A Knock-Kneed Youngster's Guide To Pillaging Lefts Against The Grain - Stab Mag
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A Knock-Kneed Youngster’s Guide To Pillaging Lefts Against The Grain

Lourenço Sousa and João Carmo are Europe’s newest creative duo.

elsewhere // Oct 3, 2023
Words by Holden Trnka
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Most of us goofs have a disorder.

Though it does not have a name (unidirectional avoidant syndrome?), it affects an anecdotally significant number of goofy-footers worldwide.

In some, it may lead to subconsciously choosing a mediocre left rip-bowl over a superior right. In others, however, it may present itself more severely — leaving them looking for one-turn lefts at world-famous righthanders like J-Bay, Rincon, or Snapper Rocks.

It appears 18-year old Lourenço Sousa is no stranger to this affliction.

Living not 45 minutes from Ericeria, Lourenço has unfettered access to a handful of internationally recognized rights. Above, however, he and filmmaker João Carmo have conceptualized a slow-paced piece of frontside poetry. Sure, there’s a few rights, but the clip delves far deeper into the cuppy left slabs and playful shorepounds that dot themselves between the more well-known corners of Iberian seascape.

Our Portuguese dwelling, half-blind, staunchly frontside goof — Big Dick Power Surfer — gave the clip his stamp of approval, which tells you everything you need to know.

“The primary concept was to make a point about the surfing community here in Portugal,” Sousa tells me. “Nobody believes that freesurfing can exist here without competing. People say everyone needs to be the same, do competitions and everything. I don’t believe in that, so we tried to play around with it. I think the mentality is changing though, it’s mostly just the old school guys who don’t believe in us.”

Click above for an artful introduction to Vans Europe’s newest avant garde darling.

One of few surf clips where the non-surfing composition is worth your time.

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