pros
Feb 24, 2017
Content Floater
--
Let's play a little game of word association. When I say Italy, you say: Rome, history, architecture, Vatican, wine, pizza, pasta. Now if we were to play the same game with 18-year-old professional surfer, Leonardo Fioravanti, he would likely rattle off a different list: surfing, waves, sea, beach, family, proud, home.
This is because Leo grew up in a small beach town 20 minutes outside Rome. And every summer, his family would spend their days at the Ocean Surf Beach Club, where he first got on a surfboard at the age of 6. I absolutely loved it. All my friends were at school playing soccer or the sports you play in Italy, Leo recalls. All I wanted to do was spend time at the beach and surf. I fell in love with it straight way.
By the time he was 8, Leo and his brother were taking surf trips to France and Portugal. But after a decade living in Italy, the powers that be in the surf world had bigger plans for him. Quiksilver offered Leo a sponsorship, and the team took him under their wing. The following year, Red Bull signed him, too. So at 12, Leo hung up his book bag and switched to fulltime homeschooling to start travelling and practicing with the Quiksilver surf team.
I had Stephen Bell taking me to a lot of the Championship Tour and World Tour places-Jefferys Bay, Gold Coast, Bells Beach and California. That was an incredible experience for me. I got to spend a lot of time with Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds and Jeremy Flores, who were all on the Quiksilver team at the time. Imagine being 12 years old, you get to go to these amazing places and you're staying with your heroes. It was huge not only to be able to surf with them, but to spend time at the house and see what they're eating, what they're doing, how they react to things. Those memories I'll have forever. It was an incredible experience.
Stephen Bell, a.k.a. Belly, is one of surfs' most iconic mentors. He's been Kelly's right hand man for the last 15 years. And he also happens to be Leo's stepdad. It was all fun and games for Belly-supporting his stepson while cheering on his closest client and friend, too-until this year.
At the start of the 2016 World Surf League season, the Margaret River Pro on Australia's West Coast, the Italian wildcard, Leo, was slated to compete in the same heat against his longtime hero, Kelly Slater. Leo saw an insider's perspective into Kelly's life and routine, being on the same surf team and staying in the same house as the surf legend for many years-an advantage competitors could only dream of having when it came time to throw down in a heat.
I paddled out, looked to my right and I saw Kelly Slater, the best surfer of all time. I couldn't believe it. It's a dream come true whether you lose or win against Kelly just to be able to spend those 30 minutes in the water with him. I tried to tell myself, you've got nothing to lose. Worst case you lose to the 11-time World Champion. So I just tried to have fun and make smart decisions. I somehow ended up beating him, which was definitely the best heat of my life. We went back to the house and talked about it for a little bit and he was super cool about it, which was really good to see.
History somehow repeated itself in October at the Quik Pro France, where Leo was again slated to compete against Kelly. The conditions were really hard for both athletes, but Leo came out victorious, leaving the score at Leo-2 to Kelly-0. Not many wildcard surfers on the qualifying series hold that record against the world champ.
Content Floater
--
Leo went on to do so well that he became the first Italian surfer to qualify for the World Championship tour, a lifelong dream.
I've had so many incredible things happen this year because I have so many people supporting me, especially my family and close friends. I get so much support from all the Italians at home. I can almost hear them in the water. I hope I can make all the Italian fans proud. I'm proud to represent Italy. It's an incredible feeling to be the first Italian on tour.
But achieving this goal didn't come without major trials and tribulations. In 2015, Leo was out of the water for more than half the year with a back injury. He remembers paddling out on Jan. 31, into messy, onshore waves during his first competitive heat on the North Shore at the Volcom Pipe Pro. Leo took off late on his second wave and got pitched straight over the falls and into the reef. I instantly felt a crazy pain from my toes to my neck, and I knew that something was wrong in my back or spine, Leo recalls. He immediately went to the hospital where they told him he fractured his L1 and needed surgery. That day at Pipeline was scary, he said. It was one of those days people get hurt. If it were a free surf day, I wouldn't have surfed. But because it was a competition, I paddled out.
The injury only proved to make Leo a stronger, more determined athlete. He is now gearing up for the Australian Open of Surf and the first stop of the World Tour at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast.
In Bocca al lupo, Leo! Good Luck!
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
pros 
