In the short time we have had in 2018, this young woman from the Canary Islands called Melania Suárez has already accumulated a second place in the Caparica Junior Pro, a ninth place in the QS Caparica Pro, a first place in the Junior Pro Espinho and another victory in the recent Grom Search in La Arena, in the Basque Country.

She is 14 years old and has beaten the 18-year-olds on several occasions, she looks confident surfing in solid conditions and coming from where she comes, she has plenty of waves to continue improving.

This is her.

Who is Melania?
A 14-year-old girl who lives in Punta Hidalgo, Tenerife. She is studying 3rd year of ESO and a surfer.

Your brother Diego Suárez has been one of the islands' promising players for some time now. How has it been following in his footsteps?
My brother has always been a role model for me in surfing. I used to go with him when he went to compete and then when I was 10 I started competing myself, and I went with him and my parents. I remember that I did a wave with a lot of turns that I thought would be at least a 5 and in the end it was a 1,8 (laughs).

How would you introduce Diego?
Well, like the typical brother, always bothering me.

Do you usually surf or travel together?
If the vast majority of championships, training sessions and trips are with my brother.

Any anecdotes from trips together?
Well I remember one time we were in Indonesia and suddenly we saw a shark and we got out of the water really scared but then it turned out to be a dolphin so we went back and ended up surfing with them.

You are very active in competitions. How do you handle the extra burden of having consecutive championships?
I like the competitions, they're not a burden because I surf, I have a good time and I'm with my friends. It's a bit hard to go in early in the morning with cold water, but the worst thing of all is missing class and then having to catch up.

If you had to choose one, which victory would you choose, the Pro Junior in Portugal or the Rip Curl Grom Search in the Basque Country?
I would definitely take first place in Espinho. It has been my greatest achievement in competition to date because it is where the best surfers under 18 years old come together.

Changing the subject, you surf with boards made by a shaper from Portugal, how did that relationship come about?
The truth is that all the sponsors I have are the same as my brother's. The same thing happened with the boards, Diego started with Matta Shapes and I followed behind.

Do you surf a lot on different islands?
I try to move around as much as I can. Lately I've been going a lot to Gran Canaria with Lucía Machado and with Franito to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

It has always been known that it is difficult to make a career in the Canary Islands because there is less industry and you always have to travel. How has the situation been in recent years for you, who are part of the new generation?
I have no idea, honestly, my parents take care of that. My dad always says I should have a sticker on the tip of my board with his face on it (laughs).

Do you see it possible to be in an ISA with Spain in the coming years?
I think it is a possibility. In fact, I hope that Spain calls me up for the Junior Euros.

And what would you like to be doing in five years?
Well, living from surfing: Traveling, surfing a lot and in the CT,  Why not?!