In just four years, the young rider has achieved a bronze medal at the Spanish Championships and has taken part in two World Tour events
A video posted on social networks sparked Pablo Padilla’s interest in Wingfoil. His passion and talent have meant that just four years after seeing the post, he has already achieved third place in the Spanish national competition and participated in two world championship events in this discipline. The young man, born in Lanzarote, hopes to continue racking up new success on his board.
“Lanzarote is a paradise for Wingfoil”
Padilla comes to Wingfoil after having been involved in water sports all his life: “My grandfather sails, my father catches waves, all my friends practice some kind of water sport”. After seeing the Wingfoil video on Instagram with his brother and after saving for several months, they were able to buy the necessary equipment to practice the sport.
“We had no idea what features the equipment had to have, we just wanted to try to do what we had seen in the video.” Little by little he perfected his kit and improved his performance at sea until he got the opportunity to travel to Galicia to compete in the Spanish Championship.
“Living here in Lanzarote. It’s afforded me the opportunity to pursue the sport I’m passionate about, and the convenience is unbeatable. No long drives, just a quick 35-minute trip to my usual spot, even if it’s across the island. That, for me, is pure bliss. ”
Participating in the national competition and finishing in third place gave him the opportunity to travel to Cape Verde to enter one of the Wingfoil World Cup events. “It was an incredible experience to be in Cape Verde and compete with the best in the world in this modality.”
Pablo also received an invitation from the organisation to participate in the Wingfoil World Cup Lanzarote where he was able to show off his best tricks in front of his family and friends: “Competing at home helped me to see what the other riders were able to do with the conditions I train with every day. It was a great spectacle, and I learned a lot”.
Right now, he is one of the best national riders in this discipline in the wave modality. Despite being injured for several months, he is now in perfect shape to take part in the next competition. “I had the bad luck to fall badly after a jump and I got injured. That meant I missed two important events this year, but I’m back in training and ready for the next competition”.
Padilla encourages all lovers of this sport to come and practice it on the island, because it offers the perfect conditions to enjoy Wingfoil. “The sea and wind conditions are always good, and the water temperature is perfect all year round. What’s more, it’s very accessible: all you have to do is park, get out your kit, and in less than a minute you’re off on your board”.
