NicolÁs Malet: a Uruguayan promise

Nicolás Malet is just eight years old and he is one of the best Uruguayan young guns. In spite of his short experience, “Super Nico” is beginning to look like Luisma Iturria’s and Marco Giorgi’s successor. He is in his second year at Stella Maris Christians Brothers School, and is spending his time surfing in Uruguay and Brazil, where he started surfing.

World Surfing News interviewed Nicolás Malet and, he said the following about the extremely cold winter in Uruguay,“Uruguay has always been very cold in winter outside and inside the water, anyway I would love to go out and ride some waves but my mother wouldn’t let me because I’m still very young.”

Where did you start surfing?
I started surfing when I was two and a half years old in Joaquina Beach and I have never stopped doing it.

What beaches have you surfed?
Well I’ve been to a lot of beaches. For example,e in Uruguay I’ve been in every beach from Punta del Este to Santa Teresa. In Brazil, my second home, I’ve been to Joaquina, Mole, Barra da Lagoa, Santinho, Praia Brava, Mozambique, Matadeiro, Campeche, Praia da Rosa, Silveira, Garopaba and others.

What is the next trip you have planned?
We are going to visit Puerto Escondido at the end of the year. My uncle Raúl lives in Mexico and he has invited us for 15 days. I’ve planned to make the most out of this trip and I hope to learn how to ride the best tubes without eating sand –laughs-.

Who are your idols?
Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Raoni Monteiro, Heitor Alves and a lot of young surfers. Also, Luisma Iturria and Marco Giorgi from Uruguay. I identify myself with them because they have both started in Uruguay and they have been looking for a place in the surfing world and they are doing great. Marco is deeply respected in Brazil and I’m following his path. Thanks to my parents I have spent a lot of time in Brazil and I aim to keep going because they have given me great chances to grow up as a surfer.

What kind of boards do you use?
I have several boards but I usually use5'0" to 5'3" Upon Surfboards, from my shaper Guilherme Almeida. He is a friend, the first shaper that made a board especially for me; he is also my sponsor and he has trust in me. And now, thanks to Marco and Netao, Mormaii Team Manager, I use some Ricardo Martins surfboards.

What kind of training do you go through when you are not surfing?
Well, when I’m in Uruguay at school I play rugby, football, tennis in the club and baby football in the Corcega (we have a great team there). I do training with a coach, Fernando, who makes me practice stretching, running and some other exercises because my dad have asked him to keep me the most flexible I can. I also do specific surfing training in Florianopolis thanks to Mormaii’s support and to Netâo in Aragua Training Center in Praia Mole with Ricardo Santana. There is also yoga, pilates and some other classes that I assist with under 14 kids.

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