A homesick Brazilian poet by the name of Gonçalves Dias wrote one of the Brazil's poetic jewels while living in exile in faraway Lisbon, Portugal. The poem goes:

"Minha terra tem palmeiras onde canta o sabia;
As aves que aqui gorgeam nao gorgeam como la
Nao permita Deus que eu morra sem que eu volte para la
Sem que eu desfrute os sabores que nao encontro por ca"

In the poem - "Cancao do Exilio" the great Dias was expressing that in Lisbon he could not find the beauty, the flavours and the music that he would find in his mother land Brazil.

After a two day flight from Australia to Brazil, I woke to the enchanted singing of the 'Sabia,' one of the most beautiful birds that you will ever hear sing.

Opening the window of my room in the "Morada das Bouganvilles" pousada (the name given to the guest house style accommodation prevalent in Brazil) located in Rosa Beach - in the town of Imbituba, I'm greeted not only by the birds but by nature's magnificent scenery! Welcome to Imbituba - Rosa - Ibiraquera, a region hosting one of the most exotic holiday destinations in the state of Santa Catarina at the southern end of Brazil, home of The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro the 9th stop on the Foster's ASP World Tour.

Imbituba city is located a hundred kilometres south of Florianopolis airport which started to experience a great tourism boom during the sixties and the seventies via surfers who would pilgrim to the far south in search of quality waves. They created a demand for the region to structure itself to receive the ever growing numbers of visitors. Despite the fact that its port its one of the most important in southern Brazil as it serves as a channel to export the rich coal from the Santa Catarina mines, it is through tourism that the city its concentrating its growth in the twenty first century.

The region of Rosa beach and Ibiraquera, located in the middle of the towns of Imbituba and Garopaba, is a complex and extremely beautiful ecological ecosystem composed of lagoons, mountains, immense dunes of immaculate white sand, adorned by beaches, little bays and headlands of amazing geographical wonder.

Once a land of small farmers and fishermen, it became a major tourism destination due to the very beauty of its nature and the excellent conditions of its beaches for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. From May to November the area is visited by the Southern Right Whale who uses its tranquil "enseadas" to rest, give birth and feed their cubs. The incredible appeal of the region attracted wealthy investors who built a great number of up market "pousadas" (guest houses), gourmet restaurants, fashion boutiques and trendy night clubs and bars over the years. They are associated with the municipality to preserve the region's blessed nature, keeping the place pretty much as they found it - even avoiding the paving of the roads, definitely giving the area a country meets beach/forest natural look.

Most of the Foster's 45 opted to stay in the many guest houses of Rosa, a beach/bay that is part of the selected group of the ten most beautiful bays in the world. A two kilometre long beach with two massive headlands north and south forming protected hooks, allowing surfing conditions with the two dominant winds directions in this area: the northeast and the south winds. Rosa Beach itself has two small lagoons that add to the idyllic paradise far from Imbituba's main break and contest headquarters; it's also an optional site in case the event goes mobile.

Rosa Beach is a place of surfers and beautiful young people in search of waves, sun and contact with nature, but is also a place for high quality accommodation, food and plenty of entertainment. The area is always invaded in summer, long weekends and holidays and will be no different during The Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro. The event will coincide with one of Brazil's longest weekends - November 2nd, 'Findus,' a catholic holiday when Brazilians remember the loved ones who have passed away.

The south of Brazil is also famous on tour for having the most beautiful women, which no doubt, like every year will come to see the Foster's 45 in action, and with a little bit of luck, maybe see them bust a move or two on the dance floor in the many parallel parties that happened along side the event. Last year's former Brazilian surfer top 45 Peterson Rosa's farewell party was considered by many one of the most incredible gatherings they have had the chance to attend, some claiming that there were ten girls for each guy present, swearing they landed in a reunion of top models.

With happenings scheduled from "Casa do Barao" in Imbituba and "Mar Del Rosa" in Rosa Beach, expectations are running high outside the water as well. If you are looking for a more relaxed approach you can enjoy the happy hour in the many groovy and rustic bars by the beaches' edge, tucked in and integrated with the conservation areas, placed with great music where you can enjoy a "caipirinha de cachaca" (Brazilian typical drink, a mixed of cachaca spirit, lime and sugar), along with "camarao aioli" (small shrimp fried in olive oil and garlic) or, "picanha fatiada" (Brazilian bbq prime cut) along with a cold Foster's. For a more healthy approach I recommend an acai bowl with granola and banana or one of the many exotic fruit juices that goes perfect with slices of Indian bread with a ricotta and spinach paste sprinkled with Brazilian aphrodisiac herbs. Watch out!

Ibiraquera, another beautiful part of the town of Imbituba is famous for having some of the best seafood in the country, so later on you can head to one of the many restaurants and indulge yourself with the unique flavours of the south Atlantic.

As I'm writing this file on the third day off of the waiting period, swell forecast for the event is getting better by the day. We're expecting to commence round one November 2nd with a massive swell starting to show up after lunch time. Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th wave size is expected to reach the 10 foot mark. Vila beach, with its two islands guarding the break, is responsible for forming the compact sand bar, and should deliver 'Haleiwa-style powerful rights.'

After a four week hiatus of waves in Europe the whole Forster's ASP World Tour is thirsty for some big surf and I'm sure you are too. So don't go anywhere, we have an exciting world title show down in our hands with all three title contenders - Fanning, Burrow, Slater - with past wins at Vila beach! It will sure be awesome! You keep that web seat warm and get ready for some action at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro. See you there!!!

Renato Hickel
Foster's ASP World Tour Manager