New Young Blood Club Opens in Tarifa!

Hola Jaime, can you tell us a little bit about your own Young Blood history?

Of course, we started the Young Blood concept back in 2006. The idea was to give a platform to all the upcoming kite riders around the world who wanted to join our company. We wanted to give them proper tools to accompany them on their athlete careers, consolidating their talents, helping them to avoid or overcome injuries, showing them routes to mental strength under stressful contest situations, and making sure they had enough knowledge of their equipment and how to set it up to their personal needs.

On top of that, we worked on their profile as young ambassadors of the sport and their brand so they could grow into self-sufficient professionals. We’ve always had a very demanding culture inside Boards & More, aiming to lead in all fields, so it was a very natural move for us, and our CEO has been all hands on deck since day one.

You are the brain behind the Young Blood Club initiative. What drives you to invest so much energy into the Young Blood concept in Spain?

I believe it’s long overdue that Tarifa offers a platform for local kids and visitors not only to explore the many fields in our sports but to develop long-term programs that emphasize each and every one of the many talents of our kids. Not only as professional athletes, like we’ve been focused on the past, but also in all the many fields related to our industry from life-saving training to marketing or product design. I have been watching this culture for generations in alpine skiing and always wanted to bring those same opportunities to our industry.

The first Young Blood Club is located in your hometown of Tarifa. What makes your approach so unique?

Well, so far, this is the first of its kind, but I’m pretty sure others will follow, and soon, with the help of so many enthusiasts of the sport, we will create a network of communities that will open up many more possibilities for this generation of kids and many more to come.

Besides you and your team, who are the people behind the Young Blood Club in Tarifa?

I must admit that I cannot take credit for this ambitious project. Besides my team, who are very hardworking and passionate individuals, we count on the great team of Wings Tarifa, captained by Franco and his vast alpine ski experience to consolidate our programs.

What profiles of riders are you targeting with the Young Blood Club concept?

We’re aiming to a broad profile of kids to join our club; that is why we’re offering different programs to suit all their immediate needs and a whole path to grow together.

As a father of three girls, who are around the age for which the Young Blood Club is designed, what unique experiences do you want to offer these youngsters?

As a former athlete and passionate waterman, I’d love them to have the right tools to experience their passion. At home, we try to nurse their passion and consolidate their core values, but we at the club aim to have a very professional background so each of them can find their inner vocation.

Not everyone has the privilege of living close to Tarifa and riding in the mecca of wind sports year-round. How can Wing Foiling kids from all over the world join the Young Blood Club?

Yes, that’s a question we get asked a lot. This first year, we will offer Summer Camps so visitors can join, but in the future, we will develop more intense programs to suit all needs.

What are your goals for this first Young Blood Club season?

To have a lot of fun, to witness how these communities rise up, and to compose our singular programs on an ongoing quest to learn and develop better solutions.

And what are your boldest hopes? Where do you envision the Young Blood Club initiative in 5 years?

First of all, I’m hoping to have institutional aid and grow this academy into a high-performance center and a watersports academy here in Tarifa. So not only will professional athletes find the solutions they deserve, but also we will be able to offer industry careers in the many fields around our industry.