Who is Jose Maria Avila?

Hello everyone,

Today we will like to share with you this Interview we made to our Uni mate Jose Maria.

Hello Jose Maria, we know you because you are our University mate, but can you please introduce yourself as a SUP rider?

Hello guys. Of course, so my name is Jose Maria but in the SUP RACE world, I'm known as AVILA. I'm 23 years old, as you know I'm finishing my University degree and I'm a SUP Rider since two years ago.

How do you get started in the SUP RACE?
I've been practising sports all my life since I was 5 years old, I used to practice Athletics but unfortunately, I get injured by a motorbike accident 3 years ago so I had to say bye to Athletics and find a new sport were my injury don't hurt me. I found the Stand-Up Paddle at the Uni and I started practising in Summer on my own.

How was your first year practising SUP RACE?

Oh my god! At the beginning was horrible I was falling down to the water all time and I couldn't paddle for more than 2-3 km without getting tired. But the feeling with the board and the sea was amazing so I didn't stop training. Over time my balance was better so I could start trying to paddle correctly.

How long was since your first race?

I started training in February and my first SUP Race was in April, I participate in my first race of the Circuito del Mediterraneo in Amateur category. For my surprise, I finish in second place so that gives me extra motivation to continue training.

How did you finish your first race year?

My first race year was amazing, couldn't think a better way to finished. I participate in my first Spanish Championship in Elite category and finished in a 7 place, woh! This was amazing. I finished the Circuito del Mediterraneo in a second place and the best thing about this year was that I travelled a lot around Spain and Portugal.

On your second year practising you became the new 12'6 Spanish Champ, please let us know about this feeling.

There's no word for describing that feeling. It was my second year racing and also my first year racing in the Elite category so I hadn't any pressure when I went to the Spanish championship, my goal was to make a good race I never imagine to become the Spanish 12'6 Champion.
It was amazing to receive the congratulations of my idols, I will never forget this race.

Great, that was fantastic! You also win the Spanish Sprint 12'6 Championship tell us about this race.

The Spanish Sprint Championship was celebrated in the Tajo River in Madrid, it was my first race in a river but I know it I will have some possibilities to be on the stage because I love sprint races and also flatwater races so it was the perfect conditions for me. During the heats and the semifinals, I had really good feeling paddling so I was thinking that I could win in the final.

The final race was simply amazing! I had the worst start of my life I almost fall in to the water so I was in lats position in a 200m sprint race, it was almost impossible to win, but I get focused and started paddling with all my desire and finally I get the first place and became the new Spanish Sprint 12'6 Champion.

And finally, what about this year wich goals do you have?

My first goal is to finish my University degree, this is a really complicated year because I have to study a lot so I don't have too much time for training. But my goal is in Septembre, the Spanish Championship so, fortunately, I have all the summer for training hard.

Thanks so much for your time Jose Maria.

Thanks to you guys for this opportunity, I hope you like this interview.