local boy Dario Ojeda received his 4 new Tabou Da Curve Team edition boards 1 week before the Gran Canaria Wave event. He put together an impressive showing that led him to 4^th place taking down some big names in his path! 

Matt Pritchard got a  chance to ask him a few questions about this great result....

INTERVIEW: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP: Dario, congrats on an awesome result! You have always done well in your back yard, what were your expectations for this event?

DO: I've been training a lot this year and focusing for the competition scene,I had all the moves pretty controlled, so I was just hoping for good conditions for the event to do a good performance with not expectations than sail good in every heat against who ever comes in my heat.

 - - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: It sounded like the waves were smaller than normal and that it was an impressive jumping contest- What were the moves that helped you get through your tough heats? 

DO: This year we were really lucky,we only had 4 days of contest where the forecast didn't look so good but like always pozo never fail us.we had heats running with 4.7 to 4.0 sails size and some small waves,enough to run the contest.I did all the moves that was possible but It was enough waves to really show what I,m capable to do,like go really higher and do some tricks.360 frontside,360 backs,takas,doubles,pushtweaked....

- - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: How about your new boards? What was your first impression sailing the boards in the onshore winds? Did they improve your sailing straight away or did you have to adjust your style for them? 

DO: I just got the boards a week before the contest and I was afraid that I could get use to then so fast but and the end I everything work good I just had to adjust a couple of things to the boards and the boards adjust to me aswell.

 - - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: What are your thoughts on Victor Fernandez and his performance? He has been one of the top finishers there for the past 4 years- what do you need to do to beat a guy like that?

DO: Victor is the best competitor, he knows what exactly have to do to beat anyone in every heat plus is very consistent and he knows the place well. I will need to work on the boards, train hard on some new moves and it will come.

 - - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: You have a great start to the season, 4^th place in the rankings on the PWA tour, what are your plans for the rest of the year?

DO: I'll go to denmark and I'll try to do same as in pozo and possibly get in the podium this year, after denmark we will see how far from that I can be, then we have sylt that is pretty much a lottery because conditions there are so so.

 - - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: I have heard rumors that there may be a final event in Cabo Verde- How do you like it over there?

DO: Well they,re just rumours. I love the waves there, it will be great to have 4 events and discart one. Having the final there will be a great thing. I went last year and it's a place that if you have the right boards and good timing, you can have so much fun.

 - - - - - - - - - - - -

MP: Thanks for your time Dario- we will keep watching for the rest of the season. Good luck and keep ripping...

DO: Thanks to everybody who is supporting me in a way or other and all my sponsors.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Photo Credit: John Carter / PWA