Presents Vissla y Vissla Peru 

Joaquín del Castillo is one of the best surfers in the world. One of the top 500? One hundred? 50? It's hard to say, but there are plenty of arguments to put him at a very low figure in this ranking.

How many surfers on the planet excel at Pipe, go down Waimea, Pico Alto, do all kinds of aerials, attack walls in a thousand ways and compete like Joaquín del Castillo does? Very few. It makes you think about it.

With webcast announcers never coming close to pronouncing his name correctly, Del Castillo made it to the quarterfinals at the 2018 Volcom Pipe Pro… He competed well on other occasions, but at the Backdoor Shootout he made things abundantly clear: He took several bombs, but I think one of the ones that left him the highest was that giant one he couldn't get out of.

He marked the bomb, Joaco was in position and he didn't think twice, he went down and got into a giant, round tube that he ended up closing; the entire beach stood up and even the most surly Pipe local stopped his heart seeing this goofy footer from Punta Hermosa traveling through that cylinder.

In the following paragraphs we review several aspects of Joaquín's life, in addition to Pipe and some other relevant topics.

I'm thinking of telling you that there are 1000 surfers in the world who are worse than you at surfing Pipe and big waves and who are better known. I think you've thought about it but you're too humble to admit it. It's not fair. What can you tell me about this? Why is that?
I think it's because there is so little publicity and support for so many good Latin surfers in the world average. Added to that is the fact that I'm terrible at doing my marketing and I'm so sick with surfing that I look like a zombie (laughs). What I can assure you is that this is just the beginning and I'm more focused than ever. I just need a little push to get to the challengers and keep moving forward.

How did you experience the Backdoor Shootout? How was it to share the queen of the waves with your friends?
I experienced the surfing that I love so much in the purest and most extreme way I could imagine. We all screamed like crazy “Go!” every time the set came. I also remember laughter full of adrenaline, fear and the desire to show the world the Peruvian level together with my lifelong friends.

"Now more than ever I want to enter the CT and compete in the best waves in the world"

Being in the water was like surfing with God.

That event and trip marked a before and after in my life as an athlete. Now more than ever I want to enter the CT and compete in the best waves in the world.

There were a couple of unforgettable waves. The square one you rode and the round one you didn't ride but which left the whole world in awe. What can you say about each of them?
Before entering, everything was about trying to stay calm and control your emotions. We made a kind of priority with the band and sat in strategic places to cover more of the lineup and not miss the waves. Those two waves chose me and what I was sure of was that I would paddle them with all my strength and I would throw myself into them even if I went headfirst. Competing in the Shootout was better than I imagined. Thanks to Tubos Surf School.

"Those two waves chose me and I was sure that I would paddle them with all my strength and I would go for it even if I went headfirst. Competing in the Shootout was better than I imagined."

In a live broadcast we did, you mentioned Pakichay, your brother, and the Punta Hermosa lineage, as key to you being in Pipe doing what God commands. Please share a message about your family and what they motivate in you.
My family has been my unconditional support from birth until now, and has been in Pico Alto since before I was born. I have big shoes to fill thanks to my father Pakichay. I hope I can become as good a surfer as he is. He is 70 years old, runs at 5'9 and is always motivated no matter what the sea conditions or the weather are; surfing every day and all day. I am who I am thanks to my family.