At this point in the game, Ramón Navarro must be part of the list of the 10 most influential Chilean athletes in his country. Last year he was walking side by side in Punta de Lobos with the president (at that time) Michelle Bachelet, today he was meeting with the Minister of Sport, Pauline Kantor.

Chilean governments change, from left to right and from right to left, and the surfer does not knock on doors, he is invited to these meetings, and he does not remain silent. He demands and asks for support for one of the sports that has given his country the most international joy.

This is what he had to say about the meeting and a few other things regarding the wave of the century in Fiji.

How did the meeting with the minister come about?
Since the news was all over the press here in Chile, I think they had no choice but to invite me… They themselves recognized it… That's why they invited me.

Did you make any specific requests to him?
We are working on a very big project, that leaves a powerful legacy for the future of Chilean surfing. We will have news about that a little later.

You mentioned on Instagram a working group that you are putting together with the ministry. What does it consist of?
We are going to create a working group to carry out the project that I mentioned, which is something that cannot be talked about much yet, but which is very focused on leaving a very powerful legacy for all generations.

Did you expect to have another such major hit of world fame, let's say, when you were closer to 40 than 30?
(Laughs), I was actually always thinking about dropping a bomb in Tahiti, that was what I felt I was missing, dropping a tow in at Teahupoo and, I went to Fiji and a bomb came out at Teahupoo so it was a double treat.

I think I'm in better physical and mental condition for big waves than ever, feeling more comfortable than ever, training a lot, having a nutrition regimen that I've never had in my life, which gives me twice the confidence and preparation.

Also, with my new sponsors, especially Patagonia, I feel less pressure to get results in championships; it gives me this freedom and the opportunity to search for big waves of that style.

I'm going to be 40 in two more years, I'm just 38 years old, and I plan to keep on throwing bombs for a while longer, we're good!

Let's talk about the wave for a second. There's no doubt that it's the BWA ride of the year for the world, what can you say about that general opinion?
No, I don't think so... Step by step, it would have been ride of the year if I had gone deeper in the tube, I think there was still space where I could have gone a little deeper, so I think it can be a contender for one of the biggest of the year, in the tube too... But no, I take it easy, whatever happens, no pressure.

Could you comment on what Makua Rothman said, that he would rather die in the tube than come out without taking the shot?
Makua is right that I should have been deeper in the tube. A couple of meters further back, close to the foamball I should have been… But, I thought that the wave was going to throw a second section that it didn't throw and it stayed there. So, that's it!