Iker Fuentes

Iker Fuentes

Biography:

Hailing from Sopelana in the Basque Country, Iker Fuentes has become one of Spain's most respected surfers. After cutting his teeth at Mundaka, the legendary Basque wave famed for its powerful left-hand barrels, Fuentes signed on the dotted line for O'Neill in 2004. Since then and with a handful of impressive wildcard appearances at the Billabong Pro Mundaka, Iker has proved time and time again that he has the skills to hang with the world's best surfers. His talent and competitive edge was confirmed to the rest of the surfing world when he was crowned EPSA Vice Champion. Regardless of whether he's surfing a tense heat on the WQS circuit or bagging footage and photos on a boat trip in Indonesia, Fuentes always charges hard and takes no prisoners. While Fuentes is busy planning even more freesurfing trips this year, the  goofy footer hasn't given up on his dream of one day joining fellow Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu on the elite World Tour.

Photos:
surfer rule '08
Latest on Iker Fuentes: related products: Interview

Q: What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A: Surfing barrels at Mundaka on an epic day last October.  

Q: What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A: It's great to be able to do what I love and travel around the world.  

Q: Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A: I really enjoy going on boat trips with friends because it's always fun to surf with them, and almost just as fun to talk about all those sick waves you shared when you're back on the boat after each session.   

Q: Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A: Indonesia. It has very consistent waves and there are so many spots to surf over there. And so many perfect barrels.  

Q: What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A: I'm just hoping to go on as many surf trips to as many new places as I can.  

Q: How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A: I think we'll see some new maneuvers that share similarities with skating, and I also think we'll see even more extreme surfing on big waves.  

Q: Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film company?
A: I've been filming for a DVD that's coming out with Surfer Rule magazine.  

Q: What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A: I enjoy spending time with my family, kickboxing and tending to my vegetable garden.  

Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A: I was pretty stoked to get 2nd place on the European Tour (EPSA).  

Q: If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for an occupation?
A: I think I'd probably be a fireman.  

Q: What trick do you enjoy the most?
A: I enjoy surfing barrels more than anything else, for sure.

Achievements