{{Short description|Brazilian surfer}} {{Infobox surfer | name = Carlos Burle | image = Praia do Norte beach - High waves - Nazaré - Portugal (39615885300).jpg | caption = Big wave surfing at Nazaré, Portugal | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|11|9}} | birth_place = Recife, Brazil | height = {{convert|1.72|m|ft|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|67|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} | website = https://carlosburle.com | major_achievements = Champion, Big-Wave World Championship at Todos Santos, Mexico (1998)<br>Champion, Big Wave World Tour (2010) }}

'''Carlos Burle''' (born November 9, 1967) is a retired Brazilian surfer and 2x world champion in big wave surfing.<ref name="RBvid"/> In November, 2001 he set the world record for the tallest measured wave ever surfed, at {{convert|68|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-biggest-waves-ever-surfed|title=The 15 biggest waves ever surfed|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2025 |website=surfertoday.com}}</ref> He was one of the pioneers of tow-in surfing, a technique which allows for surfing bigger waves.<ref name="UMA">{{Cite web|first=Clara|last=Jardim|url=https://umarevista.com/entrancing-with-carlos-burle-an-interview-with-the-two-time-world-champion-in-giant-waves/|title=Entrancing with Carlos Burle: An interview with the two-time world champion in giant waves|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2025 |website=umarevista.com}}</ref> In 2013 he rode a wave with an apparent height of {{convert|100|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}, which would have been the tallest wave ever ridden if verified.<ref name="GUIN">{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/10/has-brazil%E2%80%99s-carlos-burle-beaten-the-world-record-for-largest-wave-surfed-52601|title=Has Brazil’s Carlos Burle beaten the world record for largest wave surfed?|language=en|access-date=December 23, 2025 |date= October 31, 2013|first=Kevin |last=Lynch|website=www.guinnessworldrecords.com}}</ref> Burle has been described as Brazil's "first-ever big wave freesurfer".<ref name="RB2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/carlos-burle|title=Carlos Burle|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2025 |date= October 31, 2013|website=www.redbull.com}}</ref>

==Career== Burle was born in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. He said that as a boy, even though there was a lot of love from his parents, his father told him that if he followed surfing he would end up picking garbage off the street, because surfing wasn't a profession he could live from.<ref name="RBvid"/><ref name="UMA"/> He began surfing professionally nonetheless in 1987.

In 1998, he won his first big international tournament, the Big Wave World Championship in Todos Santos Bay, Mexico.<ref name="RB2"/>

In 1999, he fractured a vertebra after smashing into a reef at Backdoor, on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfer.com/culture/011503-burle|title=Shattered|language=en|access-date=December 26, 2025 |date=January 14, 2003|website=www.surfer.com}}</ref>

In November 2001, at Mavericks, California, Burle surfed the largest wave ever recorded at the time, measuring {{convert|68|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}. This was only possible thanks to tow-in surfing, a technique he helped introduce to the sport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ombe.co/guides/the-ombe-crew-recalls-the-biggest-wave-surfed|title=The OMBE Crew Recalls the Biggest Wave Surfed|language=en|access-date=December 26, 2025 |first=Jeremy |last=Dean|website=www.ombe.com}}</ref><ref name="SURFLINE"/>. His tow partner was fellow Brazilian big wave rider Eraldo Gueiros.

In 2003, he and three other athletes surfed a series of tidal waves, known as the Pororoca, on the Amazon River.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0304/S00045/the-amazon-river-a-surfers-paradise.htm|title=The Amazon River, a surfer's paradise|language=en|date=April 11, 2003|access-date= December 27, 2025|website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> The Pororoca is a tidal bore which can reach 4 meters height and flow up to 13 km upstream on the Amazon River from its mouth under certain conditions. In 2003, at Jaws on the north shore of Maui, he fractured his sacrum, L1 vertebra, and broke his left hip, requiring four months on crutches.<ref name="RB-50Q">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/br-pt/50-coisas-sobre-carlos-burle|title= 50 coisas que você precisa saber sobre Carlos Burle|language=pt|date=April 27, 2018|access-date= December 23, 2025|first=Maíra |last=Pabst|website=www.redbull.com}}</ref>

In 2010, Burle won the inaugural Big Wave World Tour for the 2009/2010 season. The tour consisted of four competitions, the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos in Chile, the Billabong Pico Alto Invitational in Peru, the Maverick's Surf Contest in California, and Todos Santos Big Wave Event in Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/carlos-burle-is-the-new-big-wave-world-tour-champion|title=Carlos Burle crowned 2009/2010 Big Wave World Tour champion|language=en|date=April 27, 2010|access-date= December 23, 2025|website=www.surfertoday.com}}</ref>

List of top 10 placements in competitions (2009-2016):<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/7128/carlos-burle|title=Carlos Burle Event Results|language=en|access-date= December 27, 2025|website=www.worldsurfleague.com}}</ref>

* 2009: ** 4th place, Todos Santos Big Wave Event ** 5th place, Mavericks Surf Contest ** 2nd place, Billabong Pico Alto ** 5th place, Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile * 2010: ** 7th place, Nelscott Reef Classic ** 3rd place, Billabong Pico Alto ** 9th place, Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile * 2012: ** 1st place, Billabong Pico Alto * 2014: ** 7th place, Billabong Pico Alto * 2015: ** 3rd place, Todos Santos Challenge * 2016: ** 2nd place, Nazaré Challenge ** 4th place, Puerto Escondido Challenge

On October 28, 2013, at age 45, Burle surfed a wave in Nazaré, Portugal which was judged to be {{convert|100|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} tall. The wave would have been the tallest measured wave ever surfed if verified.<ref name="GUIN"/> On the same day, he was with fellow Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira when she was knocked unconscious by the strong waves and nearly drowned. Burle was involved in rescuing her and dragging her to shore, where she was given medical attention on the beach before being taken to hospital. She suffered a broken ankle but no serious injuries.

In 2018, at the age of 50, he retired from professional surfing at the 2018 Nazaré Challenge in Portugal. His protégé, Lucas Chumbo, won the competition at the same event.<ref name="SURFLINE">{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/cyclical-success-carlos-burle-interview/19249|title=Cyclical Success: The Carlos Burle Interview|language=en|date=February 17, 2018|first=Matt|last=Pruett|access-date= December 26, 2025|website=www.surfline.com}}</ref>

In 2019, at age 50, he was a finalist for the XXL Awards, in the tow-in category "Ride of the Year", at Jaws, Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carlosburle.com|title=Carlos Burle|access-date=December 27, 2025|website=www.carlosburle.com|language=pt}}</ref>

On December 3, 2025, Burle suffered a severe wipeout and was nearly drowned by a massive wave at Nazaré. He was saved by fellow surfers Lucas Chumbo and Will Santana, who were able to pull him from the water and tow him to safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/massive-wave-engulfs-surfer-carlos-burle-stunning-video-team-saved-my-life-11861925|first=Sean|last= Neumann| title=Massive Wave Engulfs Surfer Carlos Burle in Stunning Video, Says Team 'Saved My Life'|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2025 |date=December 4, 2025|website=www.people.com}}</ref>

He has been sponsored by Redley, Red Bull, Mitsubishi, DoBem and Mormaii.<ref name="RB-50Q"/>

He has been a coach and mentor to professional big wave surfer Lucas Chumbo.<ref name="RBvid">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/videos/carlos-burle-retirement|title=Carlos Burle Looks Back on a Big Career|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2025 |date=January 10, 2018|website=www.redbull.com|format=video }}</ref>

==Personal life== Burle's partner is Ligia Kuntz Moura. He has several children.<ref name="RB-50Q"/> He lives in Rio de Janeiro and Hawaii.

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burle, Carlos}} Category:Living people Category:Brazilian surfers Category:1967 births Category:World Surf League surfers Category:Sportspeople from Rio de Janeiro (city) Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen