The festival of the hotbed of Argentine surfing: the magnifying glass in the projection

At 15 years old he gets up at six in the morning and goes to the water for an hour and a half. If the waves are not so good, change to physical training -three times a week- and then, if the condition improves, he goes into the sea. Yes or yes. In the afternoon he grabs the computer to attend secondary school online thanks to the quota that Enard gave him – as he was part of the national team – within the Distance Education System but he keeps checking the sea to see if a little trick comes up in order to afternoon and do some surf.

Otherwise, some internet, online or board games, with the family, maybe more at night. Like this every day. For weeks and even months. Thiago not for a second. He goes here, he goes there, with a contagious passion. Son of the tiger, they say. Everyone knows who he is and why he is like that. This is the son of Martin Passerithe greatest Argentine surfing champion (six times), but at this point, with so much result and individual growth, he is much more than that…

For a long time now Thiago It does not stop its march. It all started last June when she went to train and compete in Central America, first in El Salvador, then to Costa Rica and later, to Guatemala and Panama. Then the journey continued in California, surfing in legendary spots and achieving three finals in tournaments. The three months outside were crowned with the title of Latin American M14 champion in the famous ALAS circuit, after beating a Brazilian in the final, in addition to getting on the M18 podium, giving him a four-year lead.

But not content with that, he returned to the country, competed in Mardel and at the end of the year he traveled to Buenos Aires to take the SED exams. In 2024 he started the same, going to Uruguay, returning to Mardel at the end of January and returning abroad again, in February, to collect great results in Chile and Peru and thus become leader in the Olas Pro Tour.

At the end of the month he returned to our country for two junior tournaments, especially the most important of the year, the legendary Quiksilver Young Guns, which had him as the winner in the top category, the U18. The great annual stop that the Argentine hotbed has confirmed why Passeri pigeon is the new jewel of national surfing, with an important international projection.

But, of course, true to his style, he did not stop there and, accompanied by his mother, traveled to Buenos Aires for two days to perform three finals that he had left. Just before the deadline, the 11th, the day the new school year begins. After two days of abstinence from water, neither the hustle nor the bus trips stopped him.

At 6 am I was already in the water. “She is very passionate and, at the same time, very responsible. She never wants to stop doing anything and she does everything very seriously,” explains her mother Mariana, a partner in each new challenge.

Thiago is part of this new generation that takes what the previous ones sowed, especially that of his father, the leader of national surfing professionalism, although he contributes his imprint. And the Warrior’s son continues on his way. And his legacy. It’s not by chance. His own father is the coach and guide, in the water. And outside.

“Thiago is in a very interesting moment. He grew up, is strong and no longer looks like a youth. They tell me that a lot outside. He just turned 15, but they see him as if he were 18. Or an Open. It has to do with physical training, your predisposition, with the hours in the water and outside. Today I can say that I see it closer to the international level. “He has the head and mentality of a great competitor,” analyzes the man who, at 48, is still active as a surfer although he also runs a high-performance surf center, with several of the national jewels in charge.

“I don’t know if I expected this good moment, but all the work I have been doing with dad in the water, with Sergio in the gym, to continue growing physically, mentally and technically is paying off. It’s true that everything is happening very fast, but I swear I enjoy every millisecond that passes. I don’t know if I have goals for the year or dreams for my career. More than traveling countries, discovering new waves, competing and enjoying. And give my maximum and go as far as my limits say enough,” she admits with the maturity that characterizes her.

The father, anyway, wants to stop talking about his son a little and focuses on what happened at the Young Guns, an event organized by Quiksilver, presented by Ford and with the invitation of Ala Moana Surfshop, which had boys from 10 to 18 years, a total of 96. “This tournament is an international event, like those held in Brazil, for example, and it serves as a thermometer to analyze the current context of the juniors. Which luckily are very well. You can aim for more, of course. The bar is high, higher than before, but it would be good to have more work, more support, in every sense. But there is no doubt that there is a platoon of boys that is growing a lot and interesting coaches who accompany and strengthen this group,” analyzes Martín.

Franco Radziunas left these tournaments until he made the jump to Open and now, from Hawaii, on a journey of great experience, he analyzes the importance of these events for kids. “The Young Guns was always the most anticipated tournament, because of the organization, everything that surrounded it. There was even a time when I qualified for an international competition. It always gave you great motivation but, at the same time, it pushed you due to the condition of the wave and the competition itself. Tournaments like this are very important for kids to compete often and thus gain rhythm, experience, confidence… For me, in particular, it was difficult for me to win national titles as a junior, but there was always that motivation to compete and improve,” he highlights from a distance, now established as one of the best Argentine surfers today in Open.

Thiago is on that path, but without losing focus on his present, going step by step. “These large tournaments like the Young Guns are very important. There is a high level, even kids from outside arrive. I come with many tournaments, abroad and here, but I don’t stop having fun. This time was no exception. I felt incredible, with my friends and family supporting me from the outside, being on the beach enjoying myself and all those vibes make me feel incredible and super connected to nature,” he closes. Not before saying goodbye and continuing with the same passion as always. Thiago doesn’t stop. Nor the growth of Argentine juniors.

Below we detail the results of all categories:

Ladies M18

1. Vicky Muñoz Larreta
2. Katya Wirsch
3. Maia Radziunas
4. Red Pearl

Men M18

1. Thiago Passeri
2. Joaquín Muñoz Larreta
3. Fermin Aued
4. Lautaro Rojas Thill

Ladies M16

1. Victoria Muñoz Larreta
2. Maia Radziunas
3. Katya Wirsch
4. Lua Daleo

Men M16

1. Juan García Mata
2. Thiago Passeri
3. Facundo Ruggiero
4. Mateo García Rabini

Ladies M14

1. Lua Daleo
2. Agustina Pagi
3. Aymara Ricardone
4. Kiara Castro Novo

Men M14

1. Facundo Ruggiero
2. Faustino Llorca
3. Tahiel Sosa
4. Rafael García Mata

Ladies M12

1. Aymara Ricardone
2. Amaia Iriberri
3. Amelie Carbone
4. Catalina Facio

Men M12

1. Simon Franco
2. Simon Iglesias
3. Giovanni Carbone
4. Second Saint Martin

foamers

1. María Paz Blanco | Amber Wirsch
2. Renata Marchetti
3. Indiana Assmann
4. Renata Rossi

foamers

1. Simon Franco
2. Valentino Girolami
3. Gustavo Riedel
4. John Nelson