Welcome Ruben Vitoria

We are happy to introduce Ruben Vitoria in the Deflow Family, a pure talent focused on finding the best surfing. We love Ruben’s spirit, always with a smile on his face, while he searches for the best waves. Doesn’t matter if waves are knee high or gnarliest barrels, he likes to spend his time in the ocean.

Watch his welcome video edit below filmed by our friend Oscar Valencia and learn more about the talented surfer by reading his interview.

Follow Ruben Vitoria on Instagram.

Hello Ruben! How are you doing? Seems like you had a few intense weeks in the Canary Islands. What you have been up to?

I am great guys! How are you doing? Right now I am competing in the Canary Islands. It’s being 3 weeks competing around here. I like to call it the Spanish triple crow. The first contest was in Punta Blanca, a wave that is like a skatepark. Great for doing airs and big manoeuvres and when there is a swell there are some good barrels. We have had incredible waves in the first champ. I was surfing great and got a 5th place. The next contest was on the left of Las Americas, a perfect left for turns. Super easy to surf. I got a 3rd place and many high scores. The last contest and the one in which it is decided who will be the champion of the league will be held this weekend on La Cicer beach in Gran Canaria. A fun beach break. The forecast is good for the championship, I hope I can get it home 🙂.

Ok, for those who don’t know you, tell us a bit more about yourself. Where do you come from?

I describe myself as a pure passionate for surfing. I like to surf, I don’t care if I surf 0.5m or surf 5m waves. As long as there are waves I am happy. I am from Zarautz, Basque Country and I am 24 years old. My goal is to be one of the best surfers in Europe.

That’s sick. We’ve seen you have been super active on competitions and with good results. Which is your plan for the following year?

I want to be at the top of the challenger rankings. I have decided to move to Portugal this next year so I can focus on good waves and training, let’s see if it works!

Trainning for all this comps must be hard and you must be very sharp when choosing your surfboards, fins and other accessories. Can you explain us which fins you’ve been using recently and why?

The level is very high and the difference between one surfer and another is very small. In order to be at the top of the rankings you need the best possible material. Now I am lucky to be able to work with Deflow and try different shapes of fins. I am very happy because it allows me to improve my performance. The fins that I like the most are the Supra L. They are 4×4 fins that allow me to surf small and big waves.

We’ve seen one of the barrels you got in Safi on this sick edit by Oscar Valencia. When was this? Was it a planned trip or a last call adventure?

This was 3 weeks ago, at home the forecast was bad, stormy and cold. But at the same time, that same swell in Morocco looked extremely good. I had never been to Safi and it was a good opportunity to debut in this magical wave. The swell wasn’t amazing at the end but we were able to catch some good barrels. The first day it was too big and big sets didn’t have proper barrel. The second day of swell, it was smaller and there were better waves. I was lucky enough to catch one of the best waves of the day.

Men, Morocco is an amazing country. Do you have any surf trip planned for next year?

I don’t have anything planned yet but I’m going to go for the next swell for Safi for sure.

We’ve also seen you have been experimenting with some different shapes. It all began in Mexico last year, right? How was that? Can you explain which different boards you are surfing currently?

Last year in Barra de la Cruz I was lucky enough to be able to surf an asymmetric twin fin from Ryan Burch and I was blown away with the speed of it. This is why I spoke with Jon Garmendia, a shaper from Zarautz, and told him about my experience with that board and that I wanted one just like it. We have made a board and I am testing it. Surfing with an asymmetric board allows you to do things that are much more difficult with a normal board. The tail outs are much easier and the feeling it gives you is like you are flying.