Iker Fuentes
Spanish surf sensation Iker Fuentes joined the O'Neill surf team in 2004 in an effort to further boost his performances in Europe while providing the necessary support to concentrate on a full assault on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) WQS tour. The goofy footer from Sopelana, Bizkaia in Northern Spain rates the meaty barrels of Mundaka amongst his favorite waves and has been turning heads on the European scene ever since he sealed his reputation by taking the vice champ title on the European Tour (EPSA). Iker fits right in among the other European team surfers, all of whom are versatile surfers. The gifted Spaniard is now well placed to fulfil his pro surfing ambition to join his international teammates on the WCT.
- When did you make your decision to dedicate your life to your chosen sport?
"I was 15 years old when I went to Australia for six months for surfing with the best surfers. After this trip I was very motivation and this was the moment when I decide to fait for be a professional surfer."
- What's the best thing that happened to you in the past year?
"Many good sessions in Mundaka with not many guys( not many people knows in that time that mundaka was back je je…"
- What are your plans for the next 12 months?
" Still competing and still having fun."
- How do you see your sport evolving in the next 5 years?
"Still increasing"
- Who do you think is doing a good job of pushing the sport at the moment, and what are they doing differently?
" I think the surf schools are very important to introduce people in surfing. Is a very funny sport, you feel very relax after a session and most of the people who try surfing knows this so I think this increase a lot the sport."
- Have you been filming recently, and who with? What can the kids see you in?
" I been doing some films With Isio for DVD for 360 magazine and the kids can seen the perfect barrels in Mundaka."
- Do you ever feel burnt out, and what do to turn things around?
"When the results on the competitions doesn´t go good I feel bad but I just have confiance in my self and continue."
- What advice would you give to any kids wanting to turn pro?
" Not think to much about competitions results, just have fun surfing , travel all as you can, if is possible (Australia, Hawaii…) and wach surfing movies. Try to surf diferents spots, ( beach breaks, reef breaks , point breaks….)"
- Other than your chosen sport, what else are you passionate about?
"Snowboarding, Tenis."
- Where on this planet would you like to retire to, and why?
"I would like in my home town with friends and my family"
- What are you doing tomorrow?
"I will wake up early in the mornig because a good swell is coming. I hope to spend all day surfing."
- If your life wasn't what it already is, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
"I don´t know but my mother said that a professional tenis player because see think I was very good when I was young ( is my mother!! je je …)"
- What's the best thing about riding for O'Neill?
"There are many good things but the best I think is O´neill a Friendly team and think a lot to pushing to the team riders. I am very happy , Thank you very much!!!"