Eunate Aguirre is an expert in the aquatic environment, because of all the adventure sports that you can find, she is dedicated to surf. Without a doubt, she is an expert on the board who has opened a niche for herself in this sport so practiced by the male gender.
Yumping.- Since I was 11 years old catching waves and at 13 I was already competing... How do you experience a childhood in the sea?
Eunate Aguirre.- It has not been a very different childhood from that of the rest of the children my age but with the difference that there is a passion behind it, in my case catching waves. Since I was very little I liked the sea but childhood is the same, I don't think it differs from other children.
And.- But you entered competitions and this entails following a more strict agenda.
E.A.- The world of competition made me miss a lot of class and for that part I had my parents behind me telling me that I had to pass everything. In that case, my childhood was different, because while my friends met up on weekends to go to the old town of Bilbao, I went in search of waves to Asturias and other places to live experiences that seemed more interesting to me.
And.- Shortly after you began to win titles, the first was that of two-time European Junior champion...
E.A.- I had my first experience in the local championships, but I didn't do very well. Later I began to observe before even entering the waves and that was when I began to take it more seriously, to focus a little more, so my results were more positive.
Y.- At that moment brands like Quiksilver are interested in you, what does a teenager feel at that moment?
E.A.- The first thing that crossed my mind was perhaps the feeling of having sponsorship, first of all from the Genesis boards, which led me to dedicate myself more intensely. That a brand is interested in you and starts offering you gifts made me think that if at that moment it offered me such a thing in the future it could take me further. I saw a future, I saw that I could dedicate myself to this.
At that time I signed for Quicksilver which, despite being a men's brand, helped me a lot, since Roxy at that time did not have as much weight as it may have now. I felt lucky and I wanted them to help me achieve the goals I had set.
And.- Were the beginnings hard?
E.A.- The start of high competition was hard, going to travel, the moments of loneliness especially being small, getting used to outside food, not sleeping at home...But I saw that that Effort had its reward, because my level was growing and I did not train many hours.
Y.- Do you think that a female surfer has it more difficult than a man? Traditionally it is a men's sport...
E.A.- I continue to experience that situation in my daily life, since the majority of surfers are men. When you are a girl you don't realize it but the moment puberty arrives and you undergo that hormonal change, boys start to play typical jokes on you, etc. But it is also true that they were my traveling companions and they took care of me, because I was the smallest of the group and they respected me a lot.
Nowadays I would like it to be different, I have found my way, now I compete against women and I am much more comfortable. At that time I did go with them and made my way. Now I'm meeting friends who surf, maybe not at the same level as me, but it helps me to be able to be with them and enjoy my medium.
Y.- As for the physical trainer, you have a man as a coach. Would you like a female figure?
E.A.- I am very comfortable with him because we spend many hours together, but it is true that sometimes you miss female complicity: to travel, share a room in a hotel... Although who knows, maybe even If I had a coach I could get along with her!
Y.- More and more girls are deciding to surf, do you think there is a good level in Spain?
E.A.- I think that just as there has been a boom at the male level, women still have a little bit to do. Worldwide in various categories such as kitesurf or windsurf, there are great figures, but I think that the next generations will be better in terms of quantity, there will be more girls.
And.- It is difficult for girls to dedicate themselves to a sport like surfing...
E.A.- This sport needs the Cantabrian, Cádiz or Barcelona four days a year, and also if we know that the girls are lazier when it comes to practicing a sport... It is complicated, although more and more schools are teaching classes and there are more girls who are dedicated to practicing it.
Y.- A month ago Roxy organized an event to instill the practice of Paddle Surf in Ibiza. You were with the best riders in the world in windsurfing, kitesurfing and bodyboarding. How was the experience?
E.A.- The experience was incredible. For me it was the second year and this year the change from Madrid to Ibiza has been very positive. The images that can be found on the Internet speak for themselves, the girls are great in any of their disciplines and they are all fierce. Furthermore, Ibiza has incredible beaches and I am very happy to have attended. I am looking forward to attending another event.
And.- How do you see Paddel Surf today?
E.A.- It is a practice that puts the person in contact with nature, it is also a very slow way to start from scratch and you can walk, enjoy nature without having to catch waves from minute one . No special physical condition is needed, as it is practically available to everyone.
And.- Do you need special conditions to be able to surf?
E.A.- Surfing requires a lot of patience and even more so since it is a sport in which the environment is changing, you have to anticipate what is going to happen, you have to have skills of skill on the board... but it is a very pleasant sport.
And.- IBA has just announced the suspension of the second round of the 2010 tour. What does this mean?
E.A.- Yes, we had a test in Aruba and I was thinking of going there so I could train and prepare. It is the first time they have organized the championship and there must have been a last minute problem where some requirement was not met. Maybe with the crisis they have looked at it with different eyes... But looking at it on the positive side, it also leaves me more time to prepare at home.
Y.- You are third in the general classification after the Brazilian Buizos test. How was the experience?
E.A.- Last year was difficult because I was fighting for first place, I wanted to be world champion but the pressure defeated me. I came second and this year I want lazier when it comes to practicing a sport... It is complicated, although more and more schools are teaching classes and there are more girls who are dedicated to practicing it.
Y.- A month ago Roxy organized an event to instill the practice of Paddle Surf in Ibiza. You were with the best riders in the world in windsurfing, kitesurfing and bodyboarding. How was the experience?
E.A.- The experience was incredible. For me it was the second year and this year the change from Madrid to Ibiza has been very positive. The images that can be found on the Internet speak for themselves, the girls are great in any of their disciplines and they are all fierce. Furthermore, Ibiza has incredible beaches and I am very happy to have attended. I am looking forward to attending another event.
And.- How do you see Paddel Surf today?
E.A.- It is a practice that puts the person in contact with nature, it is also a very slow way to start from scratch and you can walk, enjoy nature without having to catch waves from minute one . No special physical condition is needed, as it is practically available to everyone.
And.- Do you need special conditions to be able to surf?
E.A.- Surfing requires a lot of patience and even more so since it is a sport in which the environment is changing, you have to anticipate what is going to happen, you have to have skills of skill on the board... but it is a very pleasant sport.
And.- IBA has just announced the suspension of the second round of the 2010 tour. What does this mean?
E.A.- Yes, we had a test in Aruba and I was thinking of going there so I could train and prepare. It is the first time they have organized the championship and there must have been a last minute problem where some requirement was not met. Maybe with the crisis they have looked at it with different eyes... But looking at it on the positive side, it also leaves me more time to prepare at home.
Y.- You are third in the general classification after the Brazilian Buizos test. How was the experience?
E.A.- Last year was difficult because I was fighting for first place, I wanted to be world champion but the pressure defeated me. I came second and this year I want
