for Beach Grit to start delving into a certain older photographers pastimes.
This would be a serious question. Shall we look into that infamous case?
You are exactly right. Serious journalism demands serious questions.
The bigger the hype when you’re twelve, the bigger the bust when you’re on tour.
Addendum: I would love for JJF or Jackie Robinson (not the black baseballer) to prove me wrong, but Jordy, Dane, Jeremy, Julian have not lived up to the multiple-world title hype that circulated around their names ten or fifteen years ago.
I fucking hate groms…
Now Jack Robinson, Fioravanti and Kanoa are superstars? Ok…