Presented by: Rip Curl Argentina

Former world champions Leandro Usuna and Nacho Gundensen have been training for 10 days in La Bocana and El Sunzal, El Salvador, the venue for the most important ISA world championship in history, which will take place between May 29 and June 6.

This will determine the last 12 places (seven for women and five for men) that will qualify for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

Avoiding Covid, the two Argentines traveled with part of the team; Lucía Indurain, Santiago Muñiz and Ornella Pellizzari (Jose Ané stayed training in Mar del Plata) and from there they sent their report.

 

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Lele Usuna: “I think I have put in what I needed to be able to get to the World Cup in the best possible shape and qualify”

What I liked most about El Salvador since I arrived has been The waves are constant. They don't stop. We arrived 10 days ago and they don't go below three feet, every day there are three or four, and now there are six and more swells. There are fun waves everywhere.

The best wave I surfed was One here in La Bocana where I hit two strong left sticks. It felt really good, it's a bigger wave, but that one felt good because I was able to hit two sticks in the critical part.

I haven't hit myself too much yet. What hurt me the most about the trip was burning my back one day when I went in at noon and I really burned it.

The best friendship I reconnected with was with the Spanish, Aritz, Gony, Johnny and Andy Criere, the whole band, it was so nice. I hadn't seen them in so long that it was amazing to be able to see them.

Covid here, I don't know, I'm out. There are people wearing masks but not everyone and we're not with many people. We see about 30 or 50 people a day when we go out to eat, but we're in a bubble, so we're very calm.

The Rip Curl product that has helped me the most on this trip is, Without a doubt, the boardshorts, I don't have any scratches, they don't bother me at all, they are comfortable, light and super stretchy.

Nacho is surfing Very well, I see him as very solid for left and right handed shots. He is strong, he is complete, he has a good line. We are also working on the series, short training sessions.

I saw him do it very good waves, executing solid aerials, executing solid maneuvers on rights and also on lefts.

The foreigners I saw that surprised me were: Oli Camarena from Panama has been here for about three months and I saw him surfing very solidly, very well, he is strong and already knows the wave. There are also the Canadians, Cody Young is quite connected to the wave. Those two are the ones who surprised me the most.

I think about the ISA World Cup and First of all, I hope it happens, because it seems that everything around the world is worse, the countries, the pandemic... So first of all, I hope it happens. Secondly, it's going to be a great tournament, it's going to be incredible, there's going to be a level! Also, the wave allows you to do a lot of things that will be a spectacle.

I have faith that I will go to the Tokyo Olympics because I've been putting in a lot of training, sacrifice, discipline, I'm going all out, I'm eager, I think I've put in what's necessary to be able to get to the World Cup in the best possible shape and qualify. So let's go for it.

 

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A post shared by Nacho Gundesen. (@nachogundesen)

Nacho Gundensen: “I have been training a lot, since I was very young, giving everything and going all out”

What I liked most about El Salvador since I arrived has been the waves and surfing in leather (laughs). It's incredible, Since we arrived he hasn't stopped throwing waves!

The best wave I surfed was of six backside maneuvers, the wave was perfect and offered to give it all.

For now I'm getting rid of the stones (laughs) but in a couple of aerials the falls are nice.

The best friendship I ever met again was my friend from Mexico, Alan Cleland.

Covid here: We are in a bubble at home, we go out very little so we are very calm.

The Rip Curl product that has helped me the most on this trip is without a doubt the bordshorts.

Lele is breaking it, comes from less to more, each time with more timing of the wave.

I saw him do it Very good backside waves and as always the “leleyback” taken out (laughs).

The foreigners I saw that surprised me were Bryan Perez, the local and some other locals.

I think about the ISA World Cup and the flag comes to my mind at the top.

I have faith that I will go to the Tokyo Olympics Because I have been training a lot, since I was very young, leaving everything and going with everything.

 

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