... surf it like Sofia Mulanovich

Surfing like a pro? In the following interview, Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich, nominated “Best Woman Surfer of the Year” for the second year running in 2006, tells us how it’s done.

I have a golden tan, look great, love the beach and the ocean, and have a healthy aversion to work and the bourgeois way of life. Is that enough to become a surfer – and if not, why not?

You don’t need all that stuff to go surfing. You just need a passion for the waves, a will to learn the water and try the sport, and like it. You just have to go out there and want to do it.

And then?

Be really persistent. Be tough; you have to be prepared to not have a really good experience at first. But then, you’re going to get better at it, you’ll start standing up, and you’ll realize it’s the best sport ever.

What training and what kind of daily routine should I stick to in order to transform myself from a mediocre surfer into an excellent one?

Surf a lot. Try to stay healthy. Of course, some training in the gym, and watching a lot of surfing movies and videos helps a lot, too.

Are there any other sports or types of fitness training, which will have a positive effect on my flexibility and performance when I’m on the board?

I think the best training for surfing is surfing, but there are other things that can help, kind of complement it. Like doing a lot of core-building things. Yoga and things like that will help too, anything where you stretch.

All beginnings are difficult: in what type of water, with which equipment and with which teacher can I learn to surf most quickly, starting from scratch?

I don’t think the kind of water makes any real difference at all, since you can get a wetsuit. Obviously, if you live somewhere tropical, it’s easier, because you have a lot more flexibility with standing up for the first time, but it doesn’t really matter. As far as equipment goes, you’ll need a big board so you have more stability and it’s easier to stand up. And a teacher? Somebody who really knows about the ocean and can guide you. You can just go out with your friends, anyone who knows something about surfing. A teacher would be better, though.

You spend most of your time on the most beautiful beaches in the world. On which one should I spend my next surfing holiday?

Probably Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii … Indonesia has great waves, great weather, and it’s such a cool place. It’s beautiful. The most perfect waves in the world are in those three places. Australia’s really nice too, but it’s a bit crowded. I’d like to say Peru as well, but I don’t know – maybe I’d better say the waves aren’t that good here, then I get to keep them to myself.

Which unwritten rules of the surfing lifestyle do I have to stick to in order not to make a negative impression at an after-surf beach party – for example, in terms of fashion, language and attitude?

Don’t throw rubbish on the beach or stuff like that. Be respectful to everybody; that’s it.

Shark attacks! What do I do?

Run and pray. I’ve never seen a shark, though.