3| Adriano De Souza
Birthday: February 13, 1987
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Touted by many as one of the best Brazilian ever, a lightening fast regular-footer from the beachbreak-rich Guarujá area, Adriano De Souza came into his freshman year on the WCT with guns blazing. Already an ASP junior world champion, his blistering start at the Quiksilver Pro in Australia, finishing equal third, proved he's capable of big things. Now, a WCT veteran at 20 years old, he's gaining the confidence and maturity needed on a world tour that's seeing more and more success at older ages. He maintained a 41% winning percentage, but result-wise, was challenged in the heavier island-style waves. With a lot of roadwork he is quickly reconciling this weakness. De Souza's first year on the world tour saw the boy steadily mature into a man, with his rail work and strength through tight arcs becoming a more dominant component in his wave-riding approach, especially so on his backhand. “There's no one tougher to surf against than Adriano de Souza,” says fellow junior classmate Matt Wilkinson. “He's an amazing competitor, he has a full arsenal of very dangerous turns.” Finishing 20th in the world is no easy feat, and as he proved with several big rookie results, he's more than capable of rolling with the heavy hitters.