Like a good number of surfers here in Cleveland, Marcos is from someplace else. He’s got some skills, one of those people with that in born familiarity with the water; the ability to always be in the best part of the wave. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Marcos and get his perspective on his side of the surfing life.
SD: Hi Marcos. I just drove by Edgewater, the waves looked like J-Bay or Pipeline, but shrunk down to 4 inches. Okay, first question’s the toughest, What’s your full name?
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Marcos: Marcos A. Vega Soto SD: What was it like growing up in Puerto Rico Marcos: Since I was a little boy I was interested by the sea. My first time when I tried to surf I was 12 years old. I only had a body board, it was really old. Just like everyone I started in a local beach, one short break located southeast of the island called the “Groomers Beach.” SD: Was there a lot of competition for waves? Marcos: Yes. But by the time I was 15 years old I earned a place among the best surfers, called “The Lords of The Beach.” It wasn`t easy, because I got troubles, fights, and discussions to win the respect of every surfer. I never went to a contest because I didn`t care about that stuff. I just wanted to surf and be the best. While time passed you could hear my name around the south and the southeast of the island. My nickname was ”The Dropknee Man” because that was my best maneuver. SD: Awesome, The Dropknee Man, that’s so perfect. I’ve seen you in the curl more than anyone else! And now you’re here in Ohio. Were you surprised to find waves? Marcos: Well I remembered that always my parents told me that there were waves here because they got here before me to Cleveland. But I never believed them. I said it had to be just in their imagination. But I remember it was in March 08`, when I went to jog in the Edgewater Park was my first time when I saw the whole lake. There were whitecaps and I said WHAT THE HELL IS THIS! SD: Did you just go running into the water? Marcos: I stopped breathing and my legs were trembling and my first thought was why didn`t I brought my surfing equipment wih me. After that I went running to K Mart to buy one bodyboard and a pair of fins. But I had a huge problem, I still needed a F#@king WETSUIT. So I had it to wait into May so I could go inside the water. Watching from the beach was something really depressing and frustrating. But in that time I started getting to know you guys and I started to learn about the insider stuff that I need so I can surf in Cleveland. SD: What do you like most about surfing in Ohio? Marcos: Definitely uncrowded beaches, sociable people, fresh water, and of course no sharks, jellyfishes, and stingrays. SD: Speaking of sociable people, Vince thinks that since he can speak Italian he can just change some Italian words around and that you’ll be able to understand him. Can you? Marcos: Well he is a very nice guy but really sometimes is so hard to understand him. My opinion is that he is a really good surfer, but no, I don’t know what he is saying. SD: What do your friends back in PR think about the Great Lakes? Marcos: The waves? Seriously they couldn`t believe it. But I sent them mail, photos, and some websites and they like it a lot but they think that`s something weird and not common. SD: Yes. Weird and not common, a good title for a movie. So do you like it here in Cleveland? Marcos: I have a year and nine months living here, but I got used to it. At the beginning it was depressing, I miss a lot of the tropical climate of Puerto Rico, my island. I HATE THE COLD. SD: I almost forgot, how did you wind up here? Marcos: I lost everything in Puerto Rico. I couldn’t find a job. Even my wife who has a good college degree couldn’t get work. I came to Cleveland to look for job and finish college, and my whole family moved here already. It was hard to leave a whole life and my friends in PR, but here I found a second opportunity and a lot of good people and friends. Like you guys, I appreciate a lot of your help and friendship. I hope that this is for a long time. SD: Me too Marcos, it’s been really great seeing you in the lineup, and the waves have been the best I can remember. Marcos: Thanks a lot for everything, you’re a good friend Scott.
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