SOFÍA MULANOVICH: well earned fame

The year 2004 was a turning point in World surfing history. But especially for Latin America, a land filled with revolutions and icons that have represented the voice of millions that are eager for victory.
It was a magical year for Sofia Mulanovich’s career. Her entrance to the Surfer’s Hall of Fame a few days ago was a proof of that. Her impeccable path has been an inspiration to a lot of Latin American people.

Sofía Mulanovich Aljovín was born on June 24th 1983 in Lima, Peru. Her parents, Herbert  Mulanovich Barreda and Inés Aljovín , have supported her from the beginning.
She studied at San Silvestre School, where she called teachers’ attention because she was an excellent swimmer.

She took her first steps in surfing at the age of 5 in Mancora with a bodyboard, four years later she changed the bodyboard for a surfboard and started to write her history as a surfer who has nowadays become the most important Latin American surfer of all times.

Magoo de la Rosa and Roberto “Muelas” Meza were Sofia’s mentors. These two great Peruvian surfers taught her their wisdom and showed her how to surf as any other good Peruvian surfer. Her first big international triumph was the 1997 Pan American Surfing Games in Brazil.
She was already sponsored by Reef. One year later she signed a good contract with Roxy, and started training for the WQS.

Her first year in the QS was not bad; she almost made it to the elite division of women surfing (WCT). One year later she achieved her goal, placing second on the QS, and started competing among the 18 best surfers of the world. Her debut in big leagues was great, placing 7th and earning respect from her peers.

The 2004 ISA World Surfing Games in Ecuador were, according to Sofía, a turning point in her career. She was crowned ISA World Champion, by winning the Gold medal, helping Peru to an historical 4th place in the National Team rankings. But most importantly, she said that a great change of attitude came after that victory.

At end of 2004, she had also won the ASP Professional World Championship tour in Haleiwa. Felipe Pomar, also a Peruvian, won the ISF (predecessor of the ISA) 1965 World Champion, hence Sofia became the second Peruvian and the first Latin American woman to win the elite surfing World Championship and the first Hispanic American to win an ASP title.  This all happen in one year…

Sofía is an example of how far you can go when you´re really willing to achieve something, but most importantly Sofia is an example of how to reach the top, while remaining the very same person that was surfing the waves of Punta Hermosa, in Peru.

In 2005 and 2006, Sofia finished as runner up for the SIMA Waterman of the year award, second to Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight and Lisa Andersen respectively.

World Surfing News and the ISA congratulate Sofía Mulanovich for her contribution to the surfing world and for being a role model, not just for all Latin American people, but all over the world.

BACK TO HOME