The Interview: Pablo Amores

Spanish rider Pablo Amores oozes style on his strapless board! In this issue, he gives us the inside story on his kitesurfing origins, how he juggles studies and sessions, and a look at what inspires him as a professional athlete. Read all about it in this IKSURFMAG interview!

Pablo, we've seen your face in our magazine countless times with epic strapless and wave photos. It's great to finally have you as the subject of our Issue #89 Interview! Tell us about your path to kiting. When did your relationship with the ocean begin?

My passion for the ocean started at the age of one. When I was a baby, my parents created a special crib for me on their sailboat. After that, it was inevitable! I windsurfed and surfed growing up but started kitesurfing quite late, in 2014.

I can't believe you only started kiting at 18 years old! Do you think your background in windsurfing and surfing gave you that extra edge in wave kiting? 

Yes, for sure! In the end, all watersports are connected because of the ocean. Many things work the same, especially when wave riding. It is crucial to know how to surf before kiting so you can read the waves properly and infuse your regular surfing technique into your kitesurfing. You can see that the best wave kiters out there are also excellent surfers. 

Naish Kiteboarding | View in Mag

F-One Kiteboarding | View in Mag

Unlike many pro kiters on the scene today, your kiting journey started at university age. What are you studying, and how do you balance kiting and your education?

I'm still in university studying Business & Management. In the middle of my time in university, I got a bit lost because I was living in Sevilla. It is such a beautiful city, but it is missing a thing I cannot live without: the ocean. So, I have been taking my studies slowly and will hopefully finish this winter. 

While studying, you've been racing back to Tarifa on weekends to get on the water. What made you want to convert your kitesurfing hobby to a professional career? 

The most comforting thing for me is the satisfaction of landing a new trick or going on a trip somewhere to look for waves and discover new cultures and people. After my second kite trip to Mauritius, I got completely pulled into this life! I don't have words to describe that trip. Mauritius is just a magical place. Also, watching friends like Liam, Jerome and Matchu live this kind of life, where travel and fun are part of the job, motivated me to pursue kiting as a professional career.

Was your family supportive of this decision? Did you experience any struggles with this chosen lifestyle? 

In the beginning, my parents didn't support my decision. I mean, they didn't forbid me to do what I wanted but also didn't like that I took a break from university life for kitesurfing. But as time has passed, their opinions have changed, and they support me in my lifestyle. They always want to bring me to the airport or pick me up when I return home, and they always let me know that they are proud of the son I am!

Your dad held a world record! What was it for, and was your dad one of your inspirations to get into watersports?

One of the main reasons I got into watersports was my dad, a speed windsurfing racer in the '90s. He has a world speed record; I think it was around 39 knots and happened in 1995 at a world competition in Tarifa. It was the same year I was born, back when Bjorn Dunkerberck and Robby Naish used to compete.

At the age of 9, I had my first windsurfing lessons at Valdevaqueros. Then at 12, my older brother Javi was competing at the KPWT and PKRA in waves, which inspired me to start catching waves with regular surfing. 

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Harlem Kitesurfing | View in Mag

Did Javi's high level in kitesurfing get you interested in the sport, or were you doing your own thing back then? 

When my brother was competing, I hadn't even started to kite yet! When I got older, I heard his stories about his competitions and saw his videos, and I was amazed by the lifestyle. All those stories about travelling and the old adventures he shared with me pushed me to take my first steps into kiteboarding.

Have you managed to convert your dad over to kiting? What do Amores family sessions look like? 

He wanted to start, but unfortunately, he got a lumbar hernia, and he had to stop action sports. He still sails a lot and wins a lot of regional and national sailing races with his team. My brother lives in Cantabria, which is on the other side of Spain from where I live in Tarifa, so we cannot kite together as much as we want. We love to go for a kite or surf session together whenever we get the chance, though!

How have the past 18 months and the whole COVID thing affected your lifestyle and kiting career? Are you still able to get on the water often? 

Covid hasn't been the best for travelling to other spots, so it has impacted my career. In Tarifa, we have great strapless freestyle conditions, but we don't get enough waves to train continuously. Usually, I go to other countries like Mauritius or Brazil, basically anywhere I can focus on training my wave riding. Right now, I'm trying to get a session a day in, so it's not so bad!

You've been a fixture in the GKA, both in wave riding and strapless freestyle. Tell us your favourite thing about the tour! 

My first ever competition was the very first GKA event in Dakhla. Since then, I have met many people from different countries, opening myself to explore more of this beautiful world full of wave spots. It is nice to make new friends in the middle of the competitions, and some of them become close. Unfortunately, I almost didn't compete this year, as travel restrictions made it difficult, so I'm just waiting to start full-on in the GKA 2022 season.

Slingshot | View in Mag

Naish Kiteboarding | View in Mag

What is your favourite kite spot in Spain? What about the rest of Europe?  

I love the Canary Islands! In Vargas, Gran Canaria, there is a perfect spot for strapless freestyle, especially in summer when the wind is up to 40 knots. For waves, I prefer Fuerteventura with softer winds and many surf spots. I also enjoy visiting Portugal, where I can catch great waves in winter at Guincho or Ericeira. It's close to Spain and easy to have a camper trip there, a perfect mix!

What does your kiting quiver look like, and why have you chosen that specific gear? 

I like the new Slingshot Machine for strapless freestyle; it has a lot of hangtime and is super light, perfect for air tricks. For waves, for sure, it is the SST V6. The new version is lighter with new wingtips and has amazing drift, making it the best for wave riding. About the boards, I use a Scyfly 5'0'' for strapless freestyle, Scyfly 5'4" for tiny waves and some strapless. With side or side off conditions and powerful waves, the Tyrant XR 5'8'' has the perfect drive. For the rest, I use a Celero XR; this board is amazing because you can use it in marginal conditions or overhead waves.

What other styles of kiting do you enjoy? Do you ever ride a twin tip?

I enjoy watching my friends doing freestyle at the lagoon here in Tarifa; Those tricks are not easy at all! I also love to watch my friends at Balneario, and I have been inspired to start riding twin tips to discover new techniques that I can apply to strapless. 

I see that you've taken up winging as well! When you first saw winging, did you think it would take off the way it has? 

Exactly! I like it! I was windsurfing when I was younger, and I like this feeling when the wing pulls you from the arms and in front of you. I love surf foiling as well, so it's a perfect combination of two fantastic sports. It's cool that you can do different stuff with the same sport and gear like wave riding, freestyle and racing. Haha, I have to say that I didn't think it would be a fun sport the first time I saw it. Then after my curiosity started, I learnt how to wing in March, and now I'm hooked!

What is your winging setup? Are you more into winging in waves or on flatwater? 

The Dart V1 and Wingcraft 60L are my choices. The Dart has a lot of power and hangtime when you are in the air. As you know, I'm more of a wave rider than anything, but with the wing, I have to admit that I prefer to do freestyle and tricks.

Duotone | View in Mag

Gin Kiteboarding | View in Mag

What do you have planned for 2022? Any major projects or exciting travel plans?

Currently, I am in Cape Town for the Prolimit shoot and to ride some waves. After summer, I would love to go to Mauritius if the borders are open. I'd also like to visit the Canary Islands and go somewhere else totally new. As a surfer, I love to go on unique kite trips!

We look forward to seeing what 2022 brings for you. Thanks, Pablo!