The Valencian Community introduces us to this talented athlete who, at just 17, already knows he wants to spend his life chasing waves—and fighting to rank among the best.
Who is Nacho Sanchis?
His sporting spirit ran in his veins from an early age: at 3, he started bodysurfing with his sister and cousin; by 4 or 5, he was skiing; and soon after, he took up surfing. As Sanchis recalls, at 5 years old, "my dad bought me full-body padding because I was a madman", giving us a hint of just how mischievous he could be.
Still, it paid off, and he never stopped his determination to keep "acting wild"—by 6, he’d picked up skateboarding. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: "I was a slow learner, struggled with tricks, and people kept telling me to quit because I was just getting in the way." At 8, he began snowboarding, quickly mastering the board, and within two years, he was pulling off massive jumps.
Given this track record, his parents wouldn’t let him surf until he turned 11, fearing injuries. Since then, he hasn’t stopped chasing waves, hitting the beach whenever possible, and paddling out to surf—the sport that fulfils him most today and the one he’ll fight to make his mark in.
What are his next goals?
- For Nacho, the priority now is training harder every day to prepare for the national under-18 qualifying trials for rising talents.
- But he can’t neglect his studies—he must pass his advanced vocational training entrance exam.
- He’ll keep training daily with his coach, Luis Seguí (physical trainer for C.E.V.E.P.).
- He’ll leave his current lifestyle behind and move to Zarautz between June and July to train with Aitor Francesana "Gallo" (physical-technical coach for Aritz Aranburu) and further forge his surfing career.
What does Nacho Sanchis need?
Right now, the Valencian surfer’s biggest need is sponsors to provide the support required to achieve his dream, as so far, he only has his coaches and family behind him. He’s out to prove to the world what he’s capable of—and he won’t stop fighting, training, and pushing himself every single day.
