Jesse Mendes, Noronha

Barrels, barrels, barrels. Crowds aside, d’you think that Noronha, Brazil (site of the recent six-star event), should be the location of the next Brazilian WT stop? It’s, like, a warm-water Supertubos. Stab would like to introduce you, via a brief Q and A, to Brazil’s next star, to Jesse Mendes. Oh, and, he also stars in this clip, packing back-to-back tunnels.

Started Surfing: I was four. My cousins are surfers, too. They’re all older than me. They started bringing me to the water and I started to love it.

Nerves: I’m not really nervous. No problems, no pressure, just doin’ my thing and doing what I love to do. There is nothing better than getting paid to compete.

Heroes: Kelly Slater is my hero, for sure. I’ve been watching him since, well, forever. I would watch him on tape, not even on DVD’s yet. He made me excited to go surf everyday.

Travel: This year alone I’ve been to Margaret River, Indo, the Mentawais, France, Spain, England, South Africa, Hawaii, and up and down the coast of California. The only free surf trip was to the Mentawais, the rest was for comps. It was my eighth or ninth time in Hawaii for the season and it feels like I’m here the most out of the year. I don’t get to stay anywhere else for this long. The most I stay at home is maybe one month. It’s nice to just be in one place.

Tour Parties: It was my first time at the US Open this year. It’s pretty crazy, but I love France. Hossegor is my favourite tour party for sure.

Dream Trip: Namibia. It’s this huge left, a one-mile barrel in South Africa. You have to go through this huge desert to get to it, supposedly the biggest desert in the world aside from the Sahara. You have to get a local guy to take you. People say it’s gnarly.

Mr. Smith and the Mr. Price Pro: I was matched against Jordy in the quarters. I was expecting a really hard heat, and it was. It’s a slabbing, really fast beach break and my board was a little too small, a 6’0’’. The wave was doubling up and I didn’t think I’d make it so I took off and pulled in with no hands, saw a closeout coming, but I put the rail in and ended up getting a 10. All I needed then was a four, but it was already too late. It took me a whole minute to paddle back out so there was only one minute left and Jordy had priority. He’s smart, just stayed by me. No waves came, anyways. Jordy is one of my top three favorite surfers in the world.

Board of Choice: I like Mayhems. My favorite board is my 6’0’’ Mayhem, the Driver model. It just works right on my feet.

Drink of Choice: Guarana, it’s this Brazilian soda. As a fruit it’s pretty bad but they mix it with acai and all this good stuff. We get such good acai in Brazil, too, it’s more natural and creamy than anywhere else. I grew up with it, though, so I’m not all nuts about it like people in the States. 

Girls: No girlfriend. I don’t look for girls. If it happens it happens. It’s pretty easy on tour. 

Local Break: Tomdo Beach.

Favourite Break: Chopes and home. Home is always fun, but Chopes is really uncrowded and such a good barrel.

Playlist:Rap. Drake.

Words to Live By: Nothing good comes with no pain.