Panagiotis Manaras
/
Greece
FOLLOW ME
Date of birth:
1984.07.19
Hometown:
Nazaré, Portugal
Sponsors:
Pride Bodyboards,
Agent Eighteen Wetsuits (European Team),
Surf Spot Nazaré,
Supers Fins,
Union Clothing,
CDANazaré,
Tonic Gym,
Hobbies:
Travelling swimming play guitar
BIO
Hugo Macatrão is from Nazare, Portugal. Due to the village’s natural conditions, he started practicing bodyboard, since very early age, in the powerful waves that break in that area. This fact plus all the trips until today had an important contribution on his development as a bodyboarder. Presenting himself as a free-surfer, Hugo prefers to travel around the world in order to find new waves rather than competing.
He tries to be where the best sessions are, surf the best waves and enjoy the most of it, whilst having fun. Nowadays, he’s one of the Pride Training Club by Antonio Cardoso’s representatives, and teaching and following the trainees’ development is what motivates him the most. Besides, one of his main goals is raising the number of surfers and refining bodyboard as a sport.
INTERVIEW
What are you looking for to accomplish?
Surf the best sessions during the Portuguese winter, travel to places where I’ve never been and discover the best waves and develop the newest bodyboarders’ generation through my school: Pride Training Club by António Cardoso.
What would be your greatest achievement?
Get the first place in Nazaré Special Edition.
What kind of difficulties does your sport’s performance involve?
The fact that we can’t just choose the time and the day to practice because everything depends on the swell, the tide, the wind and the sandbank if surfing in a beach break.
What makes you feel satisfied when performing your sport?
The engagement and the synchrony with the nature, the sea, and the colors in the sky. And, of course, feel the adrenaline when surfing massive waves.
Where do you practice your techniques when being alone?
Practice the moves on the beach before I surf and I also do some mind-surf. I just stare at the sea and imagine what I would and could do with the waves.
What do you do during your training which is key to your success?
I ‘m naturally very distracted so I need to focus so that nothing fails.
What are you most nervous about when competing?
The time, because I can’t just surf as much time as I want. And arrive to the beach and see that the conditions aren’t my favorite ones.
Who would you say is your biggest fan and why?
My parents that always supported me and taught me to fight for what I really want.
What is the best piece of advice you have been ever given?
The best surfer isn’t the one who surfs best but the one who has the most fun.
What are your future plans?
Travel as much as possible and continue developing Pride Training Club by António Cardoso along with the great bodyboarder and friend António Cardoso from initiation to high-performance.
What are your tips for those who begin now?
Never give up on your dreams, enjoy what nature has to offer you and travel as much as you can, meet new people, mingle into new cultures and surf as many different waves as you can.
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