22 year-old big wave surfer Natxo Gonzalez from Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain, has officially qualified for the 2018 / 2019 WSL Big Wave World Tour. Natxo is still the youngest and only Spanish surfer to ever do so after being on tour back in 2015 with only 18 years of age.

Invited to the WSL Nazaré Challenge as a 3rd alternate, Natxo was able to enter the event due to the injury of two seeded surfers. He took the opportunity and finished third behind event winner Lucas Chianca from Brazil and Hawaiian Billy Kemper. This third place finish resulted in a 10th spot on the WSL Big Wave World Tour rankings. Enough for Natxo to be a full time member of the WSL Big Wave World Tour again in 2018 / 2019.

Says Natxo: “2017 wasn’t easy by any means. The only chance of reaching my goal of qualifying for the tour meant to chase every big swell around the world: catch bombs at all the famous big wave spots with my filmer Jon Aspuru capturing them for a highlight clip to maybe win “Performance of the Year”. That was the plan and it wouldn’t have been easy with so many good guys trying to qualify.

So to get the chance to compete in the Nazaré Challenge was amazing. I knew that this was my chance and I’m so incredibly happy that I was able to take it. When I was on tour for the first time with 18, I had so little experience. I had to compete against guys like Carlos (Burle) with 20 years more experience than me… I’m feeling a lot more confident now. 2018 / 2019 will be a crazy years again and I will try to learn as much as possible; and then try to become World Champion. I can’t wait.”

Follow Natxo:

@natxogonzalez1