Magnum Martinez

Surf

Magnum Martinez

For most professional athletes, training to perfect their craft begins at a very young age. However, that’s not always the case. For surf pro Magnum Martinez, his story started at 15 years old back in Venezuela when his younger brother pushed him into his first wave.

There were many barriers in the way of Martinez’s surfing ability, including a 45 minute commute to the nearest beach, Los Caracas. He really had to hustle, but it taught him to be grateful for being able to surf. By 17, Martinez found himself in his first surf contest. From there, he fell in love with competing and surfing barrels, and like the development of his career, he took an unconventional approach.

Throughout his career, Martinez competed and placed high (and won one!) in World Qualifying Series (WQS) contests, but qualifying and surfing in big events was never his focus. Martinez wanted to surf as much as he could and travel the world, so he used his limited resources to fund surf trips and smaller contests to surf the best waves. One of the highlights in his career, however, was winning the first ever gold for Venezuela in an ISA Masters contest in 2012. It was between him and three other guys who just retired off the World Tour, and who doesn’t like an underdog story? Also, he was featured on the front cover of the Surfer magazine.

Now a surf coach and owner of Integral Surf Coaching, his no excuses approach is what helps him succeed in his new career. As a surfer who began in his teens, the experience helped him connect with his young students pushing them to be their best. While coaching can be challenging, the competitive athlete in Martinez understands what it takes to win. By working with different athletes throughout his time as a coach, he’s learned to be adaptable and patient, both which make him a more successful coach.

While being on his board in the water is his first love, the sport for him is so much more than spending time catching waves. As a coach, Martinez takes a holistic approach to teaching. He believes that in order to be a successful surfer, time must be spent in the gym, on a Carver Skateboard, and in the kitchen. Surfing is not an easy sport, especially when considering the unpredictability of the ocean.

By developing a strong core and flexible body in the gym and with practicing surf maneuvers on a Carver Skateboard, Martinez knows that athletes will be better prepared to successfully approach the ocean while surfing. It’s all about having a better range of motion, better balance, and better performance. This is something he himself practices on a daily basis to continue to grow as an athlete.

Going further, integrating a general awareness of nutrition and the importance of staying hydrated supports the growth of his young athletes. And the results speak for themselves. “When I put through kids through it, I see the results and it’s super evident,” Martinez says.

From the start, Martinez teaches this holistic approach in order to set his athletes up for success. By expanding training beyond just surfing, it makes for more well-rounded athletes and decreases the chance of sports injuries. For Martinez, nothing fills him up more than seeing his athletes grow and elevate their surfing ability. He loves to look at his students and think, “Wow, look at them, they’re really on their way. That’s amazing!”

What more could you ask for in a surf coach? Just download our app and book your session with Magnum Martinez through Zeshion and learn directly from the experts!

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