Note sponsored by Rip Curl

After parting ways with his last sponsor a few months ago, Luisma Iturria, now 38, instead of approaching retirement, signed a sponsorship contract with the Australian multinational Rip Curl, which celebrates its 2019th anniversary in 50.

For Iturria, former Latin champion and several times Uruguayan champion, this new stage came as a breath of fresh air. With new boards and a sticker shining on the tip, he has been seen surfing very well in free surf sessions and has already guaranteed his presence in the QS 3000 in Arica, in The Search that will take place near Puerto Montt and says that he has his batteries recharged to fight for the title after a couple of bad results in the two stages that were made of the 2019 national championship.

In the following paragraphs, the Punta del Este native comments on the new direction his glorious career has taken.

How do you feel about the new member of the board?
The truth is that I feel very happy to have a new main sponsor, to have Rip Curl on the board. It is a tremendous brand, so I am super happy to be on this team. It is a tremendous team at a world level where Mick Fanning, Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, Álvaro Malpartida, Guillermo Satt, Lele Usuna and a host of high-level surfers are.

Did you ever imagine that at 38 you would be signing with another multinational brand?
The truth is that I didn't imagine this brand, but I hadn't given up, I hadn't lost hope of getting a new sponsor because I think I still feel like I'm surfing well even though I haven't had the results I expected in these last national championships. But I was eager and I knew that I could get a sponsor, especially at 38 years of age, so I could continue being a professional surfer.

What opportunities do you have now as part of the team? Will we see you at the Bells trials next year?
I would love to get into the Bells trials, but I see it as a bit difficult. I think there are a few high-level surfers or those from more important countries than me who can be in the Bells trials, which is a major event in world surfing.

I imagine opportunities will appear. I am already looking forward to the Rip Curl Surf Pro Chile event that is about to take place and surely there will be a few more surprises with Rip Curl.

Or on a trip to The Search with Mason Ho and Mick Fanning?
It would certainly be amazing to meet Mick Fanning or Mason Ho in one of those heavenly places, as The Search usually does. The goal is always to explore new coasts, new waves or magnificent wave spots with that quality of surfer that they have that makes those encounters between quality waves, tubes, and surfers spectacular. As those two talented guys, Mick and Mason, have done.

Who is your favorite new teammate?
There are several. I love the way Guillermo Satt and Álvaro Malpartida surf. I also really admire Bruno Santos, who is an amazing tube rider. Well, Gabriel Medina is a monster. He is a two-time world champion, his surfing and the way he performs in competitions are tremendous. Fanning is not to be missed, he is a world reference. Leandro Usuna is also a tremendous surfer, he has incredible grit. It is amazing to be shoulder to shoulder with all those teammates.

Name a Rip Curl product that you always wanted to have and couldn't because you had another sponsor.
The suits. At some point in my career I was lucky enough to have Rip Curl suits and now I'm getting them again, they're amazing. For example, the new 3/2 rubbers that came out now are incredible, totally flexible, warm, super comfortable. So it's cool to be wearing Rip Curl in the water.

Does this give you more motivation to recover in your first national competitions?
It is certainly motivating to be representing a brand of this magnitude and the fact that it is Rip Curl in this case obviously motivates me to do a great job. Now, like any professional surfer, I want to raise the brand as much as possible, not only for the brand but for myself as well. I am motivated by having their support in my professional surfing career. As I said, to take it as high as possible. I always aspire to be a national champion, that is my goal in the home championships and unfortunately if the Uruguayan Surf Union holds four dates it is difficult for me to achieve it, but if they hold more dates I do not rule out the possibility. I have all the faith to win several championships.

And the presentation video, where was it filmed?
We filmed the presentation video with Daniel Monfort between the coasts of Maldonado, Punta del Este, El Pepe, La Boca, La Barra. There were waves, beautiful days. A little bit of the magic that Dani Monfort always brings. It's amazing to see how with so little, he makes a tremendous product.

What's next for Luisma in 2019? Any radical changes in plans given the news?
For 2019 I want to return to international championships. I am motivated for the Rip Curl Pro Surf Chile championship and also for the championship at El Gringo in Arica. It is already confirmed that I will go. It is an event in which I have had good performances and I know that it is a difficult championship, it is a QS 3.000 but I am really looking forward to going and getting some tubes in full swing and trying to go as far as possible in an event with that quality of waves and difficulty. The wave at El Gringo is no slouch, so I love that kind of challenge.