Wesley Brito is on a mission. One that – given his penchant for solid slabs that break over near dry reefs – could end badly. But this is Wesley’s backyard, and when the swell hits, it’s game on.
Words & Photos:Axel Reese
“Hey, are you coming to Outside Reef? It’s about two kilometers from the coast – let's meet at 5:00pm!” Wesley Brito grins at us. Of course, we wouldn’t miss the chance to capture the big swell and Wesley’s world-class wingfoil performance in a photoshoot. These sessions only happen a handful of times in winter, maybe five times between November and March, and each phase with these waves lasts only a few days.
A small motorboat takes us out onto the open Atlantic. The journey lasts about 15 minutes. At first, it’s quite pleasant, but it soon becomes clear that today is a big day. Water spray flies over the side of the boat, and we start wondering if joining Sunny – our skipper and Wesley's best buddy – was the right decision. By the time we arrive at Outside Reef, we're already soaked. Then, our jaws drop. The scene before us is nothing short of breathtaking. The very first set of waves is massive: a towering swell rises, barrels, and crashes onto the flat reef. The lips of the waves are thicker than anything we’ve ever seen. And after each set, an eerie calm follows.
💎 Premium Content Ahead! 💎 *You will receive our weekly Friday Pump newsletter, plus the latest features, gear tests and giveaway announcements. Wesley has already gone on ahead with his friend, “Zaney Guy”, who’s driving the jet ski. Now, we spot him on the third wave of the set. Also out on the water are world-class kitesurfer Matchu Lopez – who now runs the Duotone Pro Center on Boa Vista – and fellow pro kiters Moona Whyte and Keahi de Aboitiz. There are no other kitesurfers here – this spot is far too extreme. For about 30 seconds, we lose sight of Wesley from the boat as the swell rises in front of him. His wave builds dramatically beneath him, and the goofy-footed rider foils straight toward the breaking section – or rather, more the point where tonnes upon tonnes of water explode onto the reef with immense force. He carves a turn into backside. “One mistake and…!” The thought keeps racing through our minds as we watch his every move. Seeing these conditions, it's easy to understand why Wesley relies on his jet ski. If he falls in the impact zone – where the water is dangerously shallow – the jet ski is there to pull him out immediately. His small crew of three or four people operates like a well-oiled machine. They know their roles, and their teamwork is flawless. Without the jet ski and this crew, riding this spot simply wouldn’t be possible. Our boat is about 150 meters from the break, alongside the jet ski carrying Zaney Guy and Brazilian filmmaker Tiago Azzi. A huge cheer erupts when Wesley gets perfectly barreled by the monster wave. He foils down toward us, beaming… the 2023 Wingfoil Wave World Champion in full celebration mode. The energy is electric, yet everyone remains hyper-focused. Out here, every move counts. The wind is weaker in the early evening, so after each wave, Wesley instead uses the jet ski to tow himself back into position. After catching about ten waves, he calls it a day, and we help Moona Whyte and Keahi de Aboitiz roll up their kites and stow them on the boat. “Some of those waves were so powerful, and the lips were unbelievably thick – I had a lot of respect, and I'm still totally stoked!” Keahi exclaims, letting his emotions flow. Wingfoiling inside a barrel is no easy feat. With the wing, you need more space than a kiter, and the foil's speed makes control even trickier. Then there's the danger factor – the reef here is sometimes only a meter deep, which, as you can no doubt relate, is incredibly shallow for foiling. Wesley draws inspiration from his teammate, Matahi Drollet, who rides the infamous Teahupoʻo wave. One thing we quickly realize during our time in Boa Vista – good waves are everywhere. With spots facing north-east, west, and beyond, the variety of point breaks and beach breaks is staggering. And then, of course, there’s the most famous wave, Liowa. It’s usually Wesley’s favorite – a mostly easy and safe break, though it’s now crowded with wingfoilers. But that doesn’t seem to bother him. Right now though, still grinning, still holding his beer, Wesley is instead still thinking about Outside Reef…
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Back at the water sports center, night has fallen, and the small community gathers to relive the session. It was an unforgettable day. The stoke is contagious, and there’s a deep sense of mutual respect between these world-class athletes. The tension that Wesley carried out onto the reef earlier has now visibly lifted. With a beer in hand, it’s clear why the 110kg athlete needed a jet ski out there today. However, his big goal this season is to get barreled deeper and longer than anyone, with the wing in his hand. It’s a goal he’s well on his way to achieving.
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