De Souza rides ‘Brazilian Wave’ to world title

HAWAII: Adriano de Souza kept the men’s surfing world title in Brazilian hands when he was crowned champion at the final event on the pro tour, the Pipe Masters in Hawaii, on Thursday.

Competing at the famed Pipeline on the north shore of Oahu, de Souza clinched the title by reaching the final against compatriot Gabriel Medina, who was Brazil’s first world champion last year.

De Souza went on to beat Medina in the final and become the first Brazilian to win the prestigious Pipe Masters.

The 28-year-old journeyman thanked his dead brother for buying him his first surfboard for $7 and setting him on the path to the world title.

“It’s so wonderful to be a world champion,” he said after being chaired off the beach by a large crowd of Brazilian fans.

“It’s extra bonus, to be a pipeline champion... Everything I’ve learned in 10 years on tour I put together.”

Medina has led the “Brazilian Wave” after his 2014 world title, inspiring a group of young South American surfers who have started to make their mark on the world tour, eroding the former grip of Australian and American surfers.

Second place behind de Souza on Thursday was enough to make Medina the first Brazilian to win the “Triple Crown” as the surfer with the highest total tally from three contests in Hawaii at Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipeline.

Brazilian and Australian surfers occupied the top seven spots in the standings, with three-times world champion Mick Fanning finishing second.