It’s no secret that the next generation of SUP surfers is already knocking on the door of the sport’s upper echelon of athletes. A perfect example of this occurred earlier this year in the Men’s SUP surfing contest at the Santa Cruz Paddlefest. While perennial SUP surfing standout Zane Schweitzer took home top honors, it was the third-place finisher that raised eyebrows: 16-year-old Dave de Armas.
De Armas, who hails from the northwest region of Puerto Rico, is certainly one of those young guns who’s eyeing the top step of the podium. Already one of the island’s most talented SUP surfers, de Armas has been taking on the biggest names of the sport at major events like the Sunset Beach Pro, Santa Cruz Paddlefest and the ISA World Championships.
Get a first look at the rising star in action with this brand new edit. Filmed during a recent surf trip to Veraguas, Panama, de Armas rips on some fun-looking waves. Expect to hear (and see) much more from this very talented grom.
Watch: Fellow Puerto Rican grom Max Torres shreds.