Olympic gold medallist Italo Ferreira delivers ultimate slap to greatest-ever Kelly Slater

Mick Fanning and Andy Irons better than Kelly Slater says Olympic champ.

You don’t have to search too deep into the BeachGrit files to discover our enduring and unshakeable love for the Brazilian world champion and surfing’s first Olympic gold medallist Italo Ferreira.

Ferreira, thirty-one, and who counts Nike as a sponsor, was feted by Chas Smith, on this site, six years ago.

Nobody can agree on nothing except that Italo Ferriera is a lovable professional surfer with a mean rail game, extraordinary air prowess, bravery, humility, nice post-heat interviews and an enviable head of hair. I was lounging on the beach yesterday afternoon and one of the most knowledgable professional surf observers that I know said, “Right now Italo Ferriera is the best surfer on the planet.” And he said this without trying to be hyperbolic or amusing.

And in our time has one single surfer ever had universal support? After I was finished lounging on the beach yesterday I conducted an informal poll on the general likability of Italo Ferreira and found he scored 100% amongst professional surf fans with equal votes coming from men, women, whites who were having a little trouble staying unsunburnt and whites able to tan easily.

Italo Ferreira’s recent appearance on a Brazilian channel might shift a few opinions, howevs. The man dubbed “the leopard” in a stunning 2017 profile was asked to list the top five surfers in history. 

Most surfers would uniformly rank Kelly Slater number one, followed by whatever hits your tastes. I think Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, John John Florence, Andy Irons and Tom Curren.

Italo Ferreira lists Mick Fanning, Andy Irons, then Kelly, Gabriel Medina and John John Florence, delivering the sort of slap in the face, the oil check, that destroys friendships forever.

“Perfect,” says Italo.

Your list?