“Everything in life has a a beginning, a middle and and end.”
The 2019 world champ Italo Ferreira has officially split from his longtime sponsor Billabong after seven years with the famous and once iconic but not so much anymore Australian brand.
Ferreira, who is twenty-nine, signed with Billabong in 2016 after winning the previous season’s rookie of the year following a third in Rio, fifth in Fiji, fifth in Tahiti and a second in Portugal. He finished seventh in the world.
Wild, yeah?
Now, Ferreira has pulled, or been pulled, from the Billabong teat, although the colostrum is neither as creamy nor as free flowing as it used to be when Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson were biting the teton and his disappearance is unsurprising as the brand pivots into hair oils and inflatable toys. I would suggest he was offered a vastly reduced salary which he refused.
“Closing one chapter of my professional life,” write Ferreira. “I’d like to thank Billabong for being part of my story! It’s been years of a partnership that began in 2016 and has contributed to my career. But as everything in life has a beginning, a middle and an end…This cycle ends for others to begin.”
I spent a few days with the kid in 2019 when he got on that tear to win the title and found a sweet sorta guy who didn’t rip the top off his swinging masculinity. When his bank account started to get filled with sponsorship cash and prizemoney his first goal was to set his family up in Baia Formosa. He bought ‘em a hotel and restaurant called Pousada do Porto.
Once they were sorted, he bought himself a house on the beach in Baia and a restaurant in nearby, and fancier, Pipa Beach.
“Always trying to invest with my money rather than spend it all on shitty things,” he said.
Italo told me he hates drugs and doesn’t party ’cause three pals had died chasing the dragon.
“You have two ways to go, the good one and the bad one. It’s a choice,” he said.
When I asked him what his path in life was he didn’t hesitate.
“To be a good surfer that everyone can remember…”
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Maybe the WSL is morphing to a “pay as you go tour” for the athletes , like it cost you 200k to join the CT and you get a chance at the prize pool with the big payout on finals day and if you don’t make the cut you do your loot.
Another Nascar looking surfboard to join the Brazilian storm
“Ferari all Lit Up again. He on the Cocaine, he’s got the Cocaine.” His fave band, Buck Cherry. When usada come a knocking..!??
2023 Italo is a shadow of 2019 Italo – still hasn’t gotten over the judges call on that air at Narrabeen
Never knew you worked in the field?
Ugliest approach to surfing I’ve ever seen ,…ever
Christian Fletcher?
I didn’t know billabong was still in business?
Gee Hurley 2.0 has begun, IF clothing line perhaps..
“Everything in life has a a beginning, a middle and and end.”
Well, well, someone is clearly unfamiliar with quantum mechanics.
#SickScienceBurn
What does quantum mechanics say about Entropy?
you’re also clearly unfamiliar with quantum mechanics
Well of course. It was a joke. And a trap to mark out pedantic autistics!
#LookWho’sOnTheSpectrum
Italo should be happy he didn’t end up having to do fan engagement events sitting next to the Billabong T-shirt table at Costco.
You’re right. He’s taking the long-play and waiting till they’re at Ross and Family Dollar, then he’ll re-sign.
Will certainly be a challenge to Ross’ commitment to “Dress For Less”.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Brilliant 👍
Will likely sign with redbull as main sponsor.
Kolohe off tour and they will be looking to increase their audience.
He posts a lot of insta clips, Brazilian kids probably love him, and already drinks a shitload of redbull. Must have been a serious lowball from Billabong, or Italo thinks he is worth more then he actually is.
Topped up by Ibelli Burger
Maybe Billabong consulted Jordy.
They probably ended his contract after he finished thirteenth in the world and didn’t make the Olympics.
Yep or drastically reduced terms based on his low performance. So may have decided to eject himself for other options for more cashola if not pushed.
His surfing seems to
have fallen out of favor with the judges. He surfs like a meth’d up wakeboarder.
EE probably took lots of the budget with his 2nd place finish.
His smooth rail game makes Italo’s surfing look like shit also.
The universe dosent even have a middle, let alone a beginning or an end.
Didn’t it big bang or something?
Lmao – you’re asking, bexy ???!?!!??
Thats the very complex scientific theory.
Let’s see how the bible bashing brigade explain away cosmic background radiation and the redshift of the galaxies.
Your mum has an end.
Dont go there
Some believe its a 540
Entropy? big bang? heat death of the universe?
He’s been partaking in the Bolivian marching powder methinks.
He’s clean! Hammers Red Bulls howevs.
I wonder when the class action against Red Bull happens ?
There’ll be millions of Type 2 pre-diabetics who won’t know until they hit 50 ish…. Almost impossible to prove I know, but science marches on … one day someone will have a go at the breweries, then it’ll be all on.
Usually when someone professes they’re drug free is because they’re elbow deep in it.
Rember those interviews from a year or two ago?
Italo- shaking like a leaf barely able to talk… fuck I would’ve called for a medic…
Steroids