Special coverage presented by Surf City - El Salvador Travel 

Tao Rodriguez was at the peak of his career, about to make a major breakthrough.

He was a firm presence in his country's team, he competed in QSs and scored high scores achieving good results, he advanced series in the world championships and with that privileged line that he has, he was liked by everyone who saw him.

But out of nowhere and without much warning, Tao disappeared off the map… With some sporadic appearances, but he was absent for a long time, in the end it was almost a year and a half.

After falling off a float in Barbados and landing with his legs spread, he didn't need just one surgery, but two. When everything seemed ready, he received the bad news that it wasn't.

Another intervention had to be made.

That was the worst moment, he says, because he had already tasted the sea, he was already competing again, but the world had to wait another six months to see Tao in the water.

“Sometimes you have to fall to get up stronger,” he reflects now, with the problem well behind him.

Here he tells everything that happened from beginning to end to get back.

And he returned well. Slowly but surely, tracing that characteristic line on the right-handers of Punta Mango.

He didn't advance in his heat but showed good surfing and made a good total; he's just returning.