After losing heat to Julian Wilson in Portugal!
Do you believe the world is divided between the brutally oppressed and the privileged, the division mostly based upon colour lines? Oh, I don’t. But I’m white (actually the nuttiest brown) and perhaps blind to the mechanisations of prejudice.
Jadson Andre, a Brazilian who is five-feet-seven and ten stone (a little man), is the world number twenty five and represents, if you’re into that sorta thing, the struggle of the poor, of the coloured. This ain’t a kid who grew up in the privileged surf ghettos of southern California or south-west France or Australia.
But he has form!
Do you remember in 2010 when he famously beat that year’s world champion Kelly Slater in Brazil to win the Billabong Pro? Relive that here.
Earlier today, the WSL published an interview with Andre, who faces relegation from the WCT tour, unless he can swoop into a semi-final at Pipe.
Andre is no natural phenomenon but his story is startling and honest.
Below, I’ve culled the most moving excerpts. (Read the full story here.)
On losing to Julian Wilson, round three, Portugal: When I heard he got the score he needed I started crying. I didn’t know what to do. I went to the judge’s tower. I wanted to ask them. But as soon as I went to them I couldn’t even talk. I was just crying. I just wanted to ask them why…but I just left. After that I took a shower and called my girlfriend. When I woke up the next morning and I was okay. I don’t take things too personal. For some reason, I had to lose that heat.
How many hours did you cry for: I was so upset, I cried for like four hours straight. But I think it was good because after that everything went away. I’m sad, but I’m okay with myself.
On poverty: My parents had me when they were really young, so they didn’t have any money. I really wanted a football but they didn’t have enough to get me one. When my Dad got a job he saved enough to buy me a football. It ended up getting a hole in it and it deflated. My mom said that my dad came home crying because he didn’t have enough to buy another one. She said that was one of the saddest days for them, when they were younger. But now I surf and I have given them a better life and I can buy lots of footballs, so I should not be sad for anything.
I really take that as – whatever happens, I’m going to be fine. The ball was $2 and they weren’t able to buy it. This is all a blessing. I’m not going to complain about anything. This is the journey. I love what I do and I love this tour. I’m really grateful for what surfing has done for my family and me.
On not-getting the injury wildcard (presuming they go to Bede Durbidge and Owen Wright): Everyone on Tour knows about my injuries. But there’s no more room for injury replacements next year. If I don’t qualify, I’ll try somehow to be a replacement or something like that, but I’m not going to take someone else’s spot if they are ready. That’s their spot. It wouldn’t be fair if I took their spot, I wouldn’t be happy with myself. I wouldn’t surf happy. I would be shy, almost, if I wasn’t supposed to be there.
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“Jaddy-Baby” got sooooo ripped in that heat.
Apart from the occasional good tube ride, like Jeremy Flores, Jadson is just one of the sub-par WCT surfers making up the numbers. Back to the QS for him, unless a miracle.
Scew Medina, Jaddy is the Brazilian champ.
I ❤️ Jadson
I bet you love everything and everyone at the mo… Congrats on a stellar couple of weeks!!
Love is in the air
and if you go back and watch that heat vs. Jules, his gripe is legit….jules last wave shoulda been a 4.67
If Felipe Toledo had 10% of Jadson’s GOFOR IT, he would have clinched the world title last year at Pipe.
Meanwhile, JJF wins title – says he’s stoked and thanks people. No tears.
his claims are enough for me to be happy to never see him surf again
How’s things? How is the traveling going?
wasn’t aware he’s still on tour. Hey, at least he didn’t miss the birth of his child for 3rd round exit.
Of course much of the world is divided along color lines (as they intersect with class, upward mobility, etc).
And of course you have no idea, Rielly, because you’re a semi-affluent, white Australian metrosexual tote bag who lives in fucking Bondi or wherever.
Anyway, Jaddy is the man and I feel terribly for him. By all accounts, dude is a humble, gracious, hilarious human being who deserves any successes that come his way.
If I knew who his sponsor’s were I’d go out and buy a t-shirt to show Jaddy some love.
Apparently he was sponsored by Fox until earlier today, what happened to that story?
Apparently Fox dumped sponsoring Surfers and now sponsor a team of corporate lawyers… they were all over that slanderous article.
No no no no and no…. The story just got a lot better. But you have to wait for a few more minutes. We laugh in the face of lawyers!
Damn! I was just about to shut down the computer and spend time with the family… oh well… I’ll just keep on sitting here hitting that refresh button till it drops.
Do you think reminding the surfing world that you once gave him a shout out for the ugliest wave ever surfed in competition might help him? Any publicity is good publicity apparently.
Mmmm I can’t find that “wave”. Olde jazz hands Jadson at his finest.
It was 2014 in Brazil. Third round I think. He jazzed his way to a 4.something for a win.
For the record… I didn’t “feature” my own comment, That would be a sin on par with naming your child after yourself and one million times worse than a self up-vote. But thanks Mariano!