Jorge Hernández has been practicing bodyboarding for only 4 years, and during that time he has achieved an unparalleled record. At 18 years of age, he has already been the world, European, Spanish, and Canarian junior champion. His favorite wave, as it could not be otherwise, is El Frontón. Without a doubt, this young man from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was born for bodyboarding.
Jorge tells us about his recovery from last year’s injury, as well as his current motivation within the world circuit and how he is preparing to attempt the new challenge of his final year in the junior category, aiming to become world champion once again.
- You are in the Mentawai Islands enjoying and training for what’s to come. – How are you enjoying that Indonesian paradise?
Well, the truth is that I’m having a great time in Indonesia because this is paradise and there are waves every day, so I can surf every day both in the morning and in the afternoon.
- Last year, you suffered a serious shoulder injury during the Frontón King while competing for the world title. How do you feel about your shoulder?
Well, my shoulder is still not 100% recovered, but I feel better in the water. However, I still fear it might dislocate again.
- You were the junior champion in 2022, and this year you couldn’t compete in the circuit for various reasons. Therefore, the IBC World Tour has decided to grant you an invitation to the next event in the Maldives. What do you think about receiving a Wildcard for the next IBC World Tour event, Visit Maldives Pro 2024?
Well, it’s really motivating for me because this year has been very difficult for me. It has been a tough year both academically and emotionally. I went through a rough period in my life where I couldn’t surf and was very overwhelmed with studies, but thankfully everything turned out well, and now. I’m slowly getting back into surfing.
- After the good results last year in the Maldives, being 1st in junior and 3rd in open, and knowing that to be the Junior World Champion you have to win in the Maldives and the Frontón. How do you feel about your preparation and motivation to face this challenge? What do you think of the Visit Maldives Pro?
Right now, I’m not feeling very motivated, but I hope that with the trip from Indonesia, I’ll regain my motivation and go to the Maldives stronger than ever. And well, regarding the Visit Maldives Pro, for me, it’s undoubtedly one of the best championships on the tour because everything is perfect, from the infrastructure, organization, people, etc…
- For IBC, it is very important that athletes develop not only as sportspeople, but also prioritize academic results even more. What are your future plans both academically and athletically?
Starting university in September must be very exciting, especially studying teaching with physical education. It sounds like a career you’ll enjoy.
And it’s fantastic that you’re planning to continue competing in the open world tour next year. Visiting Visiting Chile and Brazil for competitions sounds like an amazing opportunity.
“Video TV Canaria in 2022”
