Champion surfer Caio Ibelli trades waves for outback life in Mount Isa

Brazilian professional surfer Caio Ibelli has made the unexpected move to outback Queensland, swapping the waves of the east coast for the red dirt plains of north-west Queensland.

Almost 1,000 kilometres from the coast, Ibelli is now one of Mount Isa's newest residents, wrangling his toddler and adjusting to life in the bush.

A new life in the outback

“After living in so many different places, this is the best place in the world to live,” Ibelli said.

Originally from Brazil, Ibelli moved to Australia after a stint in California. He picked up a surfboard at the age of three and by seven, his talent was being noticed.

By 23, Ibelli had qualified for the World Surf League tour, kicking off a nine-year professional career.

“After that, I kind of retired … I wanted to have kids and a family,” he said.

Adjusting to life in Mount Isa

Ibelli said although a move to the outback wasn’t always planned, he was proud to be raising his son in the city, despite knowing little about what to expect.

“It is getting a little bit too hot. It’s about 38 degrees right now, and I heard it goes all the way to 46 … I’ve never felt that in my life,” he said.

It was his wife’s career that brought the family, including their one-year-old son, Thomas, to the region after completing her medical degree.

“We actually love it here. We love the community, and it’s a great opportunity for my son to be raised here … this is the real Australia,” Talie Ibelli laughed.

A recent win in the Maldives

The family have only been to the beach about six times since moving to the bush, which makes his recent win in the Maldives all the more impressive.

“I was playing with my son and then my phone rang and I’m like, ‘What? Go to the Maldives in 10 days? I’m smelling the dirt here right now,’” he said.

He said muscle memory along with his new-found “outback attitude” helped him snag the overall win.

“The event was cool. Winning it was amazing, it was awesome,” he said.

Giving back to the community

Ibelli said it was a privilege to be among the mining city’s claims to fame, including perhaps being its most famous surfer.

“After I won the contest in the Maldives, coming back to Mount Isa, I’ve been going around in places, and people are like, ‘Are you the surfer?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah’, and people are kind of tripping,” he said.

“I feel so fortunate to be here, Australia is such a good place, and Mount Isa is amazing.”

Even with the positives, he admits it is tough to be a surfer with no surf.

“I’m really missing some kind of water, so sometimes I go to swim, or I’m just hoping Mount Isa Council will build us a wave pool sometime soon,” he laughed.

Ibelli’s next dream is teaching bush kids how to surf.

“I’m so grateful for being here with my family, and I feel like the least I could do is like giving back, and I would love to some day take local people to the beach and surf,” he said.

“Who knows, like one day we can bring like a Mount Isa Surf Club on a competition.”