Luis, can you introduce yourself?

I studied sports science and have worked with successful top athletes over the last 20 years such as twins Daida and Iballa Moreno (multiple world champions in windsurfing and SUP), various snowboard professionals in boardercross, and Ariel Corniel from the Dominican Republic. And for 15 years now, I have also been training Duotone athletes like James Carew and Matchu. My work with Matchu has intensified over the last few years. During our time together in Tarifa, I’ll advise him how to train and work on his strengths and weaknesses. We have been training his legs for years and they have become a very strong part of him.

But this work with him doesn’t just consist of time in the gym, right?

Yes, working with him encompasses the entire year even when he is not here with me in Tarifa, and includes mental coaching as well as work on his body. He has a strong personality and I analyze his weaknesses in order to make improvements, to make him more self-confident and therefore calmer and more focused in the events. I know him well; he is of course independent, but he also likes to work with someone who pushes him a little, but not too much. I know when and how he needs me. Sometimes I’m just the person who tells him small tips that are relevant to him, or I give him a task to do something, which he can then implement to improve. It is important that he enjoys training with me and ultimately gains self-confidence for successful World Cup participation.

Matchu, how important is it for you to work with Luis?

I have been training with Luis since 2015, eight years now. Before then, I knew nothing about personal training, stretching and so on. After just a year of working with Luis I won the world title for the first time! I had some ups and downs that year, because there were some problems with my visa that distracted me from my kitesurfing. Luis prepares me perfectly, motivates me and helps me be organized so that I can perform optimally at the World Cups. He is an artist and a funny guy, which is perhaps what I need most. Working together under the Duotone umbrella, it’s like a big family, and more than that, we became good friends. I’m only in Tarifa for about six weeks a year and then can train with Luis in the gym every day. But we are in contact throughout the year because we have a good, trusting relationship and the conversations throughout the year, when I’m on tour, are essential for my performance.

Philipp Becker, Marketing Manager at Duotone, summed it up nicely: “A big part of Matchu’s victories are a result of the collaboration with Luis.” Would you agree Matchu?

Yes, the intensive training with him provides support even beyond our time together in Tarifa, which has the effect of increasing my self-confidence. Luis gives me different, new perspectives, not just physically; with Luis I also become mentally stronger! The fact is that I have my minor and major problems during the World Cups. I don’t like to talk about it, I don’t always have control over it, but Luis is good at listening to me. He knows exactly what I “need” and how my head works. Ultimately, these are the building blocks when it comes to me being able to win events. I no longer feel so much pressure, I can define visions for myself and achieve results.

Matchu, I remember a time when you waved at and greeted the numerous spectators at the World Cup in Fehmarn, Germany, during the final against Airton. Today, years later, every rider is very focused within themselves.

Yes, the concentration needed for optimal performance in a 10-minute heat has become so much greater as the sport has developed. Before my heats at my home spot in Ponta Preta for example, many locals and friends will come to the beach to cheer me on, and come up to me, pat me on the shoulder, and make small talk. This is lovely, but ultimately distracts me from the heat that lies ahead. What I have now learned is to get on the water before my heat and block everything out. I don’t see or think about anyone anymore; the only focus is on my own riding and getting in the zone. I put aside any thoughts of my family, girlfriend or friends and am only with myself. I understand that I don’t have to deliver 90%, but 100%.

Luis, let’s talk about the fact that Matchu is naturally a goofy rider but Ponta Preta is a right, better suited to regular riders.

Yes, a few months before one of the World Cups there, Matchu told me that as a goofy rider he no longer wanted to ride backside at his home spot, but rather frontside, to get higher scores in the competitions. I would never say to him, “don’t do that”, but advised him to train four hours of frontside riding but still at least one hour of backside riding; don’t forget the backside riding. And send me the video from the training. It was more than a big mission to achieve this change.

Matchu, what else do you attribute your success to?

I think I kite more than anyone else every day. I train, train, train, take short breaks, eat a banana and go out on the water again. I have friends film me during these sessions, then I watch the videos and analyze my movements in order to become even more vertical, for example, which means a lot of mental work in the evening. I also watch surfing videos most evenings, from surf pros like Rob Machado. He has such an incredible style and his performance pushes me. I’ve also had a surf coach from France coach me. He showed me how I can change my movements to make turns on the wave even more vertical, more expressive, smoother, more technical, more precise and more perfect. He has the experience from surfing and knows exactly what the judges want to see and where the direction is going. Finally, my thanks to Luis, he makes me mentally strong to be able to make decisions at short notice with a great inner conviction!