Padaratz, Flavio (1971 – )

Cheerful, fitness-minded goofyfooter from Florianópolis, Brazil; world-ranked #8 in 1994, and one of his country's first internationally recognized surfers. Padaratz was born (1971) in the landlocked town of Blumenau, near Florianópolis, began surfing at age 12, was a semifinalist in the juniors division of both the 1986 and 1988 World Amateur Surfing Championships, and turned pro in 1988, along with just-crowned men's world amateur champion and fellow Brazilian Fabio Gouveia.

Despite the fa...