Born 30th August 1985 in Zarautz, Spain

Sponsors: Quiksilver, Pukas, DC

Current Residence: Zarautz, Spain

Occupation: Professional Surfer

Favourite surfers: Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds

Favourite spots: Mundaka, Euskadi / Backdoor Pipeline, Hawaii

Height: 5.6

Weight: 156 pounds

Stance: Regular

Accomplishments

2010

1st Maresia Surf International, WQS 6 Stars, Brazil

2009

3rd Billabong Pro Tahiti

2008

9th Billabong Pipeline Master

2007

Qualified for the 2008 ASP World Tour

6th of WQS ranking

1st Hangloose Pro WQS 5 Star, Brazil

5th US Open of Surfing WQS 6 Star, USA

2nd Sooruz Lacanau Pro WQS 6 Star, France

1st Zarautz Pro Surf WQS 3 Star, Euskadi

5th Reef Hawaiian Pro, WQS 6 Star, Haleiwa, Hawaii

2006

3rd O'Neill Highland Pro WQS 5 Star, Scotland

2004/2005

5th Billabong World Junior Championship

European Junior Vice Champion

1999

1st at the Quiksilver Grommets Trophy (today's King of the Groms)

Aritz got on his first shortboard at the age of seven, and since 2002 the young Basque has without doubt been one of Europe's best surfers. He joined the Quiksilver team at the age of 14, and now at the age of 22, he is an enthusiastic competitor and a very serious professional athlete.

He has a passion for big wave surfing and along with his friend and fellow Quiksilver team rider Ibon Amatriain can often be sighted at some of the Basque country's heaviest breaks. Ibon is the first European ever to be invited to the big wave competition In Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, Hawaii.

2007 was an exceptional year for Aritz, taking first place at the Hangloose Pro 5 Star WQS in Brazil as well as having made the final at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro WQS 6 Star. Aritz's win, after a consistent 4-day performance on his home turf at the Zarautz Pro Surf 3 Star WQS was one of the most exciting results for him. The massive support from family, friends and hometown supporters was as moving as his surfing performances.

A 5th place finish at the Reef Hawaiian Pro WQS 6 Star, Hawaii, moved Aritz up to 6th place on the WQS rankings.  He had achieved one of his main goals in life; qualifying for the ASP World Tour. The beginning of the season 2008 did not go to plan; Aritz suffered an injury during the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast that forced him to withdraw from four events in 2008 but he got the injury wildcard and he is qualified for the ASP World Tour 2009.

He describes himself as someone who will fight to get to the top, but who also accepts losing as part of competition. However, don't let him get bored or this hyperactive young man will become unbearable...! He trains hard and is intensely focused on the job ahead.