From IBC World Tour, we’re excited to bring you the highly anticipated interview with the current Junior Men’s World Champion 2024.
He’s a 19-year-old athlete who’s been bodyboarding for 7 years. Originally from Spain, he lives in the Canary Islands, specifically Gran Canaria. He’s a local at one of the best right-hand breaks in Europe, El Confital, and his favorite move is the inverted air. A really humble guy and a great friend, he’s an awesome competitor with a spectacular surfing style, especially known for keeping his cool in tense moments.
Without further ado, we’re thrilled to interview the current champion!
ALEXANDER MONTES “Canary Island”
– What does bodyboarding bring to your life
Bodyboarding is pretty much everything to me. The ocean is my place to disconnect and, above all, have fun. Being in the water doing sports is a feeling that’s really hard to explain; it’s like I disconnect from the real world and dive into another amazing one.
– Tell us a bit about how you got started in bodyboarding.
I started bodyboarding at Patalavaca beach in the south of Gran Canaria. I got into the sport thanks to two friends, Kevin Segura and Gabriel Mendoza, since we studied at the same school and they got me hooked. A little later, I moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and that’s where my skills started to improve as I began surfing waves like La Cícer and El Confital.
– How did it feel to be crowned world champion, especially in the Canaries?
Without a doubt, October 20, 2024, was a turning point for me. That day, after so many years trying to achieve that title, training hard, and making a lot of sacrifices, I finally fulfilled my dream. It was the happiest day of my life, no question about it. And to top it off, I did it at home, in the most prestigious championship in this sport, surrounded by the people who’ve seen me grow up and with my friends crying tears of joy by my side.
– Do you have any idols or riders that inspire you?
When I started in this sport, the rider who impressed me the most was Tanner McDaniel. To this day, he’s still one of my inspirations. But over time, I’ve realized you don’t have to look far to find inspiration. Right now, I really look up to Kevin Orihuela and Javi Domínguez; they have things in their surfing that I haven’t seen anywhere else, and honestly, even though I see them surfing with me almost every day, they never stop surprising me.
– What are your future plans?
Right now, I’m focusing on my academic career since I’m studying a higher-level course and getting my driver’s license. This year, I also want to enjoy more free surfing because I feel like I haven’t had enough of that in recent years since I’ve prioritized competition. I’m looking to push my surfing level, and I’d like to travel to discover waves I’ve never surfed before. But for sure, once I finish my course, I want to take competition seriously again; I have clear goals in the Open category, and I want to give it a shot.
– Send a motivational message for those who are starting out or want to get into bodyboarding.
For those just getting into bodyboarding, I want to say that no matter what challenges life throws at you, never stop practicing. The ocean is, for me, the best way to heal my problems, especially when you’re surrounded by people you care about and you’re all out there riding the waves together. Those are moments you won’t often get to feel again in your life. And for those who want to start, I encourage you to give it a try because, as I said before, being connected to nature this way is just incredible, plus bodyboarding is a super complete sport for both body and mind.
– What places in the world would you like to visit and what waves would you like to surf?
I’d love to go to Watukarung in Indonesia, and another wave I’ve always dreamed of hitting is Mandurah Wedge in Australia.
– How do you see the junior bodyboarding level in the Canary Islands?
In my opinion, the junior bodyboarding level in the Canary Islands is the best in the world. I’ve had the chance to be in several countries and compete against the best juniors on the planet. It’s true that Morocco and Chile have some incredible riders, but for me, the juniors from the Canaries are the ones who shred the best, especially with so many elite-level surfers around.
– Here’s your space to thank, greet, or express whatever you want:
I’d like to take a moment to thank those few people who always believed in me and never let me give up, even when things got tough. It’s those special few that made it all worthwhile, and I’ll carry them in my heart forever.
