Cover photo: LatinWave- Special coverage of surfing in Lima 2019 is presented by Quiksilver Peru y Surf School Tubes

There was something different in the air at Punta Rocas today, unlike at the start of any other tournament. Whether you like it or not, that distant possibility of making it to the Olympics became palpable.

As Lucca Mesinas says in this interview, the championship in the water was all the same, but there are many things happening around it that are very important for the countries, the Olympic committees, the national and international federations… There is pressure on the return and it is felt.

It was remarkable what the Peruvian knew how to deal with these factors and quickly add two good scores, getting the best score of round 1 of men's shortboard and also becoming one of the two Peruvians who managed to advance through the main event (along with Daniella Rosas).

In the following paragraphs he tells a little about what he experienced and is experiencing.

This was certainly the beginning of a participation in a different championship, how do you see it?
Yes, I mean, as far as what happens in the water, it's the same, every championship is the same, we still have the same routine, going into the water to give it our all, but it feels different, being at home with all the people from Peru, it's really great, or having my name on the back of my lycra, I love that.

These are new things that I haven't had the chance to do in other championships, so I'm happy that there is something new.

What can you say about the applause from the Peruvian fans after you won the series?
Incredible, that's what I like the most, what motivates me the most to surf better and give my all. That people applaud me and have faith in me.

And speaking of the series itself, you managed it super well, you dominated from start to finish, there was no doubt that it was yours, how did you experience it?
I went in focused on catching a quick wave to see what score they would give me at the start, to see the scale a bit, and I started with a good wave that reformed me quite a bit. I started with a 7 and I knew more or less what I had to do, then I was given another opportunity and I did almost the same thing, getting the same score.

How do you feel now that the championship has started and you have won that first series at the top? How do you face what is coming?
Happy, happy to get through, but most of all we remain focused, this is just the beginning, there is no need to be too happy either, because nothing has been achieved yet, a step has been taken and well, we continue step by step, “heat by heat” as they say in surfing and we go with everything to the next round.

Do you have Tokyo 2020 in mind or do you try to distance yourself from it a bit?
I'm mostly thinking about the Pan American medals, although we obviously know that there is a possibility there. What I want is to represent Peru and at least win a medal, if it's gold, even better.

They say you win an apartment if you win gold…
Exactly, an apartment (laughs), a lot of money (laughs). When they showed it to me, I stayed there watching television and well, that's also a motivation.

That is something incredible for the world of surfing, which in some cases does not pay that well in surfing championships…
Yes, the pay is not that good and in team championships, there is often no prize money, so Peru helps motivate us a lot with this.