Photos by Gino Bello

Last Thursday was the opening session of Pico Alto and the big news was the very young Raúl Vildoso, who was just 12 years old and riding waves in the dreaded surf.

For the legendary photographer of the surf (and of all of Peru), Gino Bello, this is a record since the previous holders were Joaquín del Castillo and Rodrigo Bonifaz who surfed the wave with 13.

In the sequence, Raúl is seen confidently lowering a solid mass of water and completing it.

“Raulito is a big kid, relaxed, calm. He's incredible… Even Marianito Robles, who also made his debut, was very smart. Piero (Saenz) gives them a lot of confidence, treats them very well… It was nice, it was a spectacular day,” Gino said.

And he added: “Given the nerves, of course, Pico Alto always intimidates young and old. But the wave we rode was incredible, perfect. The wave was glassy and sunny.”

Raúl received congratulations from everyone on Instagram, including Queen Sofía Mulanovich, Sebastián Alarcón, Roger Velasco, and others.