Talking about power surfing with Lucas Pérez del Solar

"Power in surfing is the combination of strength, speed and precision," says the Peruvian, among other things, in a brief interview illustrated with maneuvers in El Salvador.

December 7, 2023

Note submitted by Surf City - El Salvador Travel - All photos by José González ( @jose_gonzalez_photos

If we talk about power surfing in Latin America, Peruvian Lucas Pérez del Solar is a reference. He gives 120% of his effort in every maneuver and if an average surfer gets a splash, he makes it fall into the lineup.

A couple of days ago he shared a couple of sequences that once again caught attention for their characteristic power.

Being a very muscular young man, Lucas says that there is not much of a secret to power surfing, that everything starts outside the sea, generating power in the body and that is then transferred; with technique, of course.

Below he details it in a brief interview.

Lucas applying technique and power on a Salvadoran wall. All photos by Jose González @jose_gonzalez_photos

What do you think is your secret to putting so much power into your maneuvers?
I don't think it's too much of a secret. Start outside the sea, train strength, power, endurance and mobility that will help you reach certain ranges of motion that will give you that extra power, personally that has helped me a lot.

Once in the sea, a good line and reading of the wave is very important, training to be as precise and fast as possible in the pocket, together with previous training is what will make you get good water.

The last step would be to not think so much and go for it in every maneuver.

Why do you like doing that so much?
I have always seen surfing as the way I best express myself, my surfing is a reflection of who I am and how I feel.

What should be done to get rid of so much water during your maneuvers?
Power in surfing is the combination of strength, speed and precision, so as I said before, being physically fit helps a lot, finding a good line and reading it, being as precise and fast as possible in the pocket is important, and also knowing how to differentiate in which sections you should use more brute force and in which you shouldn't.

Any anecdotes about things that have happened to you because you put so much power into your maneuvers?
I think the craziest thing is breaking boards inexplicably, breaking them on a roller, breaking the tail or opening the fin systems in maneuvers like laybacks or carvings due to pressure or even bending them on a bottom, it's something you have to get used to (laughs).