Fermín Besteiro from the Waco pool: “I felt like I was a kid surfing for the first time”

One of the first Argentine surfers at the BSR Surf Resort presents a new clip and, in an interview, reviews his experience in one of the best wave pools in the world

August 30 2021

Photos and video: @juanipatron

Following a major trend in the world of surfing, instead of traveling to Central America, Peru or Chile, Argentine Fermín Besteiro chose to go to the wave pool in Waco, Texas, to improve his surfing skills.

It is not known for certain if he is the first Argentinian in history to surf there, but he is certainly one of the first.

The Villa Gesell local, who has managed to get into DUKE's feed on more than one occasion thanks to the radical maneuvers he has been achieving, took advantage of his stay in Waco.

In the following paragraphs he talks about the excitement of having surfed there.

Fermin Besteiro brought the Albiceleste to the Waco pool. All photos and video by @juanipatron

Fermin Besteiro flying over the chlorine. "For the moment it is the closest thing to paradise after Carilowers, my favourite sea wave," said the surfer.

Why did you decide to go to the Texas pool?
I was defining my tour of the United States in Argentina, and I was lucky enough to visit my family in Texas before going to California, and I was very motivated by the idea of taking the blue and white team to a place where no one had done it before.

I was given the opportunity and I didn't hesitate. Who wouldn't go if they were nearby (laughs)?

Worth it?
I totally felt like I was a kid surfing for the first time. It was a very special moment of pure happiness. It's one of the nice things that sport gives you. Sitting down and starting to hear the machine, seeing the waves coming and literally rising out of nowhere and releasing a completely perfect wave. Crazy!

What did you improve the most there?
I think that more than improving, I learned something new that I definitely need to improve, which is surfing artificial waves (laughs). But, I was definitely able to practice some maneuvers over and over again in different sections. Although each set of waves offers certain variations, it was possible to time the sets and repeat exactly the same sections.

Fermin applying pressure in the pool. "It was a very special moment of pure happiness. It's one of the beautiful things that sport gives you," he says.

What do you think could have been better on this trip?
Being able to surf more hours than my budget allowed!

Where are you going next?
Next week I'm flying to California to train at Lowers and watch the WSL final. Then I'm off to Argentina to do some pre-season and try to get to Brazil before the start of the Argentine tour.

Do you want one of those pools in Argentina?
Absolutely! It's something unique. At the moment it's the closest thing to paradise after carilowers, my favourite sea wave. I've been doing research and who knows, at some point we might have one! But I think it would allow us to train a lot more, especially in winter.

Does the sea or the pool win? Why?
I think they are different things, but there is nothing like the sea, the surprise factor of not knowing what is going to come in each wave gives it the special touch.