Back to the break: Luchy Cosoleto returns to the APP World Tour’s Gran Canaria Pro-Am as defending Champion

Image source: APP World Tour

Argentina’s Lucía “Luchy” Cosoleto is the kind of surfer whose affinity with the ocean transcends discipline. Whether she’s carving powerful lines on a shortboard, cross-stepping on a longboard, or dominating the performance SUP field, her surfing speaks the same language: connection, flow, and fearless progression.

At 29 and hailing from Buenos Aires, Luchy’s ability to switch boards without missing a beat, read the lineup with precision, and stay dialled-in across multiple formats has consistently helped raise the profile of South American surfing, reinforcing her status as one of the sport’s most adaptable and dynamic competitors.

This year, she’s added to her achievements with a Silver Medal at the ISA SUP World Championships in El Salvador and a Gold at the 2025 ALAS Global Tour event in Guatemala.

Luchy with her Team at the 2025 ISA SUP World Championships in El Salvador | Photo by Pablo Jimenez

She now returns to the APP World Tour’s Gran Canaria Pro-Am, held on 16 to 21 December on the stunning north shore of Gran Canaria, as the defending Champion, after claiming her maiden World Title on the tour in the Performance SUP division.

She now returns as defending champion to the APP World Tour’s Gran Canaria Pro-Am, held from 16 to 21 December on the stunning north shore of Gran Canaria, after claiming her maiden World Title on the tour in the Performance SUP division.

TotalSUP caught up with Luchy for a sneak peek into what sets this event apart in her schedule, along with her insights into the SUP surfing discipline and her non-divisive philosophy: ‘we’re all surfers’ after all.

Image source: APP World Tour

Hi Luchy, welcome to TotalSUP. We’re stoked to have you! Could you share a bit about your journey – growing up in Argentina, what first drew you to surfing, and how travelling the world as a pro has shaped you both as an athlete and as a person?

I have five siblings, and from a very young age my parents instilled sports into our lives… I did swimming, hockey, tennis, synchronised swimming, aquathlon… and I loved competing in everything! As many people don’t know, I’m from the capital, Buenos Aires – there’s no ocean there – but when I was 7, during a Summer in Mar del Plata, I discovered surfing with my older siblings, and we fell in love with the sport!

At first it was just a hobby to enjoy the Summer at the beach, but then we started competing in national championships, and at 12 I qualified for my first ISA Junior World Championship. When I came back from that trip, I decided I wanted to be a professional surfer. I wanted to travel the world, compete, discover different waves, and practice this sport I was so passionate about.

So from that moment on, always with the support and encouragement of my parents, I was lucky to keep training, start travelling, and compete internationally in the shortboard category. Nationally, I also competed in longboard just for fun, and in 2018 I met the Argentine Stand-up Paddle Team. They told me the only thing left was to compete in SUP surf, hahaha.

So they lent me a board and a paddle, and I started training. I was very curious about this new sport and took it as a new challenge in the ocean. I qualified for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, and since then I’ve been very focused on this new discipline!

Whatever the board, surfing is my life and I love what I do. I love competing, training, and enjoying the ocean!

Image source: APP World Tour

You’ve often championed the idea that SUP is far more than a recreational activity. What, for you, defines SUP as a true competitive surf discipline?

I think this is the beautiful thing about any sport… you can do it recreationally, or you can do it professionally. These are two different things, but both are exciting and fulfilling. I practice SUP surf professionally, which means I train and dedicate a big part of my life to the sport in order to achieve the goals I set for myself.

Being a SUP surf competitor requires discipline and consistency: we go into the ocean to surf with specific technical and tactical objectives. In addition, specific physical training is essential, as well as good nutrition, proper rest, and support from professionals.

Image source: APP World Tour

You compete in shortboard, longboard, and SUP surf – how do you adapt your mindset and technique when switching between disciplines? Does cross-training across disciplines give you an edge when conditions become unpredictable?

I love training and competing in these three disciplines. I feel that they all complement each other and help me improve different technical aspects on the boards as well as my tactics in heats.

Image source: APP World Tour

Do you feel SUP still fights for recognition within the broader surf world, or has the tide finally turned?

Yes, I feel that professional SUP surf is still going through a big transition. The sport (at the amateur level) has grown a lot in recent years.

I would love for everyone to recognise it as another discipline that can be practiced in the ocean, whether professionally or recreationally, always respecting each other as surfers, because in the end, we’re all surfers.

Image source: APP World Tour

You recently surfed artificial waves at Alaïa Bay – what did you learn from that experience? Do you see wave pools as essential for high-performance training, or more as a complement to the ocean’s unpredictability and magic?

Yes! I had the opportunity to surf at the Alaïa Bay wave pool, it’s incredible! I think places like that are a great complement for improving technical aspects and for keeping up with training on days when the ocean doesn’t give us many waves.

You’re heading back to Gran Canaria to defend your World Title – what does this event mean to you personally and professionally? What’s unique about this event?

Yes, I’m going back to the Canary Islands for the last event of the year! Honestly, I’m really excited to return to this place – El Lloret is an incredible and challenging wave, and there’s nothing better than competing at a point break like this! This will be my fourth consecutive year traveling to this magical place.

I’m feeling very motivated, looking forward to surfing some good waves and reconnecting with friends.

Image source: APP World Tour

Does returning to Gran Canaria add pressure – or does it fuel your motivation?

Hahaha, no, I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just really motivated and excited to compete against great athletes on an epic wave!

Image source: APP World Tour

Is there something about Gran Canaria’s waves that brings out a different side of your surfing?

Well, the truth is that the wave at El Lloret is very unique. It’s not easy, it’s powerful, but it’s perfect. I honestly love the challenge of going out there to compete.

Image source: APP World Tour

After winning multiple world titles and recent silver at the ISA Worlds, how do you see your evolution as an athlete, and what role do you feel you play in shaping the Argentinian SUP surf scene?

I feel very satisfied with my evolution as an athlete. And yes, as a reference in this discipline, I feel it’s my responsibility to help the sport grow in my country. I love motivating the new generations to train and compete!

Luchy, final question: Shortboard or SUP… be honest ;)!

Everyone asks me this question, and I’ve never been able to give just one answer. I think it depends on the day, on the ocean conditions, and on the surf partner I’m with!

Image source: APP World Tour

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*Images courtesy of APP World Tour