Cover photo: Personal archive-Santi Fernández 

Adrian Lopez's invitation to the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational taking place this weekend in Zarautz, It's like the star of a local team being invited to the Champions League final on Saturday 26th at the NSC Olimpiyskiy in kyiv, to play alongside Ronaldo, Bale and Sergio Ramos.

The list, which has the endorsement of the legend himself, Joel Tudor, includes the likes of Ryan Burch, Harrison Roach, Alex Knost, among others, all legends of classic longboarding.

On social media, the local fans have begun to cheer him and the young Nico García, the other local guest. For example, the “Dora of the Mediterranean”, Pepe Birra wrote: “The 1st world logging contest is coming to Zarautz! Simply the best! And with Adrián López and Nico Garcia, two of the best mega board cracks, classic logging style pure from the peninsula! But what fucking masters!

But Adrián takes it calmly: “The truth is that I am very calm, the mere fact of being on that list for me is already something incredible, now the only thing I want is to enjoy the event and take advantage of the four days off that they have given me at work to be able to go (laughs),” he says among other things in the following interview.

How did you find out you were invited? What was your reaction?
When I found out that I could participate in the event, I say could because when Mikel Urigoitia called me at the end of February it was still not official, I was in Panama City waiting to catch the plane back home after the holidays. The truth is that it caught me off guard, I was not expecting it at all and in order to get back into the routine it was incredible news to know that in a few months I could be surfing with some of the best loggers in the world.

Do you know if Tudor himself had anything to do with giving the OK for you to be there?
That's what they say, Joel Tudor gives the thumbs up to all the event participants.

How do you feel overall about the upcoming weekend?
The truth is that I am very calm, the mere fact that I am on that list is something incredible for me, now the only thing I want is to enjoy the event and take advantage of the four days off that they have given me at work to be able to go (laughs).

And how does it feel to think that all the eyes of the local fans will be on you?
I'm not very used to competing, much less in an event of this level, and the fact that it's at home is an extra motivation.

The event is very relaxed, but I'm sure everyone is eager to participate. What is your goal looking back?
As I said before, just being there is an achievement so now all that's left is to enjoy it to the fullest.

How was your preparation for the event?
Well, I've tried to surf as much as I could, but honestly, it hasn't been that great... The waves haven't been too good lately.

Which board do you think you will use and why?
I only have one board so it's not too difficult a decision (laughs) it's a Bob Mctavish, the Noosa 66 to be more specific, which I bought in Australia when I was there and it's the one I've been surfing for the last few years and the one I feel comfortable on.

How does the rest of the year look for you?
I work at the Peña Txuri surf school in Sopela and with summer just around the corner I have to prepare for a few months of hard work.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Longboard, skate and art weekend in Zarautz