Scrappy Brazilians making waves in the surfing world, but class and race divisions persist

Surfing has become a source of national pride for Brazil, with its athletes dominating world standings. But as with many aspects of Brazilian life, the country’s race and class divisions are having an impact on surfers and the sport at large. Silvana Lima, a gay mixed-race athlete who happens to be the best female surfer in the world, doesn’t fit the conventional image of what sponsors think of.