Joackim Guichard
Joackim Guichard is one half of the Guichard twins. Born in Oslo to a French father and Norwegian mother, Joackim and his twin brother Lucas are now fortunate enough to live on the sunny south coast of Portugal. The multi-lingual Joackim has raised more than a few eyebrows in recent years with his explosive displays of surfing, including everything from deep barrel rides right through to progressive aerial maneuvers. The 19-year-old has already scored several important podium positions, including a second place finish behind Tiago Pires in Portugal's national championships back in 2008. While Joackim was disappointed not to take the title, he knows that finishing second to a current Dream Tour surfer was no bad achievement in itself! This season, Joackim will be looking to grow his WQS experience in a bid to get one step closer to achieving his long-term goal of qualifying for the elite World Tour. Outside of surfing, Joackim loves spending time with his family, and also enjoys cooking and playing tennis when poor conditions keep him out of the water.
Q: What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A: One of the big highlights was when I got second place in the European Pro Junior 2 star contest. It was also great to travel around the world, experience different cultures and waves, make new friends and go sky-diving!
Q: What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A: The best thing is that I do what I love - many people dont get the chance to do what they love!
Q: Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A: That would be my brother Lucas because we always push each other in a positive way to progress our surfing.
Q: Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A: Other than home, I really like Morroco. The people are friendly and I feel kind of at home there because I speak French like everyone else there. And I also have some African blood in me!
Q: What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A: I want to gain some experience on the WQS and get some good results. I want to keep training hard and develop my surfing and my life in general.
Q: How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A: Well I think the level has been going up and up pretty fast recently, so who knows what's gonna happen in the next few years.
Q: Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film company?
A: I may well be filming some footage for a Scandinavian mag.
Q: What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A: There's always something to do. If the sun's out, I enjoy playing tennis. And if it happens to be raining, then I'll go and swim, do some stretching and fitness back at home. Other than that, you can't go wrong with movies and music! It's nice to spend some time with family as well, of course.
Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A: Maybe when I made it through to my first man-on-man final in Portugal back in 2008. Tiago ended up winning the heat but I was pretty satisfied with my second place.
Q: If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for an occupation?
A: I would be a tennis player, a musician or a chef!
Q: What trick do you enjoy the most?
A: Barrels!
-
world
- year: 0
- title: 2nd Place European Pro Junior
- description:
- year: 0
- title: 2nd Place Portugal National Championships Open
- description:
- year: 0
- title: 1st Place VQS, Portugal
- description:
- TRIP TO MEXICO
- Mexico
- March 18, 2009
It was our first time to Mexico.When we arrived to Colima we didn't have any Mexican currency and the airportwas so small that nobody would change euros, no black market. So we werestuck at the central bus station, how stupid! Luckily 1 hour later a niceold fellow just gave us the money to get to Pascuales, by bus (no questionsasked)it was about 30 pesos, around 2 euros worth.
Finallywe meet Adi, in Pascuales. Right there on the beach we stayed at the Tsunamihotel. That day the waves were 3 feet but very windy, all a mess, so we just rested from the journey. Nextday, waves the conditions were better 5 feet no wind, 7AM Adi and my bro(Joackim) were the first surfers in the water, for myself (Luca) was fellingpretty sick I had contracted 2 weeks before in Bali a parasitecalled BALIBELLY (who could be called around here the revenge of panchovilla) who kept me from surfing for the first 5 days, so I took advantageand focused on filming my bro. We stayed 5 days in Pascuales and theconditions improved every day until 7 feet no wind, barrels everywhere, butthis place would get good from 7AM to noon, after that the wind would start toblow and turn the waves choppie and messy.
Nextlocation we went was secret spot revealed by a Mexican friend named Edgar,we rented the open truck from the owner (Edgar) of the hotel and went there the10 of us.
Some friends we meet there (Frenchyes; Australian and Suice Italian) the secretspot was close to a beach called LA TICLA, took us 2 hours to get there, soonas we arrived the waves were 9 feet hollow barrels no wind, it was perfect! Nobodyout! We rushed in it! Best waves so far in Mexico. We decided to stay, andcamp there. We made a fire, but still during the night we almost frozeto death! The following day we woke up at sunrise, conditions were similar. Ibroke my board in 2, on my first wave. So did my bro 2 days later, luckily wehad some extra boards so we surfed all day long.
Backto Pascuales was time to go home. We had an awesome time surfing in this partof the world! Food was great and people were friendly. On the way back to theairport we had to take a taxi, but the board bags didn't fit in, we had toput them on the roof of the car but there were no ropes, so everybody (Joackim,Luca) had to hold the boards while we were driving including the taxi driver, itwas quite funny situation because the driver only had one hand available todrive, so my brother was his co-pilot and had to switch the gears..
Advicewho need to be taken, 90% of blokes wear a mustache, so grow one before you gothere!