Mariecarmen Rivera: Winner of the Euro Tour and Poised for a Stellar Second Half of 2024

Buenos días Mariecarmen! Congratulations on winning the 2024 Euro Tour! How does it feel to be the champion, and what does this victory mean to you?

Thank you, Mathieu! I’m grateful to everyone who has helped and supported me to achieve this: my coach, the whole team at OR Training, family, friends, and sponsors. I’m super happy to become the new Euro Tour champion. It was a goal we established at the beginning of the year, and we succeeded. This victory is special; it means a lot and is the first of many.

Can you share the highlights of your season so far? What races or moments were particularly memorable or challenging?

Every race of this tour was important and memorable. In the first stop at Punta Ala, I remember being nervous because you’re always nervous in the first race of the season, lol. But during the upwind/sidewind part, I felt strong and confident with the work I’d been putting in. After that, my confidence started to build and grow with each race.

The Water Festival in Mondello, Sicily was a beautiful race and place. I was more comfortable and familiar with my Ever-Ready board. I did a sprint very early in the race and separated from the group; after that, the goal was to maintain the distance between the group and me.

Sancti Petri was my favorite. I had a lot of fun that weekend. During the race, I felt strong and focused from start to finish.

Barcelona was the toughest and the one I learned the most from. The conditions were challenging, with a lot of movement in the water, but I felt great and happy with the results.

In the end, I learned a lot from all the races of this Euro Tour and can’t wait for next year’s tour.

You have been very dominant in most of your races. Are there any specific training techniques or strategies that have made a difference in the 2024 season?

Since June 2023, I started training with Oscar Ruiz and the team at OR Training. It’s been a process, and I have changed a lot of things. Before this, I was a chiropractor in Puerto Rico, and I gave up everything to become a full-time athlete. With the guidance of my coach, we improved my diet, strength, technique, periodization, and more. We established a long-term plan with short- and long-term goals and are working to accomplish each one of them. Also, having the backup of my sponsors helped me make a difference during 2024. I’m grateful for the support of Comité Olímpico de Puerto Rico, DRD, Federación de Surf de Puerto Rico, Mental Training PR, Infinity, and Quickblade paddles.

Can you tell us about your life, lifestyle, and training regimen back home in Puerto Rico? How do the local conditions and culture influence your preparation and mindset?

When I’m in Puerto Rico, I’m in the water most of the time. I train six days a week, and I always take Sundays off to spend quality time with my family. The conditions here are ideal, with hot weather and warm water, so you can wear a bikini all day. We have great waves to surf, strong winds for downwinds, and beautiful beaches to spend all day on.

As most people know, Puerto Rico is a very special place. Our people are warm, loving, and passionate. We always help and support each other. It’s in our DNA that if a Boricua is representing, we will be there cheering, celebrating, and supporting. That Puerto Rican warmth and passion positively influence my training and competitions.

You discovered your brand new EverReady a few months ago when you arrived in Europe for the Euro Tour, only to win your first major race. What has been your experience with it, and how has it contributed to your performance this season?

It was love at first sight and use. I remember when I held the board for the first time, I was impressed by the weight. It was light, and I thought, “WOW, this is light for a dugout; I can’t wait to try it in the water.”

When I tried it for the first time, I thought, “This board is incredible; it’s light, glides amazingly, and is super stable.” I attribute my performance in the Euro Tour to the combination of OR Training and the equipment (Infinity boards and Quickblade paddles).

You can be in great shape, but if you don’t have the right equipment, it’s difficult to compete at a high level. So, you need both to achieve good results.

The new Infinity Blackfish is coming out next autumn with pre-orders available now. Have you had a chance to test it?

I haven’t tried it, but I trust Dave, and I’m sure it will be another fast board. I’ve seen some of the new features, and they are interesting. I can’t wait to try the board.

You had an amazing 2023 ISA World Championship in France, winning one silver and two bronze medals, scoring a podium in every discipline. Is Copenhagen your main objective this year?

Yes, Copenhagen is one of the main goals for this season. I know it’s going to be a great competition, and I’m very happy to be competing for the third time as part of Team Puerto Rico.

Surprisingly, you were not in Thailand at the ICF World Championships. Are you planning to be on the start line in Sarasota, Florida, in November?

Yes, I’m planning to be in Sarasota this year. It’s more affordable and only a three-hour flight from Puerto Rico. So, I’m preparing to be there in November for the ICF World Championship.

Thank you very much Mariecarmen for your time and best of luck for the second half of 2024!

To follow Mariecarmen Rivera on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/mariecarmen_rivera/
To find out more about the Infinity EverReady, visit:
Infinitysurf.com > SUP Race > EverReady