Brazilians flock to the Gold Coast to watch a sea of their native pro-surfers tear it up in the waves
THE Gold Coast is the place to be for Brazilians who are flocking to the city’s southern beaches to cheer on pro-surfers tearing up the waves.
Surfing
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BRAZILIANS can’t get enough of the Gold Coast lifestyle.
With the Brazilian reigning world champion Gabriel Medina and a number of Brazilian pro-surfers in town for the Quiksilver Pro, the Portuguese-speaking spectators have been flocking to the southern end of the coast.
Elias Fabem was one of the many Brazilian’s playing soccer with friends yesterday.
“I love it here ... I want to live here,” he said.
Camila Ziliotto knew she had to move here after visiting 10 years ago.
“Brazil is very far away but the Gold Coast feels like home for us,” Ms Ziliotto said.
“Everyone is friendly, so you can walk around at night without having to worry about anything like you do in some places in Brazil.”
She said surfing was a big attraction for her compatriots coming to the Gold Coast.
“Surfing is like the second sport in Brazil and it is getting bigger because Gabriel Medina was world champion last year,” she said.
“We didn’t see surfing on the nightly news two years ago but now it is on all the time.
“Brazilians are crazy about surfing.
“Even having a barbecue is Brazilian but Aussies have learnt to do it at the beach so we are learning to do that now,” she said.
Carol Arancibia moved to the Gold Coast from Chile to surf and learn English and said she noticed Gold Coast breaks were very popular with Brazilians.
“There are so many Brazilians that surf around the Gold Coast and I hear people speaking Portuguese all the time when I am in the surf,” Ms Arancibia said.
KirraSurf manager Cody Copeland said the surf store had a high number of Brazilian customers all year round and they were the most enthusiastic surfers.
“Without a doubt they are the number one frothers (surfing enthusiasts) on the Gold Coast. They are all so stoked on surfing,” she said.
“I think they usually come here on a holiday and stay for the relaxed lifestyle.
“They are regularly in here buying surfboards and clothes.”
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