Born in Porto, Salvador Tavares, just 16 years old, received a wild card to participate in the National Surfing Championship, which will take place next weekend at Praia de Matosinhos/Liça. Interviewed by JN, he mentioned that he is waiting. “I got the very regional content of the North first.
In the race, he was at his best. “It was great. He won at home, in Matosinhos, where he trained his days, and where he is surrounded by everyone he knows, it had a special flavor. It was all fantastic”. In the national competition, he promises to give everything. “The highest level is therefore more difficult. If it passes two qualifiers it will be great”, said the young athlete, who was regional sub14 champion and currently leads the sub18 ranking. He represents the Porto Surf Club.
He started surfing at the age of seven and his evolution has been above average. “I’m happy. Watching the footage, I notice differences in my surfing.” His main directors are his father, who instilled his love for surfing, and John John Florence, an American professional surfer. “I always get good reviews. Where do I want to go? This year I’m going to Projuniors and I would like to qualify for the Worlds. In the future, the goal is to reach the WCT, proof that the best in the world are.”
In Portugal, their idols are Vasco Ribeiro and Kikas, and abroad they greatly appreciate the qualities of Florence and Griffin Colapinto, who won the MEO Pro Portugal. His favorite beach is Supertubos, in Peniche. “It was where I had the most fun so far. Although I don’t go there very often, I really like it.” In the recent past, she surfed in Indonesia, where she had a scare. “There was a day when the sea was bigger and I didn’t feel comfortable”. She dreams of practicing in Australia and Hawaii. “It’s another one of my dreams.”