Jordy Smith’s 5 favourite things about Rio De Janeiro

Rolling into the Billabong Pro, Rio De Janeiro, Jordy Smith is reigning champ. Don’t that wrap like a warm blanket? Or, does it weight kinda heavy? Professional surfers don’t think about such things, and if they do, then they don’t speak about them except in positive fashion. Which makes sense, ’cause the tour’s as much a head game as anything else. But it ain’t all that. It is the dream tour. There’s fun to be had in the dream world. And Rio is right at the top of the good time list. Jordy knows the place well, and fondly, so we dialled him in from beachfront Brazilian digs, where he’s currently posted up waiting for first siren, to gift us his five favourite things about Rio…

1. The hollow, rampy beachbreak at Barra where the event is, is really fun. There’s not too many spots on tour where you can get barrelled then throw a big air to finish.

Throwing heat en route to a maiden final win outside South Africa. Feels good, don’t it? ASP/Kirstin

2. Acai bowls behind the event site at K08 are amazing. Then, wash it all down with a fresh baby coconut.

3. Porcao (meat) restaurants are next level, but you can only go if you know there’ll be at least two lay days following the meal. The food is amazing, but you end up in a food coma.

4. The weather is warm! Coming from Durban, I love it when the temp’s up. Surfing heats in trunks is the best.

The joys of surfing in trunks are, perhaps, unparalleled in this sport. ASP/Kirstin

5. Caipirinhas. I don’t really like beer so when the event’s over and I have something to celebrate, a couple of caipirinhas will be just fine.