CHILDHOOD
VICTOR'S PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER
He always has been correct and well educated. Very kind with his friends, teachers and you really noticed that he is very polite. His mum never had a problem with him. Never.
VICTOR'S MOM
He was a cheerful, lively little boy, very good, but a bit naughty. With a lot of energy, not even sitting down for eating. He climbed through the windows in kinder garden, played batman, did pranks… We didn't know where it came from - it was just him!
VICTOR'S DAD
He had that awareness of what he wanted and how to achieve it, but he never lost his down-to-earth attitude. People on the tour tell me that he's a fantastic windsurfer, but an even better person. For a father there is nothing better.
ClIMBING ONTO THE WINDSURFING BOARD
DAD
We had a small board on the beach. One day - Victor was playing in the sand - suddenly he climbed onto the kit and sailed away. The little fellow just lifts the sail, grabs the boom and sails to the ocean, me swimming like crazy behind him – he was only 5! From there on this new world started.
PEPE, OWNER OF MAR AZUL CAMPING, ALMERIMAR
He had a supernatural affection. You would see that tension in his eyes he was watching his father with! When people from outside came for races, Victor spend hours on the watchtower, observing these guys sailing. As if he could learn through pure osmosis!
MOM
Pepe offered him a job as windsurfing instructor and suddenly we were all windsurfers.
BECOMING PROFESSIONAL
VICTOR
My dad took me everywhere. He understood that this is the only way. We would spend every weekend windsurfing. My very first sponsor was Mar Azul. There up to 14 events on national level between Portugal and Spain those days. For the competitions we had to sleep in the van in remote places, but doing that you learn a lot ... you don't need much in life, if you can do what you love. When I was 12 years old, I came to Gran Canaria for the first time. My dad promised me, if I´d approve the exams, I could go.
MOM
He bought a ticket and was gone. We could stay in contact, but no like today where you use facetime. All day in the water and then he told me he was only cooking pure rice!
JAVIER, OWNER OF POZOWINDS
That kid behaved well, he went windsurfing twice a day, slept and didn't attract problems.
If you want to be World Champion, you have to come to Pozo. Throughout the entire summer and even spring, we have strong and constant wind. Every day you can practice and repeat your manoeuvers and master to land new ones.
BECOMING WORLD CHAMPION
VICTOR
My parents always supported me. I gave 110%, started bringing home good results from competitions. In 2006 I won my first PWA event. The PWA is the maximum. You sail against your idol as well as against guys in your age, who struggle just like you. I remembered watching videos of Jason Polakow, Robby Naish, Björn Dunkerbeck in Maui.
JAVI
After the Juniors, he started in the PWA. He wasn't well-known yet to the judges that time. True story: That year the reigning world champion couldn't believe that he won against Victor in the final, because Victor was obviously sailing better and still lost. Victor tried doubles and threw a sick show on the water, but hadn't been that famous yet.
NACHO ROCHA, FRIEND AND DUOTONE TEAM BUDDY
There was an almost untouchable top 10. The newcomers had to sail double as good as them to break into that wall. I always describe him as "Anti-Hero". He is beyond the cliché of the radical surfer who is expected to go to the limit with everything he does. He is a good person and friend.
DAIDA RUANO MORENO
He has spent hours and hours in the water and sailed in various conditions. Victor works with a special windsurf coach, he follows a sportive diet, he goes to physiotherapy... He works mentally and physically to be able to give all his energy to wave sailing. I think this seriousness and discipline comes from himself. Sacrificing hours of any other activity to train and prepare on the water and on land. Windsurfing is a way of life.
VICTOR'S PERSONAL TRAINERS
The common image of a windsurfer is not necessarily one of an athlete. However, Victor is a hard working person and well organised. Technique and tactic training are highly connected to physical strength. I think Victors most important qualities are his seriousness and his engagement not only for sailing, but also for fitness training.
