Rodrigo Dornelles began surfing in 1996 and just one year later, he secured his first sponsorship. The natural footer is a warhorse that's determined to be in the top 16 on the Dream Tour. Known for his fluid style and fierce cutbacks, his talent is demonstrated best when under the pressure of competition. With the Tour rookies ranging from 18 to the mid 30's, it's anyone's guess as to whether experience or repertoire will pan out this season, and Dornelles is not worried.

This fiery Brazilian knows how to compete and although he may not be on par with some of the younger kids coming up, he more than makes up for it in tenacity. In addition to his love of competition, he's acquired an appreciation for the beauty of the sport and respects the beaches he surfs; his favorite surf is "Ilha dos Lobos," South of Brazil, where fishing is prohibited and the surfing is controlled by the environmental police.

weight: 154 lbs (70 kilos)

height: 5'7" (169 cm)

stance: Regular (natural) foot

sponsors: Fox clothing, Freesurf wetsuits, Planeta Surf and Xanadu surfboards

shapers: Xanadu

quiver: 5'10", 6'0, 6'1", 6'3", 6'8", 7'0, bigger for Hawaii

favorite waves: Bells, J Bay, Trestles, Jails and Ilha Dos Lobos

favorite maneuvers: Tubes and cutbacks

favorite surfers: Kelly Slater, Neco Padaratz and Raoni Monteiro

2008 Rating: 33

2008 Points: 2915

2008 earnings: $64,600.00

Career earnings: $390,080.00

highest ASP World Tour rating: 19th in 2007

years on ASP World Tour: 2008 will be Rodrigo's 4th year on tour. He competed in 01', 02' and 07'

rating by year:
2007: 19th
2002: 44th
2001: 40th

elite inception: 2001

hard yards: Rodrigo began competing on the ASP WQS in 1992

sabbatical: Rodrigo fell off tour at the end of 2002 and qualified again for 2007

filmography: Brazilian vids

elite tour victories: (0)