His parents were traveling the world on a sailboat when Fernando Stalla was born on the paradise island of Fiji. It’s no wonder he was drawn to the sea and the surf. Almost as soon as he could walk, he was riding a surfboard. Fernando lived in Brazil then moved to Costa Rica and continued to spend time in the surf. At twelve years old, fate would lead him to a wonderful place, Sayulita, Mexico, where his skills as a surfer would develop to the fullest.

After achieving a high level of success in short board competitions, Fernando discovered a new passion. Stand Up Paddling had taken off in the action sports world and it was a sport that perfectly fit his style and ability. In 2010 he began his professional career in SUP. He would soon become one of the world’s best athletes in the SUP Racing division racking up numerous titles. The same year, Fernando also qualified for the Mexican national SUP Surf team. His road to success was quick but not without setbacks. Finding the financial support to attend international competitions has been difficult.

Today, “Nando”, as known by close friends, spends his months between the Californian summer and the Mexican winter. All his energy is focused on a single goal: to become the best SUP athlete in the world in both the distance races and the surf competitions.