David Santiago

Interview with surf spot magazine
summer 2009, issue 2

Sponsors: Glas Clothing, Wave Riding Vehicles, Hyperflex Wetsuits
Hometown: Luquillo, Puerto Rico

I am a laid back guy from the island. I love to travel, meet new people, surf good waves, like to work out, and try to spend a lot of time with my girlfriend Valerie. She is from Virginia Beach, she is a wonderful girl, I love her. Besides that, I am a fun guy to hang out with. I am a pretty funny guy and I just love to enjoy all the beautiful things about life. I don't have any regrets of anything. Live life like there is no tomorrow.

Favorite Surf Spot? Why?
It's hard to pick a favorite surf spot because there is a lot of good surf. Any day is a good day in the Caribbean.

Why Do You Surf?
Surfing has given me so many amazing things and so many things to be grateful for. I have met so many wonderful people through the years traveling to different places. For me surfing makes you appreciate life, plus, I live in such a beautiful island. Life is great. That's why I surf.

What is your plan for the future?
Right now it's hard to say where my future is going to take me, I just hope it's somewhere good. Right now I am just going to live one day at a time, and take advantage of every opportunity that comes to me and learn from it.

What is your major accomplishment?
It was when my personal trainer, Michael Bronco, owner of Bronco's Gym, made me a member of the A.S.P. North America. They have been helping me a lot with my travel, plus, they have me on the regimen program to be a stronger surfer, which helps me to stay focused. I feel good. I have been mixing East Coast Pro events with some QS events. I am stoked that I get the opportunity to travel and to meet some amazing people in the surf industry. I am so thankful for everything that's been happening in my life. I don't want to say too much because I know there is so much more that's going to happen.

Since when have you surfed?
I started surfing at the age of 10 in my hometown, La pared in Luquillo. When I started to surf I had no one to coach me so I had to learn the hard way, training a lot, lots of poundings, it was worth it. The first board I had was a chopped in half Greg Jaudon surfboard. The moment I got up on that board, I knew I was hooked for life. Greg is an old school shaper from Puerto Rico and still shapes to this day. Great guy.

What do you think about the surf industry in P.R.?
I think the surf industry has a lot of overlooked, untapped potential. There's so much talent in Puerto Rico that I think they deserve more attention and more help form the companies. That's the way I feel.

Special thanks to:
I want to give thanks to all the people that have been helping me. First to my family and all of my boys in Luquillo and to my beautiful girlfriend Valerie who has been with me through the good times and bad times.

Thanks to Wave Riding Vehicles for helping me with my equipment and giving me a great opportunity to work for them in Puerto Rico. Thanks to Rachel Tanner and Mundo Rad, Surf Spot PR, Bronco's Gym, Glas Apparel, and Hyper Flex Wetsuits, for all the support and exposure. Thank you so much for believing in me; much love and respect.