Hanglos Meets: Alex Pastor
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18 December 2010
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Hanglos meets Alex Pastor.
In the men competition it is the Spanish Alex Pastor who carries the Vice-World Champion title this year.
Last season he became 4th and improved this to the 2nd place!
He told me as well something about his season and his life as a pro kiteboarder.
How do you look back on this season? And what is your best memory?
For me it was a really good season. I had a lot of fun at all the stops we went. Even without Aaron and Kevin at some stops, I feel like I’ve improved my riding and my results, so that’s the most important for me. Definitely my best memory is from Germany. When I did the double elimination’s final and there was a massive crowd at the beach. Then we went to the podium and they said I won. It was unbeliveable.
Who is for you the biggest concurrent, and why?
This year the biggest for me was Youri Zoon. He was the one that was riding better at the end of the year. He wasn’t as lucky and as consistent as Andy Yates but when everything goes right for him he can be unbeatable.
What do you think about next season, do you expect Aaron and Kevin to come back, if yes, what do you expect of them?
I’m not sure what Aaron’s plans are. I think he will still be one more year out and then he will try to come back stronger than before. About Kevin, I think he will be recovered soon, but I know the recovery from an injury can be hard to any rider. He will have to focus a lot and get the injury out of his mind if he wants to fight for the world championship. We have seen Youri come back really strong after his injury, so everything is possible. So I will just focus on my riding and try to do my best despite the other riders’ level.
I can imagine that a rider has a lot of stress during competition, on what moment is stress really hitting you, and what do you do about it?
The worst for me is when you have a really important heat the next day and you know who you’re going against. The day before and the moments before your heat are really tough. Once the heat starts, all the stress goes away.
Are you superstitious?
Not really. I’ve seen how competition is and anything can happen. Any random thing can happen to anyone. I think that’s just luck or bad luck.
As we all know, 2010 was a nice busy year with 10 tour stops, what was your favorite and your most challenging tour stop this season?
The best for me were Thailand and Germany, I had a lot of fun in Thailand with my mates and really enjoyed the country. Germany because I won it and have some really good memories. The most challenging was definitely Argentina. I’ve never kited in such a cold water… And I was coming from Brazil hehe, so it only made it worst.
Do you ever get tired of competition?
Yes, sometimes. The motivation is always coming and going away. Sometimes I really enjoy it and some other times I want the competitions to finish already, but most of the time I’m fine with it. I don’t get too tired.
The holiday of a pro kiteboarder, how does it look like? Is there a 'not kite' holiday?
For me the most common holiday that I do every year in Christmas is a snowboarding trip with my family and friends. It’s one of the best moments of the year. I really love snowboarding and that’s one of the things I miss more when I’m kiting and competing. Also I visit my girlfriend sometimes when we have a big break of competitions.
Being a pro kiteboarder looks really nice, but every coin has another side.. You probably had to give up a lot of things, what is the thing you regret the most that you had to give up?
I quite like my life though. For sure there’re some bad things like staying away from my girlfriend, family, friends... also the stress of competition, but there’re some really good things like living out of your passion, doing what you like the most all the time, visit new places. I also really like when people enjoy my riding and I make them happy :).
On Hanglos there came a question about how a pro kiteboarder lives financially. Is it possible to live from it, or does all the money goes to traveling?
Yes, it’s possible, but we have to manage to get enough money from competitions, sponsors… Is a bit hard if you’re not one of the TOP5 or something like that. Also there’re other riders that live from it and don’t compete, but they have to work a lot on pictures, videos, magazine’s coverage… and get all the money from sponsors.
Just and example, I spent an average of 2.500€ per month on travels and living, so we have to get a bit more than that normally and kiteboarding’s market is not as big, so is best for riders that want to live out of this to find sponsors from outside the sport.
About the future, what do you see yourself doing in 10 years? Do you follow any studies and is it possible to do both kiteboarding and studying?
I’m not sure what I’m gonna do on the future, but I’ve never stopped studying since I’m riding. I think nowadays is quite necessary for everyone to study something. That’s why I’m studying Marketing, because it’s something that can be linked to kiteboarding and would be very helpful for me. I just don’t do it as fast as a full time student, but it is possible if you know how to use your time.
Is there something you want to say to young talents that are heading for a pro career?
I would say that they don’t have to focus themselves on being a pro rider. They just have to try to enjoy the sport and their riding, and if they really like it and get good at it, a pro career will come eventually.
As you probably know the sport is having a hard time in some countries. For example in Belgium they want to make a kite certificate with an exam, what is your opinion on that?
I don’t think they should make an exam to practice kiteboarding. I think people should be more aware of the risks and just learn with an instructor, which is what they need. I don’t think an exam would make much difference.
In Spain we have a problem with the beaches. They don’t let people ride on the summer in some good kitespots, but kiters are fighting for it and they’re getting more and more areas for kiteboarding in the summer.
Next to that there is also the discussion to become Olympic, do you see that happen, and if yes, will you do course racing if that will be Olympic?
Yeah, I’ve heard that it might happen as well. Well, course racing is something completely different to what I do, so I don’t think I would compete if they only do course racing. Right now I’m more focused on freestyle and course racing requires a lot of gear developing, training… I’ve no experience on that.
How do you see the sport in 5 years?
I would like to see it the same way that is going now, just a bit more stablished. We have seen that kiteboarding has developed a few different styles over the years. I hope all these styles get enough developed and difference from each other.
Answer in a few words what comes in your head when you read:
Wave: straps or strapless: strapless
Single or girl/boyfriend: girlfriend
Most expensive ticket: The last one I bought, to New Cal and Australia. Almost 3.000€
Megaloops: Not really my thing. Still do it sometimes on really strong winds
Sliders and kickers: Love them, specially behind the cable as they’re quite hard to build for kiteboarding haha.
Best spot ever: Cumbuco, Brazil and Tarifa, Spain. Not just for the riding, also for the lifestyle there.
Favorite music: Rock, Classic Rock & oldies. Some reggae as well.
Alex is sponsored by Airush, J&B, Ion, Mas Movils.es and Dock 11.
If you want to folow Alex more, check out his website: www.alexpastor.es/
Read the other Hanglos Meets again:
Andy Yates
Gisela Pulido
Bruna Kajiya
In the men competition it is the Spanish Alex Pastor who carries the Vice-World Champion title this year.
Last season he became 4th and improved this to the 2nd place!
He told me as well something about his season and his life as a pro kiteboarder.
How do you look back on this season? And what is your best memory?
For me it was a really good season. I had a lot of fun at all the stops we went. Even without Aaron and Kevin at some stops, I feel like I’ve improved my riding and my results, so that’s the most important for me. Definitely my best memory is from Germany. When I did the double elimination’s final and there was a massive crowd at the beach. Then we went to the podium and they said I won. It was unbeliveable.
Who is for you the biggest concurrent, and why?
This year the biggest for me was Youri Zoon. He was the one that was riding better at the end of the year. He wasn’t as lucky and as consistent as Andy Yates but when everything goes right for him he can be unbeatable.
What do you think about next season, do you expect Aaron and Kevin to come back, if yes, what do you expect of them?
I’m not sure what Aaron’s plans are. I think he will still be one more year out and then he will try to come back stronger than before. About Kevin, I think he will be recovered soon, but I know the recovery from an injury can be hard to any rider. He will have to focus a lot and get the injury out of his mind if he wants to fight for the world championship. We have seen Youri come back really strong after his injury, so everything is possible. So I will just focus on my riding and try to do my best despite the other riders’ level.
I can imagine that a rider has a lot of stress during competition, on what moment is stress really hitting you, and what do you do about it?
The worst for me is when you have a really important heat the next day and you know who you’re going against. The day before and the moments before your heat are really tough. Once the heat starts, all the stress goes away.
Are you superstitious?
Not really. I’ve seen how competition is and anything can happen. Any random thing can happen to anyone. I think that’s just luck or bad luck.
As we all know, 2010 was a nice busy year with 10 tour stops, what was your favorite and your most challenging tour stop this season?
The best for me were Thailand and Germany, I had a lot of fun in Thailand with my mates and really enjoyed the country. Germany because I won it and have some really good memories. The most challenging was definitely Argentina. I’ve never kited in such a cold water… And I was coming from Brazil hehe, so it only made it worst.
Do you ever get tired of competition?
Yes, sometimes. The motivation is always coming and going away. Sometimes I really enjoy it and some other times I want the competitions to finish already, but most of the time I’m fine with it. I don’t get too tired.
The holiday of a pro kiteboarder, how does it look like? Is there a 'not kite' holiday?
For me the most common holiday that I do every year in Christmas is a snowboarding trip with my family and friends. It’s one of the best moments of the year. I really love snowboarding and that’s one of the things I miss more when I’m kiting and competing. Also I visit my girlfriend sometimes when we have a big break of competitions.
Being a pro kiteboarder looks really nice, but every coin has another side.. You probably had to give up a lot of things, what is the thing you regret the most that you had to give up?
I quite like my life though. For sure there’re some bad things like staying away from my girlfriend, family, friends... also the stress of competition, but there’re some really good things like living out of your passion, doing what you like the most all the time, visit new places. I also really like when people enjoy my riding and I make them happy :).
On Hanglos there came a question about how a pro kiteboarder lives financially. Is it possible to live from it, or does all the money goes to traveling?
Yes, it’s possible, but we have to manage to get enough money from competitions, sponsors… Is a bit hard if you’re not one of the TOP5 or something like that. Also there’re other riders that live from it and don’t compete, but they have to work a lot on pictures, videos, magazine’s coverage… and get all the money from sponsors.
Just and example, I spent an average of 2.500€ per month on travels and living, so we have to get a bit more than that normally and kiteboarding’s market is not as big, so is best for riders that want to live out of this to find sponsors from outside the sport.
About the future, what do you see yourself doing in 10 years? Do you follow any studies and is it possible to do both kiteboarding and studying?
I’m not sure what I’m gonna do on the future, but I’ve never stopped studying since I’m riding. I think nowadays is quite necessary for everyone to study something. That’s why I’m studying Marketing, because it’s something that can be linked to kiteboarding and would be very helpful for me. I just don’t do it as fast as a full time student, but it is possible if you know how to use your time.
Is there something you want to say to young talents that are heading for a pro career?
I would say that they don’t have to focus themselves on being a pro rider. They just have to try to enjoy the sport and their riding, and if they really like it and get good at it, a pro career will come eventually.
As you probably know the sport is having a hard time in some countries. For example in Belgium they want to make a kite certificate with an exam, what is your opinion on that?
I don’t think they should make an exam to practice kiteboarding. I think people should be more aware of the risks and just learn with an instructor, which is what they need. I don’t think an exam would make much difference.
In Spain we have a problem with the beaches. They don’t let people ride on the summer in some good kitespots, but kiters are fighting for it and they’re getting more and more areas for kiteboarding in the summer.
Next to that there is also the discussion to become Olympic, do you see that happen, and if yes, will you do course racing if that will be Olympic?
Yeah, I’ve heard that it might happen as well. Well, course racing is something completely different to what I do, so I don’t think I would compete if they only do course racing. Right now I’m more focused on freestyle and course racing requires a lot of gear developing, training… I’ve no experience on that.
How do you see the sport in 5 years?
I would like to see it the same way that is going now, just a bit more stablished. We have seen that kiteboarding has developed a few different styles over the years. I hope all these styles get enough developed and difference from each other.
Answer in a few words what comes in your head when you read:
Wave: straps or strapless: strapless
Single or girl/boyfriend: girlfriend
Most expensive ticket: The last one I bought, to New Cal and Australia. Almost 3.000€
Megaloops: Not really my thing. Still do it sometimes on really strong winds
Sliders and kickers: Love them, specially behind the cable as they’re quite hard to build for kiteboarding haha.
Best spot ever: Cumbuco, Brazil and Tarifa, Spain. Not just for the riding, also for the lifestyle there.
Favorite music: Rock, Classic Rock & oldies. Some reggae as well.
Alex is sponsored by Airush, J&B, Ion, Mas Movils.es and Dock 11.
If you want to folow Alex more, check out his website: www.alexpastor.es/
Read the other Hanglos Meets again:
Andy Yates
Gisela Pulido
Bruna Kajiya
Nieuwslink:
hanglos.net
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