We are walking in Santa Cruz heading back to our hotel room, me, the videomaker Pietro Franca, Neco Padaratz and his girlfriend Ana caring their baby Zion. Suddenly, Tom Curren pulled over his Rip Curl promo car, his wife gets out of the car, runs across the street and approuches Neco... "Hi Neco!!" she says. She has on her hands a 8x10 photo of Neco and Tom Curren taken in France only God knows when. She asked Neco to write something on the photo for Tom and his kids, because they love Neco. This is insane! Seriously! One of the biggest surfer ever is one of Neco's biggest fan??!! Yes! He knows surfing better than any judge or surfing writers. He knows what Neco pulled in his carrier is something unbelieveble. And not just Mr. Tom Curren. I was shooting Neco and Brett Simpson was by my side. Neco caught a wave, up and riding and Brett Simpson screemed pointing "That's Neco!!" then Neco trys a crazy turn, but falls... "Wow!! Neco is gnarly!!" says Brett Simpson to his friend.
Neco is the best WQS surfer ever. That's fact. Nobody talks about that. Fuck the system! Who cares??!
Excuse me, we have a life to live...

Going for a war!!

Neco Padaratz is going to Australia again. He is going to compete in the first WCT event of the year. Yes, he is one of the top 44 for 2010. He found a way to make and comeback into "the elite" for the fourth time. The only surfer ever who did that. He feels like he is going for a war. I painted some of his favorite boards with black markers and they look really intimidating. I said: "Neco, you gotta make a very good first impression to the judges..." then he says: "My very first turn is gonna be an aerial rotating!!" He has very serious problems in his back, but, somehow, he is still doing it. Watch out for the "psycho"!!
GOOD LUCK NECO! The whole surfing world will be watching you.