What’s your name?
Al Rumbos

Where are you from originally?
Venezuela

Where do you live now?
Tampa, Florida

How old are you?
36

How long have you been bodyboarding?
Since 1990…. ouch!!!

Prone or DK? If both, how much of each?
99.9% PRONE, 0.01% DK

Who do you bodyboard with?
So many people, last couple of years we’ve been riding in big groups wherever we go, most of the guys from the forum.

What are your favorite bodyboard spots?
Here in Florida, Sebastian Inlet, Spanish House, Beach St over the gulf and anywhere in Puerto Rico.

Where have you traveled to bodyboard?
Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, North Carolina, all over Florida and Venezuela.

Where do you want to travel to bodyboard?
Indonesia, can’t wait!!

What board(s) do you ride?
Right now, I’m riding the new VEGA from CUSTOM X, nice ride.

Do you compete?
I do, not as much as I used to.

If so, what competitions have you competed in?
I’ve done every single contest in Florida that had a Bodyboard division, you name it, I’ve done it. I did the ABA when it was around, ESA at all levels and the famous FBA!!

What is the bodyboarding community in Florida like?
Not as big as you may have in Cali, Hawaii or anywhere else, we are way out-numbered by surfers, but we do have a core of guys that stay in touch, from South Florida to the Panhandle.

Do you have any sponsors? What companies?
CUSTOM X, ANARCHY, STICKY BUMPS, RED BULL, ZINKA, SURFSLING and SURF SHACK Surf Shop.

What other board sports do you partake in?
I just got a Fish surfboard, for those small days in Florida.

What bodyboard goals do you have?
Surf for as long as I can. Travel, at least once a year and grow the FBA as big as we can for the generations to come.

Where do you see bodyboarding going in the future?
After so many dark years, I can tell you that I see the light at the end of the tunnel. We no longer need the big Surfing companies to support us to stay alive, we are creating our own systems, our own companies and more to have a very healthy community. I also see Internet being a major player for the growth of the sport.

What riders influenced your bodyboarding?
I’m old school, so, of course Mike Stewart and one of the best, Guilherme Tamega.

What riders are pushing the sport right now?
Mitch Rawlins, Jeff & Dave Hubbard, Pierre-Louis Costes…here in America, Rusty Friesen, Jeremy Wright, Jacob Romero…so many.

If you were stranded on a desert island that already has a plentiful resource of bodyboards and fins what three things would you bring?
My wife, anything to read and my laptop.

What is the best advice you can give to a bodyboard grom trying to get recognized
Practice, practice, practice, have dedication to the sport, then once you feel you have some skills, compete. I truly believe that competition is the best way to grow our sport.

Any last words of advice? Shout outs?
Thanks to all my sponsors for their support, all my family and all my friends!!