What’s up MotoSurf Nation!
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mexican MotoSurf racer Juan Pablo Urquidi earlier this month in Keystone Heights, Florida. J.P. showed true skill, personality and sportsmanship competing in the Elite Category. I want to thank J.P. for his time and effort he puts into this sport, and wish him luck for the rest of the season!
J.P. Urquidi’s Instagram: @jp9.motosurf
Watch J.P. Urquidi show off his MotoSurfing skills along with a quick interview! [Spanish]
How did you get into MotoSurfing?
“Wow, this goes way back! I have a friend, named Mark, who brought the sport and [JetSurf] boards to Mexico. I actually bought one of the first 10 boards that were brought to America. That’s how I got in. I used to surf, but when I moved to Cancún, there were waves to surf but only at certain times of the year. And even then, the waves were little. With JetSurf, I got to surf all year round.”
How long have you been MotoSurf racing for?
“A long time! The sport was really small back then. I was at the first MotoSurf World Cup back in 2016. I’ve been riding since 2014, and racing since the first World Cup in ‘16.”
What is your favorite aspect about being a MotoSurf racer?
“First, I get to ride with my wife, which is nice because it’s a way for us to bond together. We’ve traveled all over the world together to compete. Also, the vibe and the community. Here, the people are really friendly and everyone is willing to help. The other thing, is that I love to compete and I love to race. I love the adrenaline, and to have a sport to compete in even when you’re “old”! Even an older person can race competitively which is awesome.”
Where do you see the sport growing to in the future, especially with the news of MotoSurfing being in the China World Games next year?
“I think making any small sport grow is difficult. It’s not a cheap sport, so the market is not that big yet. For there to be races and events, you have to have a community. In 10 years, MotoSurfing will be a really big sport, and the World Games will definitely help put it in the spotlight.”
Where is your favorite location to race at?
“There’s been a lot of places. In Korea, we raced with waves and rollers, it was crazy! We were jumping and everything. In China, we raced in the middle of a canyon and it was a beautiful place. I’ve raced in Italy, raced in London in the middle of a lake, that was really fun…I think, and not just because I’m from there, one of the best races I’ve been to was in Cancún. Not only the place, but the organization was awesome. We had the hotel right next to the water, and a mall as well so everybody could go and hang out after the race. Overall, if I had to chose, the most beautiful place I’d say was Korea.”
What does training for a race look like?
“Right now, I’m not training that hard. When I was training for World Cup back in the day, I was training 2 or 3 days a week on the water. Every day, I’d work out in the gym and run. You have to train your muscles, especially your legs, because if you can keep the same stance and speed for the whole race, it puts you in a better position. Your legs and your core are a big part of it. Of course, you can’t forget your brain. If you train your brain to think that you’re racing against yourself, and not others, it’s better for sure.”
What is your favorite board to race with?
“I think this last board I bought [JetSurf DFI Titanium], is the best. The first generations of boards broke a lot, and there were a lot of repairs happening over and over. Even in World Cup races, sometimes I would be racing and the board would just cut out. Right now, the quality of the boards have increased a lot. Now, you can go and race a weekend, and not have any issues with your board. The JetSurf DFI Titanium is a wonderful board. The speed, how you can turn on it, it’s really good.”
Do you have a favorite race story you’d like to share?
“I definitely have one. At the start of a race, I was next to a man named Milo Silva who now does free styling with JetSurf. He rides regular and I ride goofy, and he was to the left of me. When we took off, we were so close together that our boards were hitting each other on the sides. We just looked at each other, and instead of hand fighting or pushing, we high-fived! We have a photo of that, when we high-fived racing towards the first turn. It was so nice.”
I’d like to thank J.P. again for his time, and make sure to follow him on Instagram. While you’re at it, make sure to follow @motosurfnation on Instagram and Facebook for the latest new and events in MotoSurfing!
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