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Surfers Lose Sponsorships Due to Brazilian Recession
05/23/2017 - 13h37
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ADRIANO VIZONI
GUILHERME SETO
SPECIAL ENVOYS TO SAQUAREMA (RIO DE JANEIRO)
The recession in Brazil has led sponsors to pull funding from several sports. Brazilian surf is no exception, despite the fact that this is one of the most successful generations the country has ever had.
Athletes seeking sponsorships to cover the significant expenses that come with competing in the international circuit have been met with reluctance.
A surfer spends around R$ 40 thousand (US$ 12 thousand) per circuit in order to pay for travel, surfboard transportation and hotels. Overall, expenses can reach up to over R$ 440 thousand (US$ 130 thousand), given that the championship consists of 11 circuits.
Miguel Pupo is one of many top class "white-beaked" (bico branco) surfers - an expression that refers to a surfboard whose nose has no sponsor (the nose is the most visible part of the board for brands to advertise).
"The league can take somewhere between 20 to 30 days to pay prize money, and that can affect the travel flow", said Pupo, who had been sponsored by American brand Hurley's over the past few years.
Christophe Simon/AFP | ||
Miguel Pupo |
According to Pupo, the company mentioned the recession to justify terminating the partnership.
Sponsors pay somewhere between R$ 8 thousand (US$ 2.5 thousand) and R$ 15 thousand (US$ 4.5 thousand) per month in order to advertise along the edges of a surfboard, and somewhere between R$ 30 thousand (US$ 9 thousand) and R$ 50 thousand (US$ 15 thousand) per month to advertise on the nose.
Even Mineirinho, who was the World Champion in 2015, has been affected by the recession as sponsorships were dropped by Brazilian companies XP Investimentos and Estácio, an educational organization. Another two sponsors requested to pay less.
Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON