Early life
Ian Gouveia is a second-generation Championship Tour star from Recife, Brazil. His father, Fabio Gouveia, was the world amateur champion in 1988, and the first Brazilian to ever win a CT event in 1991 on his way to finishing No. 5 in the world. Ian has inherited his father’s drive and his spring-loaded style, but added the full spectrum of modern aerial amenities and wrapped it in a goofyfoot package.
Career
While he’s lived in the shadows of his father and his peers during his rise through the ranks, a cursory search of internet rabbit holes will lead you to highlights of his very explosive game, which is what got him on the Championship Tour in 2017. After a prolific pro junior career at home he hit the Qualifying Series hard in 2013, and he toiled there for three-straight years. His highest rank was No. 81. Then in 2016 he arrived with a little more meat on his bones and the added power caught the eyes of judges. Gouveia went on a tear during the European leg, winning the Azores Airlines Pro [2] and finishing third at the QS 10,000 Billabong Cascais Pro, which along with a solid performance at Sunset Beach which ultimately lifted him to the elite stage. [3] He did some damage and paid some dues during his rookie season, falling one-slot shy of missing the CT requalification. But thanks to an inspired performance at Pipeline, where he beat Joel Parkinson, Matt Wilkinson, Julian Wilson and Filipe Toledo on his way to an impressive third-place finish, he was awarded an open wildcard spot to the Championship Tour in 2018 season. [4]
After Ian failed to requalify for the 2019 CT, he competed in the access divisions until 2024, when he had an excellent year in the Challenger Series, winning the Ballito Pro [5] stage and finishing 2nd in the Ranking, guaranteeing qualification for the 2025 CT after 7 years. [6]
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