OHIAN & VITA

I have always liked applying my knowledge of shortboard surfing to Stand Up Paddle. I have also learned that achieving another objective: does not only depend on the surfer, it also depends on the board, the knowledge of the shaper and the team behind it…

As soon as I saw the work that the Vita Surfboards family was doing, they knew what they were doing. I remember that it was in the spanish championship held in Gijón in 2021 when Alazane Aurrekoetxea showed me his 6’9 with amazing shape. Only when I took it in my hands, did I know that this board had to make magic. The next day, Tato, the one who invited me to join the brand, left me one of the boards they had for testing. I tested it in conditions in which I find it more difficult to surf, in small waves. As soon as I caught the first wave, I felt that the speed of the board was different because when I nailed the edge the board shot out without stopping at any time. After that, I spoke with Sergio, the shaper, and we were thinking about different models that could be ideal for me.

Sergio is a genius, he can shape whatever you want without envying any other brand at all, from a classic longboard to a shortboard for powerful waves. Finally, we opted for a quite innovative model with a double edge in the Mo Freitas style.

I went to pick up the board in Gijón, and thus meet the whole team. I found the good contact they have with the client incredible, a very important point. There I met everyone who did their part to create the board, and they all appeared a week later at the Spanish Championship in Gijón giving me support. The best thing about Vita is the combination of a family atmosphere and very high level products. As I said before, I am completely sure that if we were to blindfold ourselves and try any of their boards together with big name brands like All Merrick, DHD, it would be impossible to tell them apart.

In the 2022 Spanish championship held in Gijón, things did not go badly, but I was not at my best moment, I had been in a cast for a whole summer due to a scaphoid fracture. I tried the board for the first time three days before the competition, and I felt that it was perfect for me. I got second place with a lot of effort, the rehabilitation of the wrist was very hard and somewhat hasty.

After a few months without competitions, I returned to compete this June in Lacanau, France. In this competition I have felt much better, both physically and mentally. Finally, I got first place with very good feelings. We had very different conditions during the championship, from a solid meter with good wind, to half a meter choppy. In this competition it has become clear to me that the board it´s ideal for me in all kinds of conditions.

Now it’s time to train in the summer for what comes in September. It is clear to me that the decision to join VITA was the right one, and I would do it again a hundred times over.