Karina Mattos bodyboarder

Saltwater Dreaming interview with Karina Mattos bodyboard pro

Surf pics of Karina in action

Contact Karina

by Adriana De Matteo
Karina Santos Mattos Professional Body boarding Athlete
32 years old, Brazilian, Single and Graduated in Tourism, Karina has been bodyboarding for eleven years.

Her career as an amateur rocketed in 1999 when she scored the second position in two tours: Amateur Carioca tour -Rj and Capixaba -ES and also was ranked in the 5th position in the Brazilian Circuit. In the same year, Karina traveled to Hawaii, where she could spend big time practicing to finally achieve the 2nd position at HASA Hawaiian Tour. Right after that, she upgraded her status during the Pipeline World Tour, becoming a professional body boarder, now taking challenge on powerful and barreling Hawaiian waves.

Without any support to continue competing in the professional body boarding circuit, She tried a few more contests at the AWB (association of women body boarders), deciding then to dedicate her life to "Free Surfing".

In 2000, Karina finally had the opportunity to travel abroad. And it was straight to Indonesia, the Surfers Paradise destination.

A lot of support came from different people and companies that allowed Karina to keep her goals as a Free Surfer, always promoting her work and life style, traveling after good waves and representing her country Brazil.

Bali: As time went on, Karina achieved a good position in the media and respect from the local surf industry, and also sponsorship from Surfer Girl, the best all girls surf shop in the world. It was then she found the proper support to promote and implement the body boarding focusing on Bali local market, and being Bali such and international scene, this new wave ended up reaching many people from other countries in Asia. She organized surf trips especially for body boarder girls around Indonesia and the first body boarding competition in Kuta, Bali.

Past Sponsers: She was directly involved in the introduction of body boarding equipment and accessories for sale at The Surfer Girl Surf Shop, her sponsor at the time, linking this company to another sponsor, NMD, company that has become "the Surfer Girl" official boards supplier.

Besides Bali, Karina has traveled to Malaysia,Thailand and Singapore, promoting the sport and became a pioneer: The first body boarding professional athlete to ride Malasyan Waves.

In the media: Her work and profile has appeared on the best body boarding magazines around the globe such as: Riptide, 360 magazine, Tiare Girls ( Hawaii) ,Rideit ( Brasil) , Girls Power( france), Vert - Portugal, Inside Sports - Australia , Go Girls ( jakarta),Surf Time and web sites like www.fluidzone.com... Etc.

Karina was also the first body boarder highlighted in the history of Surftime Magazine, the first and most popular magazine about Surfing in Indonesia.

Goals: Sponsorship to attend the surf season itinerary Brazil/Hawaii /Indonesia and Tahiti every year in order to practice the sport also collect promotional material based on photos and footage in order to expose sponsor's brand and image.

To build a network around worldwide free surfing events organizers related to television aiming to achieve intense and efficient exposure in television programs related to the sport, movies, reality shows, where I will be able to demonstrate my abilities as a free surfer body boarding athlete and also as a sportive masseuse. To be supported with good equipment to surf with security and confidence.

To Develop her own body board design, specially attending her needs, measures, wave type and specific materials for different waves and temperature conditions. Fins and leashes as well.

Finally, she would be absolutely available to participate and compete on the world and European tours in case sponsors find it necessary.

Others:Besides being an athlete and her career as an events organizer, Karina worked as free lance export agent and receptive tourist guide in Bali.

She is a masseuse specialized in sport, Thai medicinal massages including shiatsu techniques, providing this service often during her trips.

Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia. Karina is very communicative and passionate about marketing, reason why she efficiently achieves new markets for her sponsors' business.

Events organized by Karina: