“Daniel Sr., his son Surfiel and the academy are responsible for everything, along with my parents, who always supported me. I started surfing at 9, with my dad, who is a lifeguard, in Playa Serena and one day I fell in Waikiki with my short board and didn’t catch a wave (laughs). There, on Daniel’s advice, I switched to a longboard and fell in love forever. Today I enjoy it, it’s something else, an art. And this weekend I lived a dream: I beat my coach, Surfiel, son of Daniel and a great Argentine champion, and I became champion in the Open, being the youngest in the history of this tournament with so much tradition. I still can not believe it. I’m afraid of waking up and it was just a dream.”reflects, still excited, this boy from Mar del Plata who won the 24th edition of the legendary Rip Curl Kikiwai Longboard Classic, the most important championship of this modality (boards of more than 2m75) of the Argentine circuit, which this time was presented by Chevrolet and had the support of many brands that allowed us to organize much more than a surf event.
Because this classic is, in reality, the National Longboard Festival and that is why the legendary Kikiwai point was once again dressed up. “It was one of the best editions, we enjoyed it a lot”, believes Surfiel, a name that means the Wave of God, according to the Bible. There was live music, various artists (Rocío Gil, one of Daniel’s 10 children, painted a Surfland Surfboard), yoga class, product raffle and all the comforts (hydration corner, fruit table) for the professional and amateur surfers who participated in the 11 categories (see Final Results) that generated a record for the event. Of course, there was also competition and an unprecedented cash prize ($200,000 to be distributed), with equality for Open Men and Women, the two main categories.
It was also the second scoring date of the circuit supervised by the Argentine Association (ASA). Zazzeri had been third in the first, which consecrated Nicolás Ludovino, who this time reached the definition but could not with the kid. “I am happy to reach the other final, but also very happy for Valentino’s victory. He deserves it”, admits the lanky rider who lives in Brazil.
“This is exactly why I love longboarding. Because it is different in everything, even in the competition. We are a group of friends, always the same, and there is no rivalry. We had fun, everything is fine”Explains Valen proudly, who arrives at the beach every day on a skateboard or bicycle, juggling with his plank.
Zazzeri speaks like an adult and expresses a desire to learn from the veterans that he does not see so much in the rest of his young colleagues. “I love listening to the greats, like Daniel. He always has a story that you didn’t hear, that he teaches you, he leaves you thinking… He and Surfiel taught me everything I know. I notice that not everyone has my desire to listen and learn. Or getting into the water every day, even if there are no waves, it’s cold, it rains or it thunders.
I am always. That’s maybe why I won a scholarship from your academy program and they have helped me so much. We have a relationship that goes beyond coach and pupil…”, recounts who aspires to be a professional in this discipline – longboard – which is making a strong comeback at a national and international level.
“What sells is the short board, but the long boards have something difficult to explain, another essence… It is another discipline, with a different art, I would say elegant… That attracted me and has me in love. I prefer to surf without being so aggressive, with greater calm, walking the boards, making cuts, expressing something different. I like competition, it’s always been like that, but I don’t get nervous or angry when I lose.
I don’t surf to win or say ‘I’m the best’, but to enjoy myself and to be what it has to be”, he explains. Precisely, surfing without pressure gave him the best gift. “I still can’t believe that I was able to win a semifinal against my coach (Surfiel), so many times Argentine champion… I didn’t even imagine it. Neither winning the final, being the youngest in history… I started surfing as I know how, without pressure, and it happened. That’s why I find it hard to believe, it’s a very exciting day for me and all those who support me”, closes who later ended up losing the Junior final with Marco Calandra.
In Kikiwai everything seems to be dyed by the Gil. Tete, the youngest of Daniel’s daughters (35), won the Ladies category. A surprise for her. More than anything due to inactivity after becoming a mother and changing her country of residence. “I was a mom 16 months ago and I focused on motherhood. Also, since she was living in England, that also made her stop surfing a lot… Just this week I returned to the country and found out that the Longboard Classic was on. I hadn’t been in the sea for six months and I hadn’t competed for about two and a half years.
That is why winning the tournament surprised me a lot and gave me an amazing feeling, because the level of the specialty in the country is higher every day”, says who climbed to the top table at the age of three, motivated by family heritage, and it never stopped. Of course, Teté has plenty of parchments. “I have been a champion in this tournament in 10 editions and I managed to finish twice in the Top 10 of the ISA World Championships, in addition to a fourth place in the Pan American… But I don’t remember much else, because the most important thing is the trajectory and what one has enjoyed. I have no doubt that the best surfer is not the one who earns the most, but rather the one who has the most fun”, she reflects.
The legacy of Daniel Gil, it is clear, is very well guarded.
Final results
Open Category – Men
- Valentino Zizzeri
- Nicholas Ludovino
- Surfiel Gil / Leandro Velardez
Open Category – Ladies
- Tete Gil
- Evelyn Gontier
- Aldana Castro / Lucia Cosoleto
Junior Category
- calender frame
- Valentino Zizzeri
- Tobias Link
Beginner Category
- Philip Hinding
- Fatima Saves
- Brenda Litchenberger
Master Category
- Jose Frias
- Victor Acuna
- Leo Breezes
Category Kahuna
- Claudio Sultani
- Sebastian Barber
- Carola Abalos
Trial Category
- Lele Usuna
- Pichu Iolele
- Ignacio Caracoche
Category Nose Riding
- Surfiel Gil
Source: Ambito
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