Watch Leo Fioravanti Land His First Ever Backflip

Leonardo Fioravanti isn't known for his aerial surfing.

That's not to say he doesn't rip above the lip. It's just that his power, flow, barrel riding and rail work are his bread and butter on the Championship Tour.

Fioravanti wants to change that. And in a world of wave pools featuring on-demand air sections, he can now turn a weakness into a strength by practicing rep after rep, which is exactly what he flew to Alaia Bay in Switzerland to do.

As you'll see in the edit above, Alaia Bay throws Fioravanti a bunch of different sections, and he goes through his arsenal of airs the way a halfpipe skater does on a ramp. From full rotes to alley-oops, straight airs, and finally — a frontside backflip — Fioravanti stomps one of everything.

If Fioravanti can take what he learned in a pool and start stomping these airs in heats....watch out. Last year he finished 9th, so you know he's gunning for a spot in the Top 5 at Trestles where he'd love to throw this backflip.

After all, it is the air that won Gabriel Medina the world title at Trestles in 2021, and history tends to repeat itself.

***

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.