He’s back on the Tour!
In the last few years, the name Natxo Gonzalez has probably piqued your interest a few times. More likely than not, you will remember him from that freakishly perfect wave he discovered at the edge of the desert. Akin to Mick Fanning’s discovery, Gonzalez cemented himself as one of surfing premiere adventurers when his clip hit the internet. Natxo, of course, ain’t no one hit wonder. While he’s much more than adept at surfing waves of regular size, he really shines when the waves get massive. Now, at a mere 22-years-old, he’s earned a spot on the Big Wave World Tour.
It’s not the first time he’s been on the tour—back in 2015, when he was 18, he proved his mettle for the first time. “When I was on tour for the first time with 18, I had so little experience,” he said. “I had to compete against guys like Carlos (Burle) with 20 years more experience than me… I’m feeling a lot more confident now.”
After being invited to the most WSL Nazaré Challenge as a third alternate, he suddenly found himself in a contest jersey again when two seeded surfers bowed out due to injury. “To get the chance to compete in the Nazaré Challenge was amazing,” Natxo said. “I knew that this was my chance and I’m so incredibly happy that I was able to take it.”
It’s well-known within big wave circles that Natxo is a force to be reckoned with, and he proved them all right when he placed third. That finish put him at the tenth spot on the BWT rankings, which is enough for him to become the newest full-time competitor for the 2018/2019 season.
It wasn’t an easy spot to earn, either. “Twenty-seventeen wasn’t an easy year by any means,” he said. “The only chance of reaching my goal of qualifying for the tour meant to chase every big swell around the world. Catch bombs at all the famous big wave spots with my filmer Jon Aspuru capturing them for a highlight clip to maybe win “Performance of the Year”. That was the plan and it wouldn’t have been easy with so many good guys trying to qualify.”
With this second chance, he’s got his sights set on the top of the podium. “[This season] will be a crazy year again and I will try to learn as much as possible,” he said. “Then try to become World Champion. I can’t wait.”
NATXO GONZALEZ – BACK ON TOUR 2018 from Jon Aspuru on Vimeo.
