Surf Total Interview translation

Check out the original with images at http://www.surftotal.com/pt/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4257:um-neo-zeland%C3%AAs-na-ericeira&Itemid=14

SurfTotal: Hello Rowan, can you introduce yourself to the Portuguese people?
Rowan Aish: I'm 24 years old, grew up and learned to surf in New Zealand. Probably the biggest influence in getting me into surfing was my Mother, who just wanted to hang out at the beach all day, and those are the memories from my early child-hood, hanging at the beach and trying to stand up on a body-board like the 'big-kids' = ).

ST: What brought a New Zealand guy to Portugal?
RA: The first time I came to Portugal I was 19 competing in the Billabong Pro-Junior contest in Rebeira. That's when I met Melvin Lipke for the first time, we get on so well and he brought me down to the Algarve to stay with his family. I've been coming back every year since then, eventually spending more time here than in New Zealand, with guys like Marlon Lipke and Gony Zubizarreta being really amazing in helping me to settle in and make Portugal a home.

ST: You spent some time in the Algarve, where did you surf there, and which beaches do you prefer?
RA:I've had a love hate relationship with the Algarve. For example  I love the social scene but hate all the driving. I've had all my best surfs at Cordoama, but have broken my leg at that beach twice! There are allot of good waves around there if you know where to look. Th South coast definitely has it's days, but generally I prefer the power of the west coast beaches.

ST: And in regards to Ericeira, what do you think about the waves?
RA: I'm so happy to be living in Ereceira now! In three weeks here, I can surf as many good waves as a whole year on the WQS. Obviously it depends on the conditions, but I have to admit that lately Backdoor is the first place I like to check.

ST: You are from New Zealand, where surfing is a big sport. Considering the waves in Portugal, do you think surfing here has the potential to grow into a bigger sport?
RA: Looking at the waves, yes! The waves here are easily a good as the waves in New Zealand, As for the sport of surfing, from what I've seen it's growing every day. Where I come from surfing is a much older tradition, so it's very normal for a whole family to surf, for example both my father and my mother are surfers. Surfing as a sport has developed much more recently here in Portugal, so you are only just starting to see a generation of young surfers who also had surfing parents. I think as this generation gets older, the level of surfing in Portugal as a whole will rise to that of countries like Australia or New Zealand, and subsequently become more and more popular within Portugal as it becomes recognized as a surfing nation.

ST:  What is your competitive background ?
RA:The first time I seriously competed outside of New Zealand was when I was 19, and doing the Pro Junior series through Europe. Since then I've been competing for several years on the WQS throughout Australia, South Africa and Brazil, but predominantly in Europe. Due to a number of injuries over the past couple of years, I've had to drop off the WQS tour a number of times, but I'm looking to get fully into it again in August.

ST: We know that you are recovering from injuries, can you talk about that?

RA:I've been unfortunate to break my right ankle a number of times, the last time was in July 2010 during the 1 star WQS expression session in Cordoama. Since then I've had to take things allot more seriously as far as my physical fitness goes, if I wish to give my surfing career a chance. I now follow a much stricter training routine, including Yoga and lots of stability and core strength exercises. I'm feeling stronger than I've ever felt, and confident to push my surfing in a powerful and progressive direction.

ST: About future, what are your plans for starting the competition again?

RA: As I mentioned earlier, I'll be starting to compete again in August, when the WQS comes back to Europe. Due to not competing for a while I'll be starting again at the bottom of the rankings, but hopefully I can work my way up through the second half of this year, and have a shot at the primes again in 2012.

ST: Do you know SurfTotal.com? What is your opinion about the website?

RA:For sure, the website is a great way to keep in touch with whats going on in the world of surfing. I just checked out the trailer for the new film 'intento' there. Looks sick!

ST:  Do you want to leave a message for the SurfTotal.com fans?

RA:Can someone join me at backdoor when it's 4-5 foot and onshore!? Surfing is always better with a mate in the water (or on the beach with a camera = )).