It goes without saying that New Zealand was ecstatic when Ricardo qualified. Having their flag finally brandished on the World Tour is what any country with a rich surf culture should hope for. Unfortunately, Ricardo and his country were quickly reminded how cutthroat the elite Tour can be when he failed to solidify a spot the following year. This is, of course, not the end of the road for Ricardo. Despite his absence from the top 34 list, the future looks bright for this ripping Kiwi. Here’s Ricardo proving that an early exit from the Lowers contest wasn’t such a bad thing.
