Note sponsored by Rip Curl Argentina - All photos by Jony Paz

Former ISA Junior World Champion Ignacio Gundensen and world circuit top surfer and former Argentine surfing champion Josefina Ané are the newest additions to the Rip Curl Argentina team.

The official signings took place during the first days of January, the athletes debuted new logos on the tips of their boards, wetsuits, clothing and took advantage of the opportunity to surf some fun waves with their new teammate, the two-time world champion, Leandro Usuna.

“I am more than happy to join a brand like Rip Curl, which is one of the most recognized in the world of surfing. It is like joining a family that is all over the world. This is a new beginning and a motivation for me and my career, I am super motivated to have a good year and grow with the brand,” Gundensen told DUKE.

For his part, Ané said: “Being part of the number one company in extreme sports in Argentina is a pride and at the same time a great responsibility, so I will try to represent not only the company but also the country in the best way possible.”

Both surfers are focused this year on participating in the stages of the world circuit and qualifying the Argentine team for the 2020 ISA World Championships that will take place in El Salvador between May 9 and 17 and will be the last test that will give them passes to the historic debut of surfing in Tokyo 2020.

“My main goal this year is to finish in the Top 100 of the WSL, be on the Argentine team and get a good result in the ISA that gives places for the Olympic Games and I want to win the QS 1500 at home at Semana Santa,” said Gundensen, who is currently competing with great success in the QS 1500 in Tenerife, already in round 5, among the best 16 out of 112 competitors.

“My goals for the first half of the year are to get back into the top 60 to compete in the Challenger Series again. And obviously to do well at the World Championships in El Salvador to qualify for Tokyo 2020.”

In addition to having won the title of Argentine champion twice, Josefina Ané was the first Argentine competitor in history to win stages of the QS, twice, one in South Africa and another in Brazil, both in 2018, which left her in 49th place in that year's ranking.

The Mar del Plata native is also an avid free surfer and rides in solid conditions. She has spent some good seasons in Puerto Escondido where she has done some good tubes.

For his part, Gundensen reached his peak glory as a junior when in 2017 in Japan, he won one of the most hotly contested world titles in the sport, the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, which brings together hundreds of the best surfers on the planet.

The 21-year-old goofy footer trains a lot in Brazil alongside some of the best professionals in Florianopolis; a few weeks ago he had moments of brilliance in the latest video of the WSL Junior World Champion, Mateus Herdy, with whom he trains.