Pacho

Originally from Colombia, Pacho now lives in Biarritz, in the heart of the French Basque Country. Driven by his passion for the ocean and surfing, he now works as a surf instructor on the Basque coast. With the ultimate goal of democratizing surfing in Colombia, Pacho is actively involved in the Paddle Paddle association, which collects and repairs equipment in order to offer Colombians the possibility of surfing the waves of their country. @pachoburgersurf

Who are you ? Where do you come from ?

I'm Pacho, I'm Colombian and passionate about surfing. I have been living in France for 6 years now and more particularly in Biarritz in the Basque Country (64).

How long have you been surfing? How did you progress?

I have been surfing for 9 years now, and I progress by forcing myself to get into the water regularly whatever the conditions.

What does surfing mean to you?

I'm in love with the ocean and surfing. It's part of my life. My wish is to develop surfing in Colombia, so that young people can discover this superb discipline. For this, I work as a volunteer in close collaboration with the Paddle Paddle association, which collects and repairs surfing equipment (boards, leashes, etc.) to send them abroad. Every year, I go to Colombia with material collected in France to distribute it there. It is a real pleasure to see the accomplishment of our efforts. Colombia also has great spots for surfing!

What are your favorite spots?

My favorite spots are in France and Europe. These are the large beach of Biarritz, the beach of Illbarritz, Hossegor and Mundaka.

What is your best advice for those who would like to learn to surf?

The best advice I can give to someone who wants to progress in surfing is to get in the water regularly, and always try again. You have to fall to learn. It may be interesting to film yourself and analyze the videos to see how to progress. The surfskate is also a good alternative to train to practice when the conditions are not there.