Note submitted by Quiksilver  - Video by @photographernica and @coco.drone_pavones_surf

A smart surfer, Tao Rodriguez has been taking advantage of that powerful backside, that fundamental surfing, but knowing that he could improve his frontside, barrels and aerials, he dedicated his month off to doing just that.

He chose two ideal spots: Pavones in Costa Rica and Colorados in Nicaragua and, determined as he is, he managed to improve all three things. So now, in addition to seeing him exploding up there after a good bottom turn, we're going to see Tao landing aerials in competitions.

Below, the current ALAS youth champion, reviews, in an interview, the aforementioned process, the enjoyment of it and some objectives that now have greater grounds to be achieved.

We're going to be hearing a lot more from Tao Rodriguez in the near future.

What was the purpose of your trip to Colorados and Pavones?
The purpose of traveling first to Costa Rica and then to Colorado was to do a surf trip during the months when there were no competitions in my region. Last year I spent my time traveling to competitions and I wanted to go surfing for a little more than a month to get rid of the stress of competing and improve my surfing.

I wanted to reconnect with nature and work on those explosive maneuvers that I was missing.

"I wanted to reconnect with nature and work on those explosive maneuvers that I was missing"

You've been seen doing a lot more aerials, was that one of your goals? To improve on the tubes as well?
One of my goals was definitely to improve my aerials. I used to land very few aerials during my surf sessions, and for that reason I never landed them in competition. But during my surf trip, there were sessions where I would complete five to six aerials.

Getting better tubes was also a goal, but we got caught in a storm in Colorado so there were very few tube days, but that's surfing. You have to surf what you have and make the most of it.

What has been the key to improving them?
The key is practice. I dedicated myself to doing aerials wave after wave until I completed them. I remember a photographer telling me that I never landed my aerials, but after a lot of practice I started to get them.

"I dedicated myself to doing aerials wave after wave until I completed them. I remember a photographer telling me that I never landed my aerials, but after a lot of practice I started to get them."

On the other hand, before Nicaragua you spent several days in Pavones, in one of your posts you say that you finally feel comfortable running lefts, how is that?
It's totally true that I feel comfortable running lefts now. Where I live in Panama, I tend to surf more rights, so my frontside was lacking practice. But after two weeks running lefts in Pavones I felt that I managed to improve my sticks and repertoire of maneuvers.

I feel connected to my surfing now when I go left. I no longer feel that fear of not knowing exactly what I'm doing on the left or of my coach telling me to only look for rights when I compete in the ISA.

"I no longer feel that fear of not knowing exactly what I'm doing on the left or that my coach tells me to only look for the right when I compete in the ISA"

It's clear that you're focusing on putting in a lot of training and surfing different waves. What has been the plan and how is everything going now?
The plan is to continue training hard in and out of the water to be 100% for the next competitions. I will remain super focused on the Pan American Games coming to Venao, Panama. My plan is to bring a gold medal to Panama.

How would you like to end the year?
I would like to end the year with a medal at the Pan American Games and be champion of the Alas Pro Tour.