Meet the world’s best groms! Here’s: Malakai Martinez

Interview by Matt Hoy | All photos by Ricardo Bravo Right now, the world’s 10 best under 18 surfers are in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha, for the final of Quiksilver’s 2015 King Of The Groms. While they’re there, we’ll be profiling the kids who are keeping the future of surfing bright – as interview by the vibrant Matt Hoy. Today, let’s meet… Malakai Martinez! My name is Malakai Martinez and I’m 14 years old, from Costa Rica. My favourite wave at home, and in the world, is Playa Negra. It’s consistent, and breaks on pretty much every swell. But it’s best from January to May. My favourite board dimensions are 5’5”x 17’1/2”x 2. My brother makes them, System shapes. He’s 23. He doesn’t have a machine, he makes them all by hand. I’m riding his boards here. The thing I most like about Brazil is the food, I really like it. In King Of The Groms, Sebastian Williams has been ripping the most. He had some mental ones yesterday. The thing I most like about King Of The Groms is the waves we’re getting here, there’s really good air sections in the afternoon. And such a good vibe in the water, everyone’s taking turns and having fun. I think Mick will probably win the world title this year, and Gabriel in second. The best surfer in the world right now is, in small waves Filipe and in bigger waves, probably Mick. For freesurfing in small waves, Filipe is crazy. If you gave me a million dollars right now, I’d invest it. Three things I’d take to a deserted island are my board, some food, and a knife. Ten years from now, I would like to be on the tour, surfing with all the boys. I’d be the first Costa Rican to qualify, if I qualified. I’m most scared of crocodiles. They’re in the surf in Costa Rica sometimes, like three or four metre ones in the lineup, especially at this one right. The biggest influence on my surfing is probably… mmm, I can’t choose one, I like watching everybody.