Mateus Herdy Heads Home

In partnership with Rivvia Projects.

He’s not just really, really ridiculously good looking, Mateus Herdy would impress your nan with his manners too. 

He’s bright, appreciative, tells it how it is (even when it gets his car keyed), and almost always seems to be flanked by a sea of beautiful women who understand the appeal too. 

It’s not a stretch to say he’s the most beloved Brazilian we’ve ever worked with. He was our Floripa tour guide on No Contest. Done almost every edition of Stab High. Got hitched to a stripper on Stab Highway, then flew her over to Japan’s Surf Stadium Shizunami. He even has Stab’s logo inked on his foot.

Not that good looks, good manners and freakish talent have made life entirely painless.

He had to drag his coffins home from the airport a few times as a grom. It took him longer than it should have to crack the CT, despite snapping necks as a wildcard. He got double-dumped by Quik and Red Bull during the historic sponsorship bloodbath circa late ‘23. And briefly had to have a Changas season floated by Snapt creator Logan Dulien before Rivvia sticker-slapped him at a Huntington Beach In-N-Out. 

But, as a result of his charisma and strong work ethic, he’s always had good people in his corner — some of whom appear in this clip: coach Leandro Dora, godfather Stewson Crippa, and his Floripa homies: World Champ Yago Dora, pro skaters Pedro Carvalho and Harry “OG” Jumonji, and his childhood bestie Joao Godoy. 

As a region, the state of Santa Catarina punches way above its weight when it comes to producing world class athletes, musicians and artists: add the Pupo bros (who grew up in the same block), Adriano de Souza, Pedro Barros (skater), Dazaranha (rock band), Victor Meirelles (painter) and Franklin Cascaes (ceramicist).

At its centre is Santa Catarina’s “Magic Island” capital, Florianopolis — roughly ⅓ the size of Oahu, 1/9 the size of Bali, with just over half a million full-time residents and more than 100 surf spots that work across almost every combination of swell, wind and tide.

It’s also home to one of the gnarliest crews in skateboarding and surfing, all concentrated in a single neighbourhood: R.T.M.F.

Rio. Tavares. Mother. Fuckers.

Here’s a window into Mateus’ life when he’s not on the road, courtesy of Jimmy Lees and the Rivvia Projects squad.

A few interesting takeaways: 

1. Yago, Mateus and Pedro all attended the same school – quite the institute for producing action sports athletes.  
2. He’s regarded as a hero in Floripa — “everyone went crazy when he won his world junior title”
3. Yago surfs better than he parks cars
4. White flags mean ‘peace’ in Floripa, red means get fucked we’re fishing
5. Mateus has had some questionable haircuts throughout his childhood