Bro-ing down at the Finnish Champs in Fuerte
When my friend timo told me that finnish nationals were going to be held in fuerteventura, canary islands i right away jumped at the chance to go, and see what the hell the finns are up to when they go for a surf. I have been traveling non stop this year, only spending 3 weeks at home since the year started, but i had been wantiing to go to hang out with Finns and practice my finnish, so i booked a ticket to an island i hadnt been to before.
for a traveling surfer, you just get used to getting your crap organized for a trip a couple hours before the flight,at least i do.this time was a little different though. i couldnt find my passport,my stuff was all over the room, and i even started doubting myself as to whether to go or not.this trip felt weird.something about it seemed different.with my mexican passport missing, i opted to go anyways wiith my finnish passport and go meet up with people i didnt know and had no clue what they were like.i wanted to get in touch with my finnish side.my whole life i only spoke finish to my mother, this was a chance to go speak finnish, and hang out with finns.off to the canaries.
as soon as i show up, i find my passport in a pair of unwashed trunks i took along for the trip.couldnt believe it.i meet ilmo who is the organizer of the event, and my to-be roomate for the next week.then the rest of the crew show up.i felt a little intimidated, im in the only finn in the group who has a tan.everyone is very friendly, which is nice to see, considering finnish people are necessarily known for their warmth.this little crew's ice had melted off the minute they landed in fuerte. then the shit hits the fan.on the second day of the trip, 2 hours into my surf session, i do a weird cutbback, get hit by a chop, and twist my back knee inwards hearing it pop. no good i thought.next 3 days i had a swollen knee, and could barely walk. needless to say i couldnt surf anymore for the rest of the week.
everything happens for a reason.
so what now i thought? go back to mexico? i tried , but flights were full.so..................i guess i will just hang out with the crew when i can.i would go to the beach and give a few people individual tips on how to turn better and improve their surfing.surprisingle enough, for a group of people that only gets the chance to surf a week a year, these guys were doing really freaking good.if i stop surfing for a few weeks, it takes me forever to get back to where i was.couple waves , and these guys were back in surf mode.
aside from the surfing, it was the hanging out that was epic for me.unfortunately i didnt get the chance to hang with all the 40 or so people that were there, but i did manage to hang with guys that are super sick human beings.we would stay up till 2am, or 3, or 4am.they would talk stories and drink.the finns can drink let me tell ya.yet, its a calm, no fights, mellow drunkness.
so, there i was.the only pro surfer in the crowd, and the only one who couldnt surf.the only dark skinned finn, yet they made me feel right at home.its funny. no matter what negatives happen in life, they are always overshadowed by the positives.i made new friends, and although it sounds cliche, its true that : you are richer with friends than with money.----- jaakko wants to come film here next year and surf.(jaakko made a few big snowboard movies like follow me around) -----ilmo wants to come and surf in mex. -----makke is going to hook me up in finland when we go surf over there. -----anni and all the girls have a place to stay in mex when they come. ----heikki and heppu are going to take me snowboarding when im in finland, and i will take em surfing when they come to mex.
Its a connection we've made.its a friendship.its sick. my advice is to always see the positive in the negative. There's always a lesson and always a reason.
Kalle
Me and da boys
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Kalle Carranza's 10 most recent posts..
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