Neymara Carvalho is one of the biggest names in woman bodyboarding. Her goal for this year is to become the first woman to have 5 world titles. Neymara talks about her preparation for this final battle in Confital, her movie and her social institute for poor kids.
1. In your opinion what are the best qualities of your adversaries?
I think that Jessica is confidante when it comes to decisions. She showed this last year and today she is even more prepared and motivated. Eunate knows the spot better than anyone and this puts her in a comfortable position. Both of them are outstanding competitors.
2. How’s your head for the final competition
Every day I think on the decision. I wake up, remember something than I go to practice, I think on the wave, the climate…. I remember last year final decision, the details. I’m really happy to have this adrenaline again. Every year is different.
3. How has been your training routine? Are you focusing anything specific for Confital?
It has been basically the same when I have time to train. I workout at the gym and surf. I’m also training with Gordinho, that’s my coach. The practices are wonderful. Also my new boards look amazing and this motivates even more.
4. If the title comes, what can we expect for 2010 ?
If I win the 5th title, there are some projects that I want to realize. I rather take one step at a time. Probably I will dedicate more time to shoot my movie and participate in some special events in 2010.
5. You are shooting a movie about your career. What can you tell us about this project ?
Yes, I’ve been shooting for the past years. This year, due to the world crises, we didn’t have too much progression on the footages. For 2010 one of my goals is to travel and film. I want to make a trip to Indonesia with some past world champions and make this a big part of the film.
The movie is projected to be exhibited in cinemas and not DVD. We have already letters of intention from the Brazilin Government that allows us to capture investments from big companies. The producer responsible for the film is my friend Mario Nakamura. The project is in really good hands.
In the movie I will show moments of my career. I will show the difficulties and glories that I had since I started bodyboarding. I’m proud of what I have conquered in the sport and I want that this life story is used as example for others.
6. You are tied with Stephanie Pettersen (world champ in 1990, 1993, 1994 and 2002) in world titles. Te become the most victorious champion motivates you even more ?
That’s my major motivation for this year. Not to beat Stephanie or Glenda Koslovksy but to always find e new challenge and break it. Definitely I want this title! First because I think that I’m prepared for it and secondly… I want to be the first woman to have 5 world titles.
7. What was the best event on the tour so far?
I think that the tour this year was amazing especially with wave conditions.
It’s unfair to just choose on event there where so many great events this year. I loved the Grand Slam concept; I think that it will work.
I’ll summarize the events so far
We opened with Hawaii and to see Lollys tube was marvelous. What a tube ! Then we had the Katherine Melo in Brazil in very difficult (big) conditions. It was a very emotive win to me. Bahia, Eunate won and entered for the race of the world title once more. In Portugal, to see Catarina win and realize her dream was priceless. Her victory was unforgettable to all the girls. Miss Sumol is not a Grand Slam but it has all the elements to become one. The event was flawless. Natasha took it all. Peniche, I won again and took the lead once more. Going back to Brazil for Búzios what a perfect event. Jessica won for the second time in a memorable victory. I’m sure Búzios can apply for woman Grand Slam for 2010.
Venezuela and Sopelana are good events but need to improve a lot to have once again the best riders of the world.
2009 has been one of the years of the tour!
8. Describe the moment of the sport today?
I’m happy with the new moment of the sport. New administrators, organizers working with the sport. Here in Brazil we had 3 world tour events for the first time in history. There is still many things to improve but still was great to have the events. This shows the growth of the sport. We have tons of kids on bodyboarding schools throughout Brazil. I want to be able to help my country, finding new girls and supporting them. The new generation is rising. Kyrtis Montenegro is an example. She is on the most talented girls of this new generation that if well supported will succeed in a couple of years.
. You run the Neymara Carvalho Institute. What’s the goal of this project?
The INC (Neymara Carvalho Institute) was born in 2003. The idea was to professionalize and give a better support for the existing school of Gordinho that works with poor kids here in Espirito Santo. We have a project called Bodyboarding Class in which I run along with professional bodyboarders. In this Bodyboarding Class the kids stretch, warm up, learn the basics techniques and experiment the taste for adrenaline. We offer for the kids breakfast, uniforms, boards, fins, sun blocks and a coffee break. The professors also make presentation heats between them. The most important thing is that the kids have fun during the period they attend classes.
We don’t charge entry fee for the kids, only 2 cans of milks that will be distributed for communities that need this help.
In January of 2010 we are organizing a Bodyboarding Class in Martaízes, south of the Espirito Santo state. My dream is to take this concept to the rest of Brazil.
