Surf trip Lanzarote

Whenever we arrive at the end of the year and the waters of Spain and Portugal begin to cool drastically, I like to visit my friends at Bruma Studio in Lanzarote. As usual, they receive me with open arms since my first trips to the island. When I go there I stay at Adrián Rodd’s house although we also call this site Locutorio la Santa. A meeting point for all the surfers in the area and where I have spent incredible moments celebrating life. Another person in the group who has known me since I was 14 years old, and who used to call me “parakeet” at the time is Gines Diaz, originally from La Graciosa but residing between Recife and Malasaña, Madrid. Also added to these moments of surf trip in Lanzarote (and many others) is our favorite pilot Leo Zarate.

My history in Lanzarote dates back to my junior stage competing in the Franito Pro Junior in the company of Jose Maria Cabrera. Since that first occasion I was blown away by the general level of the locals in such demanding waves. Very aggressive waves that I was not used to surfing. However that allowed me to evolve quickly while generated a lot of interest in continuing to investigate in that direction. Until then the closest conditions I had surfed was La Graviere or Supertubos. But both are sandy bottom so things change with such shallow depth and stone bottom…

Once again, it was a good idea to fly to Lanzarote to enjoy a week of good waves in good company, creating content and eating healthy. In short, it is something like a spiritual retreat for me or at least, it comes close. But this calm did not last long as the forecast began to come alive. Also, the internationally prestigious invitational championship Quemao Class gave the green light for the celebration the following weekend. I was able to compete for the first time in this 2018 championship and I won the award for the best wave of the event, a 10 point ride and one of the best waves of my life. This year, the forecast looked even bigger and more perfect according to the local and friend Manuel Lezcano. He used to go through the Locutorio la Santa overexcited by what was coming!

The day before the championship, waiting for the swell the next morning for the celebration, you can breathe an incredible atmosphere on the walk of El Quemao. Something like a huge celebration to which people from all parts of Europe and the whole canary surfer community join. As a surfer, it is undoubtedly one of the most intense experiences that can be lived. I am very grateful to the organizers of the Quemao Class for giving me the opportunity to express myself in one of the best waves in the world with three other surfers in the peak.

On the first day of the competition, I enjoyed passing my heats catching very good waves while watching both surfers and bodyboarders put on a show. After that, the second day was even better, I had never seen El Quemao so perfect. Certainly, although I stayed at the gates of the final I could overcome and learn a lot from this experience. To finish the weekend well, we went out to dinner at La Santa and celebrated the deserved victory of Aritz Aranburu.

In conclusion, with this dose of adrenaline, high on emotions, and enjoyment, the season started.