José Maria Ribeiro

José Maria Ribeiro is small in stature but not in anything involving waves and a surfboard. And he’s got his competitive record to prove it: in 2015, he was the under-12 and under-14 regional champ and runner-up, after standing out amongst the best European groms with a 6th place at the Volcom European Tour Championship in the previous year. With a sense of maturity unusually sharp for a 16-year-old boy, he combines daily surfing practice with surf competitions on weekends and several complementary activities (skate, balance boards and gymnastics), all of this without ever compromising his productivity at school, where he is appreciated for his commitment and discipline. Zé Maria does not like to engage in big plans for the future, but you do not have to be a prophet to guess where he's aiming at, now, do ya?

Nickname: Zé Maria

Birthday: 07-02-2003 - 21 years old

Surf Spot: Poça

Height: 1.60 m

Weight: 50 kg

Stance: Goofy

Magic board: 4’9 by Xhapeland

Training spot: every spot is important 

Favorite wave: Pedra Preta

Favorite maneuver: Lay-back carve

Best quality: being persistent and being a dreamer

Worst flaw: I hate to loose

Heroes: Mick Fanning

One song: Wave after Wave – Mr. Probz

One film: Karaté Kid

Favorite activities: skating

Secret talent: cooking

If I knew the World was going to end in 24 hours… I’d paddle out and try crazy maneuvers

If I found a genie in a bottle… I’d ask to have enough energy to keep surfing when I’m 90

I am the greatest at: keeping my balance

I totally suck at: singing

I cannot resist: chocolate

Life motto: Never give up

Xhapeland in one sentence: The ones who support and believe in me