We continue with our interviews of strapless riders, and today’s interview is dedicated to Gustavo Arrojo, one of the most powerful competitors in the Strapless Kitesurfing World Championship and a reference in our kitesurfing school in Tarifa.
Gustavo Arrojo
Age: 25 years
Hometown: Tarifa, Cádiz
Favorite Spot: Balneario, Tarifa
Sponsors: Naish Kiteboarding
Achievements:
- Ranked 9th in the strapless Freestyle and Wave ranking of the Global Kiteboarding Association
- 2nd place in the Big Air GKA Tarifa 2017
- 4th place in Best Trick Fuerteventura GKA 2017
- 1st place in the Spain Kiteboarding League 2017 (Isla Canela event)
- 9th place in the Tarifa Strapless Kitesurfing Pro GKA 2017
- 9th place in Dakhla Strapless Kitesurfing Pro GKA 2017
- 9th place in the Tarifa Strapless Kitesurfing Pro 2015
Hello Gustavo, first of all, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Tell us about yourself and your career as a strapless rider. When and how did it all start?
Well, it all started 3 years ago after finishing my studies in Sports Science and Physical Activity. I decided to move to Tarifa to get back into kitesurfing after many years of barely sailing. I arrived with my twintip board, but after a session with “July Rebollo,” I left it in the storage room. Watching him jump with a strapless surfboard changed my concept of surfing with a kite.
From that day on, I borrowed a surfboard from my dad, removed the straps, and never put them back on. With less than a year of practice, in 2015, I was invited to the first ever strapless competition at a global level, the “TARIFA STRAPLESS PRO 2015,” where I achieved a great result, finishing ninth and being the highest-placed Spanish rider.
After a challenging year in 2016 without sponsors and unable to participate in the Tour, Naish Kiteboarding trusted me this year in 2017, giving me the opportunity I had been seeking for a long time.
You recently joined the international Naish team. What does this mean to you?
Being part of Naish’s international team is a dream come true for me. They believed in me and gave me the opportunity to focus on what I love the most, Strapless kitesurfing, and that translates into motivation and a strong desire to keep training to give my best.
This year, I’ve started by exceeding expectations, winning first place in the Spain Kiteboarding League and achieving two podiums in the world championship. It has been a positive reinforcement, and now I need to keep working hard since we’re halfway through the season, and there’s much more to compete for.
We can say you’re one of the pioneers in this discipline and are within the Top 10 riders in the world. Where do you see yourself in the near future?
Currently, I’m ranked within the top 9, competing in the world championship with the best riders worldwide. In the near future, I see myself training and completing the 2017 tour. My goal for this year is to finish the season within the top 8 in the world, which is challenging considering the high level of the riders, but I’m training hard and believe I have the potential to achieve it.
Strapless freestyle is a relatively new discipline that is experiencing an impressive evolution in terms of participant skill level, maneuver difficulty, and media impact. Do you think there are limits?
We set our own limits. One of the things I love about strapless kitesurfing is seeing the variety of styles that different riders have. Each one has their own maneuvers, which is great for the show and, in general, for the sport.
Behind this impact, there’s a lot of work from the entire kitesurfing sector, and I especially want to thank the GKA, Global Kiteboarding Association, which, with the Tour they started last year, put our discipline as an example to follow.
We saw you on the second step of the podium in the “big air” competition at the recent world championship event held in Tarifa. How did it feel? Are you satisfied?
Big Air is the discipline I enjoy the most, living in Tarifa where we have many days of strong winds allows me to train these kinds of maneuvers, and flying high is where I feel most comfortable. The second place in Tarifa, so far, has been my best performance in the world championship, and it was very exciting to experience it at home with the entire audience supporting me in every heat.
In addition, this year you have opened your own business of electric bike tours in the surroundings of Tarifa. What can you tell us about this? How do you balance it with training and competitions?
Ebike Tarifa is my project to showcase another side of Tarifa, as it is one of the world’s best kitesurfing destinations, but undoubtedly, it has great alternative potential to complement vacations. Riding a mountain bike with electric assistance allows you to climb effortlessly and enjoy the natural landscapes surrounding Tarifa. It’s a fantastic alternative to the wind and sea, suitable for all audiences.
Every day, I find time to hit the water, although balancing training with work is somewhat challenging. So far, I’ve managed it quite well, but it becomes more difficult when I have to go to compete. Currently, we have competitions that last for over 10 days, and most of them take place during our high season. Thanks to my girlfriend Sandra, who is the “ebike boss,” along with the rest of the team, they take care of providing the best service to our clients.
We don’t want to say goodbye without knowing what you would say to those who are reading this and considering starting kitesurfing. Can you give them any recommendations?
As always, I recommend going to an official school where professionals can teach you. Kitesurfing is an extreme sport, but once you learn the basic safety rules, it is very safe, and its progression is rapid. You don’t need to be in great physical shape to get started.
Thank you very much for your time, and we hope to see many successes in your career. We’ll be watching and cheering for you as always.
Thank you very much, Radikite Team, for the interview. See you on the water!