Ramon Navarro!!! Meet the Chilean ambassador of Big Wave Surfing

RAMON NAVARRO »

By Angelica Clemmer

STATS Name: Ramon Navarro Age: 30 Stance: Goofy Hometown: Pichilemu, Chile Home break: Punta De Lobos, Chile Board: I like all types of boards, I specially like long ones, I ride for Channel Island, Al Merrick Sponsors: Quicksilver, Sanuk, Al Merrick, Mall Sport, Los Morros Surf shop, Achs Busy conquering the biggest swells around the world, Ramon Navarro is highly considered among big-wave surfers. This is especially true after last year’s “Eddie Aikau” in Waimea Bay, where he is believed to have ridden the biggest wave in the competition.  He earned a perfect 100 points, was unanimously chosen for The Monster Drop Award and also finished fifth overall.   He grew up in front of one of the best surf breaks in the world and has a special connection to the ocean and cares deeply about the preservation of the environment.  Started surfing at 14yrs old with a  broken board......and the rest is history in the making.How did you get into surfing?I’ve been surfing for 17 years, I started surfing as a game, something fun to do in the summer in front of my house in Pichilemu.  I never thought then it would be my career [laughs]  I started surfing because I’m very close with the ocean, my father is a diver and I’ve always been in close contact with the water. When did you realize you wanted to be a big-wave surfer?I started liking big waves after I went to Hawaii in 99’, before that I used to ride big waves, but not that big.  After my third season in Hawaii, I realized that I wanted to be a Pro surfer and to do that I was going to have to ride giant waves because I wasn’t very good with tricks, and I like big waves a lot so it’s perfect [laughs]. What happens when the waves are small?I like to surf all types of waves, even small ones, and when there aren’t any I dive or stand up paddle, everything close to the ocean. Are you traveling a lot right now?I always travel a lot, looking for big waves, this is the Chilean season so right now I’m traveling inside the country, which is better for me [laughs]. What is the La Bestia project?La Bestia was a project I did to ride a wave in Iquique, Chile, its in the north of the country, it turned out to be incredible, the waves were very big and the tubes were giant, it was the first time that wave was ridden. You won the Eddie Aikau  Monster Drop Award in 2009, did you think that wave was going to be that size when you were going for it?[Laughs] No, I never thought it was going to be that size, it was a dream come true (laughs) the best thing that has happened in my life. Your biggest accomplishments in surfing?Being able to live from surfing [laughs], The Eddie, being recognized at a world wide level and I believe as one of the best big wave surfers. Your favorite places in the world to surf?Chile, Hawaii , Mexico, Peru Ramon Navarro grew up in front of one of the best surf breaks in the world and has a special connection to the ocean and cares deeply about the preservation of the environment. You are very active in protecting the environment. What are some of your worries at this moment in Chile?Right now there is a project to build thermal power plants in the North of Chile, which are terrible, I hope they don’t build them, Chile is a beautiful country and we are destroying it.  In the world, global warming is a worry and the whales.Where were you for the earth wake?For the earth wake I was traveling that exact night to Mexico for a competition, it happened when I was on the plane.  It’s very sad, so much destruction, Pichilemu is recovering but some places in the south are still destroyed. How would you describe a perfect day for you?A perfect day would be to wake up in front of a perfect wave with good tubes, a good breakfast, surf all day, spend time with my wife and enjoy our son, simple things like that, good food, fish, beer, what else can I ask for (laughs) Is there something you are afraid of?I believe I’m afraid to stop being happy or to have to do things that I don’t like. What would be some advice for surfers in Delaware that would like to become professional surfers?That, nothing is impossible in life, you set your goals, and you have to fight hard to acquire your objectives. And your plans for the rest of 2010 and 2011?My plans would be to ride the biggest waves in the world, hopefully here in Chile, continue to be part of the Big Wave World Tour , go to The Eddie Aikau again, and win it, wow I have big plans (laughs) Do you know where Delaware is? I have no idea, one thousands sorrys! Do you guys have good waves there? Thanks Ramon for the interview.  Follow the BWWT at bigwaveworldtour.com. It goes on until March 2011.  The Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau event will run on one day between Dec. 1-Feb. 28, 2011, when waves at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, reach a minimum of 20 feet.