Video: Kelly Slater Praises Little Person Para-Surfing Champion
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Wee Man, or Jason Acuña, changed skateboarding for good.
Through his Jackass fame, Wee Man exposed the world to the prowess of little people in skateboarding (and beyond…all the crazy sh•t the Jackass guys get up to).
But what about surfing? There’s never been a high-profile little person surfer…until now, with Brazil’s Pino Beto, who recently got the nod from Kelly Slater.
The dude rips, and Slater took notice, commenting on a clip:
“He’s got great technique. 🙌🏽”
The clip shows Pino cracking a mid-face hack, then finishing off with a floater, all drenched in style and poise – perhaps even at HB pier? With those unmistakable pylons in the background? Looks about right.
Anyway, Pino was flattered by Slater’s comment; in response, he wrote:
“It's such a privilege to receive a comment from my biggest inspiration @kellyslater This may not be a big deal for some people but for me this is huge for my professional career of Para Surfing. I hope one day to surf @kellyslater wave pool and be the first surfer ever to get a barrel nearly standing up at the ranch. Please share this post and help me get this word out to @kellyslater 🇺🇸🤙🏼”
A few of Pino’s competitive accolades, per his IG bio, he is:
-World Champion in California, 2020
-Runner-Up World Champion in California, 2022
-Two-time World Champion in California, 2023
- Two-time Brazilian Parasurf Champion
This guy’s the real deal. Pino Beto. Watch out for him.
***
Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.
Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.
