09/04/2020 | YOUNG GUNS – MEET KIKO TORRES
Young Guns – Meet Kiko Torres
The 19 year old Spanish strapless rider, Kiko Torres has exploded onto the strapless scene. With his infectious enthusiasm, in 2019 he was crowned Spanish Champion and then went on to win various best trick and super sessions around the world. We caught up with the newest member of the Airush and AK Durable Supply Co. collective.
Where are you from originally, and where are you living now?
I’m originally from Oliva, a little town in Valencia, Spain. I then moved to Tarifa. Now I live around the world hahaha.
You moved to Tarifa and lived alone from quite a young age, how was that change?
Yes, I moved to Tarifa when I was 16 years old. It was a bit hard for me, but I was lucky because I was living with Xuso, a friend who helped me a lot. He taught me everything I needed to know about living by myself. How to cook, how to clean my clothes, etc …everything basically. He took care of me a lot always. This change was difficult, because Tarifa is 8 hours away from Oliva, so I could only visit my family on holidays.
What was the last thing you ate before this interview?
Right now, I just woke up and made myself a strawberry and banana smoothie.
Who were your biggest influences that got you into kiting in your early days? And who do you ride with now?
The guy who put me in this world of kitesurfing was Rogelio, a local guy from my hometown. He also introduced me to the strapless world. Now I always ride with my best friend Sergio Turegano, the most crazy guy I’ve ever seen in my life.
Do you see a big difference between Strapless Freestyle and Surf Style?
Yes, there’s a big difference, they are completely different styles. With waves, you need to go with less power because this helps you so much to ride the wave in the good position, while in strapless freestyle you need to go with so much power. This is because if you want to have good hang time and go high, you need to ride big sizes of kites.
If you could change one thing about the Surf Style discipline in competitions, what would it be?
I really like the format of the freestyle twintip heats in competitions, where you take turns to do tricks. So I would like to see the same heat format in surf discipline.
What is your big move that you think you will land in the next year?
I would like to land the double front-roll tic-tac, and also double front-roll shove it. I’m sure I can land it with these new boards from Airush.
What other sports do you do and do any other sports influence your riding?
I’m always trying to practise kitesurfing and stay in the water, so if there is no wind I go surfing, but also surfing depends on the waves, so if there are no waves, I use to go to the gym. Also when there is no wind, I like to edit videos.
What are your top 3 Kite spots?
After my last trip, my top 3 kites spots are:
– Cape Town, all the spots from there.
– Tarifa Balneario with 2m wave and 50 knots of Levante, the best place to fly.
– Cabo Verde, the best for riding waves, exactly at Ponta Preta.
What secret skill do you have outside of kiting that most people won´t know about?
I actually don’t have any other important skill outside of kiting. Maybe I can invite you and cook a Spanish paella and let’s see if I discover a new ability, hahaha.
Who do you feel is the greatest Spanish kiter of all time, why?
Difficult decision, there are so many good Spanish kiters, but in my opinion right now is Liam Whaley, he won the Freestyle World Tour, and also he is always on the top of the Red Bull King of the Air. Being at the top of these two disciplines is so difficult, therefore I think this is the reason that makes him the best Spanish kiter nowadays.
Who do you have to thank for your success?
I have so many people to say thanks to, but like always, I need to thank my family for believing in me.
Any last words?
I need to say thanks so much to Clinton, and all the Airush family, for believing in me, and letting me be a part of this amazing family.
