"It was different than winning $10,000. I did this for my country."–Juan Ashton

Q & A

WE'RE NUMBER JUAN!

ASHTON TALKS ABOUT WINNING A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, FRIENDLY WAGERS, AND THE CURRENT TREND OF PUERTO RICAN DOMINANCE 

By Jon Coen

In January, a huge groundswell swept the west coast of Puerto Rico. Any big swell rolling across the Mona Trench is heavily anticipated in the Caribbean, but this one was especially welcome. It coincided with the Porta Del Sol International Surfing Association (ISA) World Masters Surfing Championships. From January 20th-28th, the competitive surfing world's collective eyes were set on Puerto Rico at a time when local surfers are making more international noise than ever, and the elder of those locals were eager to showcase their homegrown prowess in double-overhead waves. One such surfer was 36-year-old Juan Ashton, a former top ASP-East competitor-turned-Volcom rep who posted a contest-high of 17.15 in the first round. Despite slipping in his second round heat, Ashton pushed through the loser's bracket and came back to capture the hardware. He took control of the premier Masters final in huge surf and never let go. The Puerto Rican team may have eventually ceded to South Africa, but it was a major victory for La Isla Del Encanto nonetheless. 

ESM: Still reeling from the big win?
JA: Oh yeah. It feels totally different from any other win I've ever had. Now I go surf with this big relief; all the pressure has subsided. This was a contest I knew I could do well in and enjoy. I was working up to it, traveling a lot to surf and keeping in shape. 

ESM: Plus, it was held on your home island. In fact, you kinda claimed it in your "A Good Rep" profile in ESM last year (June 2006, Vol.15, #113, Page 147), where you said to watch out for you and Gus (Gustavo Betancourt) to put up big results.
JA: Yeah, it's really the people behind me, though. There was just so much support on the beach. Everyone was coming up to me and telling me I was going to win. Random Puerto Ricans, people I didn't even know, were telling me they drove over from San Juan just to watch me surf. I never had so many groms come up to me and want to have a picture taken. This was Puerto Rico's first world championship. I wanted to show all these kids that it's possible on a world level, not just the East Coast -- which is really big in itself, especially with Kelly and the Hobgoods. But my goal was to put PR on the map. It was different than winning $10,000. I did this for my country. 

ESM: Looked like Maria's was really doing its thing, too. How big did it actually get?
JA: I rented a house in Rincon, and we had three swells that week. The day of the finals was eight to ten-foot, at almost 12-second intervals. I didn't know if Marias could hold it. I heard the surf pounding and knew it was a little bit bigger than the last swell. Then I saw Charlie King, who lives in Florida but is here a lot in the winter, and he was like, "It's bombing!" So I parked and went down to check it out. They were doing tow-ins at Lower Dogman's, and Tres (Palmas) was solid ten-foot. The ISA said they couldn't start without a rescue ski, so I donated my ski for the day so that no one got hurt. I surfed the first heat of the morning. An eight-foot set cleaned everybody up, and I barely made it out. My caddy even got cleaned. They had no idea how big it was until they saw our first waves. Guys had bought their 6'6"s and 6'10"s, but it was a good day for a 7'0" or 7'4"! Heifara Tahutini, from Tahiti, was going for it. I watched him get a perfect 10 barrel. 

ESM: So was that a big payday from the ISA?
JA: No, there was no money involved. It's all about the medals. I got a gold, plus a silver for our team for taking 2nd. That's the stuff you just take home to live off and cherish more than a paycheck. But I know it will pay me back tenfold. I got exposure for my brands right in front of my market. And I'm so glad to do that for Volcom. They've always backed me up. 

ESM: Did you go right back to work the next day?
JA: (Laughs) No. Most of my business was done after the tradeshow in January, so I had time to just enjoy the fact that I met that goal. 

ESM: What's the vibe like at an event like that, with so many legendary surfers who are still charging for the love of it.
JA: There were all these guys no one has ever heard of just killing it. Magoo (De La Rosa, of Peru, Grandmasters gold medalist) was just ripping. He was getting shacked Sunset Beach-style and just getting spit out. The South Africans were ripping... the French, Brazilians... It got big and everyone pulled out their guns. 

ESM: Do you still live in San Juan?
JA: Yeah, I live in a part of San Juan called Ocean Park with my wife. 

ESM: That northwest corner is really becoming a training ground for competitive surfers, is it not?
JA: Oh yeah. On the good days, you see so many great surfers out practicing, and the kids are ripping. Now there are better surfers at the spots along the north coast even before you get to Aguadilla, which is good to see. 

ESM: Is there more industry support now?
JA: Yeah. We obviously always want to see more kids getting sponsored, getting a chance to travel and show their talent. There are more guys from Puerto Rico charging big waves around the world than ever before. We're seeing better contests, too, with bigger names. The Corona events bring so many good athletes -- Hawaiians, Floridians... Asher (Nolan) even won one last year.  

ESM: And didn't the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) recently start a Puerto Rico District, as well?
JA: Yeah. I was at the contest in December. I took 1st in Masters and came in 2nd in Open. The more ESA, Puerto Rican Surfing Federation, Corona Cup, and Volcom contests, the better for everyone. But the ESA is definitely a great thing for PR. 

ESM: Puerto Rico is still a U.S. territory. Does that help you guys, not being a state?
JA: You would think that being a state, people would take us more seriously. But the world is excited to see these kids surfing, and we're excited to see Puerto Rican surfing grow. We're the Hawaii of the East Coast, and we're not even a state. It could go either way. It doesn't matter. It's more about the waves than the politics.  

ESM: Do you see anyone from there qualifying in the next few years? (Puerto Rico has never put a surfer on the WCT.)
JA: I can definitely see one of the top guys right now qualifying, Brian Toth or Dylan Graves. In fact, I would put money on it. It's all about being able to handle all the traveling. I could see one of them getting there within the next three years. Yeah, I'd make that bet.