AGE: 19
HOME: NORTH COAST, FUERTEVENTURA
SPONSORS: O’NEILL, REEF, DRAGON, DAKINE, DHARMA.
WEIGHT: 64 KILOS
HEIGHT: 1M76
SHORTBOARD: 6’0” X 18” X 2”

Originally from Oviedo, midway along the north coast of Spain, Hector’s now been living in Fuerteventura for ten years. Currently he’s studying biology in La Laguna, Tenerife (although admits he’s ‘taking it easy’ this year) where island life suits him fine. ‘Life’s great in Fuerteventura and there’s not much to complain about in Tenerife either, the people are cool in both places.’ His first taste of surfing came at Doniños in Galicia aged 6 on a windsurf board. ‘Then, in Fuerteventura I went whenever I had the chance, surfed Punta Gorda the whole time,’ explains Hector. ‘I was lucky in that I met a small crew of guys my age, Niels, Lars and Lazi. We always hung out together and pushed each other’s surfing.

There’s no place like home really, even if the wave quality isn’t as good as other spots, you’re with your crew and family. Plus you eat well at home – something I’ve come to appreciate a lot since being a student…’ Unsurprisingly, Hector looks up to established island shredders Jony Gonzalez, Jose Maria Cabrera and Franito, and mainland pros like Gony and Hodei. ‘I’d have to say Fuerteventura is my favourite place to surf. I like to surf lefts as much as rights with both barrelling sections and sections where you can lay down manoeuvres, and if it’s a reef then that’s even better, I’m not a big fan of beachbreaks.’ Having sampled the offerings of the Maldives, Norway, and Morocco on recent surf trips, Hector’s now looking towards the Euro Pro juniors this summer, although admits thus far ‘I haven’t had many good results, people say I’m too nice in the water. I need to be more competitive, more aggressive in heats.’