It sometimes seems like Pedri (as he’s known here in the DR) never was a child. At only nine years of age he was already privy to waking up before the sun, making himself breakfast, grabbing his board, and walking barefoot through the streets of Gazcue to the beach known as Guibia, our local break. At that hour of the day the drunks, prostitutes, and homeless people who had survived another night on the noisy and chaotic promenade of Santo Domingo were still congregating, but that never seemed to faze Pedri.
As a youngster, Pedri was blessed with more freedom than most kids his age, but it wasn’t the kind of freedom to which most of us can relate. With his father and mother having immigrated to the US and Europe respectively, Pedro was raised by his brother, Carlos, barely an adolescent at the time himself. And although they shared similar interests, and Carlos was always concerned with his younger brother, he also took time for himself forcing Pedro to grow up quickly and develop and independence that few children his age ever achieve.
Having also been exposed to surfing by Carlos, who possessed a natural gift for the sport himself, Pedro, along with his brother and other friends from the neighborhood, slowly became the new generation of Dominican surfing. They were the ones pushing the envelope of performance on the island by copying the changes in surfing they saw in videos, and learning the more radical and avant-garde maneuvers that were growing out of skateboarding, a sport that Pedro also dominated from an early age.
Pedro’s talent in the water was always readily apparent. Besides being young and small in size, Pedro always surrounded himself with much older surfers who saw him as something of a mascot. And as time passed and Pedro became more proficient in his surfing it was always a site to see little Pedri competing against the older surfers and beating them with modern moves that were met with cheers and applause from spectators.
The first main door to Pedro’s success opened on a trip to Puerto Rico where we travelled for a Volcom event. I introduced Pedro to Juan Ashton who took him on as a Volcom team rider, something which motivated Pedro to such and extent that he took first place in the event in sizeable hurricane surf. And with the opening of this first door Pedro took full advantage and with commitment and dedication, despite having both the wind and seas in his face, has carved out a place in global surf culture as one of the world’s top talents.
“Since I have known him Pedro has grown into a great surfer despite having taken the path less traveled,” commented Ashton. “Coming from the DR its amazing to see how he has been able to continually grown inside the core of the surfing community of his own country as well as Puerto Rico. Pedri has shown us he can surf and hang with the best, and I consider him a true international ambassador of Dominican Republic surfing. He is a fast learner, and does what ever he needs to do to be in the right spot at the right time. I have seen his surfing progress since his early days; from surfing the Corona events here in Puerto Rico with all of us to doing the international events in which he has had the chance to participate, it has been awesome to see him excel both as a surfer and as a human being. I am always super stoked to see him come over to PR and charge places like Survival and getting barreled with the best of the Puerto Rican talent. I wish Pedri all the best and support him as a friend and as one of the best surfers to have ever come out of the DR,” concluded Juan.
But nothing has come easy for Pedro. Growing up in the physical absence of his parents and at times without his brother’s presence created a stronger and more dedicated lifestyle. In actuality it lead Pedro to have no choice but to continue living his dreams of surfing and traveling all over the world, and always carrying a message of perseverance and good faith, allowing him to become the official face of Dominican surfing. He is an example of the fact that life must be lived 100% in the present, that quitting is not an option, and that goals can always be reached sooner or later. The rhythm by which to reach them is up to you.
“Pedro Fernandez? He has more drive and ambition than any other surfer I have ever met,” said Green Bottles Productions creator, New Jersey local, and frequent Caribbean visitor, Len Helbig. There’s not a greedy or cocky bone in his body. Pedro works very hard for every thing he gets and does so in a caring, kind manner, always. We met in PR while I was filming. He just walked right up to me and introduced himself. From that day on I knew I had met a lifelong friend and devoted rider for GB. Since that day, Pedro and I have had some insane sessions filming and an even better friendship,” continued Len. “His surfing ability has increased ten-fold since 2006, and he has NO fear, NONE. First guy paddling out, last guy to paddle in, regardless of the conditions. He was getting barreled at Survival even before Brian Toth paddled out and scored his epic 20-foot cavern. I'm very blessed and honored to call Pedro a Green Bottles rider as well as a true friend for life.”
Surf Caribe: Growing up in the Dominican Republic wasn’t easy given your circumstances. Do you see that as having been an advantage or a disadvantage?
Pedro Fernandez: I think a little of both, actually. Some people might consider it an advantage while others would consider it a disadvantage. But slowly but surely it all changes to a good thing.
SC: How has being geographically close to both Puerto Rico and the United States helped you achieve your goals?
PF: Yeah, being so close to Puerto Rico has helped my surfing a lot for sure. Being able to surf with all these good surfers gets me closer to the surfing of top quality athletes, and at the same time connects me with the guys in the United States who are gonna write the checks that support your surfing career.
SC: What advice do you have for other young kids growing up with limited resources who have surfing aspirations?
PF: Stay focused on you dream and never look back.
SC: What have you learned most from the travel you’ve done?
PF: That mutual respect will take you a long way when you’re a visitor in someone else’s country and to work hard for what you want.
SC: What is next for Pedro Fernandez?
PF: More travel, continuing to market myself, more training, and few events on the WQS. Just keep busy!
Full Name: Pedro Jose Fernandez Mateo
Nickname: Pedri
Date & Place of Birth: 5/26/1981
Hometown: Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Height/weight: 5’11- 155 pounds
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Lost Clothing/surfboards, DVS, Body Glove, Vestal, Encargo Group, Green Bottles
Ranking: Coming Soon!!!
Quiver: 12 Lost/Matt Biolos boards a year
Surf Crew: Ivan Herrera, Ken Hei, Manuel Selman, Brandon Sanford, Ivan “Banana” Miolán, Victor “Bobo” Peralta, Pilon, Jose Cestari, el Rookie
School/College: Universidad APEC/Publicidad
Grade/Year: 2000
Occupation: Pro Surfer
Company: Mother Nature
I started surfing in: 1991 at: Playa Guiibia, Santo Domingo
Local surf spot: Playa Encuentro
Favorite wave: Little Tavi in the DR, secret spots in PR
First board: 5’4” Rainbow
Hot Dog Stick - every day board: 5’11 x 18.50 x 2.25 F-1 STUB by Matt Biolos
Magic Stick - favorite board ever: 6’1 x 18.50 x 2.25 Wiplash by Matt Biolos
Big Wave Gun: 6’10 x 18.63 x 2.50 Matt Biolos (Todo por el Bowl)
Best Session: Little Tavi in the DR, Isabela secret spots in PR
Best Contest result: 1st Place Master of the Ocean, 3rd Place Aaron Latin Pro PR
Favorite Maneuver: Power moves
Secret Weapon: Big tail blowouts frontside or backside
Workin’ on: Full spin alley oop front side
Dream maneuver: Superman full spin alley oop
Favorite Surfer: Jose “Pilon” Aquino & Bruce Irons
Favorite Shaper: Ventura & Matt Biolos
Top 5 Surfers: At home: Pilon, Ivancito, Manu, Zion, Brandon - Overall: Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson, CJ Hobgood
Top 5 Surf DVD’s: Loose Change, Modern Collective, Days of the Strange, Top Peso, What’s Really Going Wrong!
Top 5 Music bands: Mozart La Para, Bob Marley, 50 Cent, Cultura Profetica, Cosculluela
Best Post-surf Munchies: Aloha Café, Cabarete
Favorite Food: Dominican Flag for Arroz y habichuelas con carne
Tail Slide or Rail Carve? Tail Slide
Get Barreled or Get Air? Barrels
Contest Machine or Soul Surfer? Soul Surfer
Paddle or Tow? Paddle
Log or Fish? Fish
Epoxy or Polyester? Polyester
My favorite thing about surfin’ is: 100% Happiness!!!!
In ten years I see myself: with a wife and kids helping the surfing community in the DR.
If I’m not in the water I’m probably: working for my surfing.
You’d never guess I’m also pretty good at: cooking!!!
If I couldn’t surf I’d definitely be: helping the surfing community.
Most of what I’ve accomplished in this sport I owe to: God, my family, my big brother, my sponsors, and all my friends that have been with me in the bad and good times.
I have a recurrent dream about: getting more famous!!!
One thing I’d like people to know about me is: I’m good on the dance floor!!!
Open Mic - Last Words: Yo, yo, yo! One, two… one, two… I want to say thanks to God, my family for being there for me all the time, all my friends (you guys rock!) Thanks to all my sponsors, and my manager, Mariam Suarez. See you in the water!!!