The 5th edition of the Tunel Crew Shootout championship held in tubular waves took place in Itacoatiara (Niterói/RJ). This event is a big celebration that brings together big names in Brazilian surfing. With 24 participants, Phil was the only one who opted for a different board than the other competitors. He even produced his own board, a full carbon longboard, especially for this event.
The waves at Itacoatiara always present heavy conditions and this time it was no different. With mind-blowing waves, the event was a true surfing show. Phil surfed a lot throughout the competition. With his progressive style and always well positioned, he managed to show all his technique and determination in a challenging sea with waves around 2 meters high.
In one of the heats, Phil faced and beat none other than Pedro Scooby and Pedro Calado, both big wave surfers and excellent competitors. Phil was only stopped in the final of the competition by the tough local Raoni Monteiro (resident of Itacoatiara/RJ) – now three-time Tunel Crew champion.
“This was my blessed return to competitions. It was amazing, mind-blowing. I’m very happy. I just have to be grateful. The opponents were tough and the sea was really punk, but I managed to go to this super final with Raoni and compete with him is remember adolescence”, says Phil, who was a world elite athlete for 25 seasons (until 2022) and lives on Geribá beach, in Búzios.
Having recently finished cancer treatment and not being in the best physical shape, following medical advice, Phil surfed wearing a vest. For all the battle he faced this year, he was greatly honored by the organizers of the event when he received the trophy: “Phil Rajzman is the moral champion of this competition, he beat cancer, he has just come out of chemotherapy, he is still undergoing treatment, he drove from Búzios to Itacoatiara and reached the final of a challenging tube championship like this. Congratulations to this great warrior”, highlighted Teo Cury, promoter of the championship.
Events like this should exist everywhere. Despite being a competition, it brings that aloha spirit and companionship that is always present in the surfer’s daily life. We have to honor our idols by giving due value to their achievements, and in the case of Phil Razjman even more so. A high-spirited guy, family, friend to everyone and super polite, he always deserves to have a prominent place for what he has done and does for the sport and especially for being that person.
Long live our three-time longboard world champion. It is an honor to follow your journey.
Aloha
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