Biography
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Born: 30th August 1985 in Zarautz, Spain
Sponsors: Quiksilver, Pukas, DC
Current Residence: Zarautz, Spain
Occupation: Professional Surfer
Favourite surfers: Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds
Favourite spots: Mundaka, Euskadi / Backdoor Pipeline, Hawaii
Height: 5.6
Weight: 156 pounds
Stance: Regular
Accomplishments:
2010 1st Maresia Surf International, WQS 6 Stars, Brazil
2009 3rd Billabong Pro Teahupoo
2008 9th Billabong Pipeline Master
2007 ASP European Champion
Qualified for the 2008 ASP World Tour
6th WQS ranking
1st Hang Loose Pro WQS 5-Star Prime, Brazil
1st Zarautz Pro Surf WQS 3-Star, Euskadi
2nd Sooruz Lacanau Pro WQS 6-Star, France
5th US Open of Surfing WQS 6-Star, USA
5th Reef Hawaiian Pro, WQS 6-Star, Haleiwa, Hawaii
2006 3rd O'Neill Highland Pro WQS 5-Star, Scotland
2005 European Junior Vice Champion
1999 1st Quiksilver Grommets Trophy
In 2008 Aritz became the first surfer to represent the Basque Country on the ASP World Championship Tour. The unassuming young man remains at home and comfortable amongst surfing's elite. He's come a long way from riding his first short board age 7 and joining the Quiksilver team as an excitable grom aged 14.
2007 was an exceptional year for Aritz; a string of epic results marked his arrival on the world stage. He took 1st place at the Hang Loose Pro WQS 5-Star in Brazil. The backed it up with a strong European leg: a final at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro WQS 6-Star and a home turf win at the Zarautz Pro Surf WQS 3-Star. He ended his year with a 5th place finish at the Reef Hawaiian Pro WQS 6-Star. This final result jumped Aritz up to 6th on the WQS rankings and secured one of his main goals in life, his qualification for the ASP World Tour.
The start of the 2008 season, because of an injury suffered at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, didn't go exactly to plan. However, good news was to come at the years end, Aritz placed 9th in the Pipeline Masters and he was awarded an ‘Injury Wildcard' by his ASP peers. Aritz was back on The Dream Tour for the 2009 season.
It was Midway through the 2009 season, at one of the toughest stops on Tour, Aritz's talent shone brightest. At the Teahupoo Billabong Pro event, Aritz beat his two favourite surfers, Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds. On his way to a career best 3rd place result, this event marked his place on Tour and earned him yet more respect from his peers.
Aritz describes himself as someone who will fight to get to the top. He trains hard and is intensely focused on the job ahead; he has overcome obstacles and adversity. He has tasted glory and drives forward no matter what. He has a passion for big wave surfing and can often be sighted at some of the Basque country's heaviest breaks, which it seems is a perfect training ground for life on Tour.
