December 2019 : Adrian Miramon (ESP)

Athlete of the Month – December 2019

Riding two metre waves is the ideal race situation for coastal rower Adrian Miramon. From Spain Miramon is the three-time coastal world champion in the men’s solo (single sculls). Miramon tells World Rowing what it’s like to be a coastal rower.

World Rowing: Congratulations on becoming a coastal World Champion again this year.  How were those gold medal races for you?
Adrian Miramon: I really felt comfortable with the World Championship sea conditions. I knew that after a good training period I would be competitive. I was very happy to have the Worlds in a good place for Coastal Rowing as the prior Championships were held in Thonon and Victoria, and for me personally, they looked more like long distance Olympic rowing.

WR: How do the standard coastal rowing races and the beach sprints compare to each other?
AM: For me they are two very different disciplines and it’s very hard to juggle both. This year I prepared for long distance, knowing that being explosive at the start and on the sprint, then I would do well. For beach sprints, running and rowing combined make the race extremely attractive to spectators. Long distance coastal rowing is also very attractive, particularly the start and the first length. Resistance is key to keeping up with your opponents during 6000 metres of racing.

WR: How did you come to take up coastal rowing?
AM: The club where I have trained since a young age started to promote coastal rowing from the beginning because of the club water conditions. I started to train and compete at the national championships and then went to international championships. My first World Rowing Coastal Championships was in Greece (2014).

WR: What makes you continue in coastal rowing?
AM: I do ‘trainera’, a discipline in the Basque Country that has a 6000m distance like coastal rowing. This allows me to be well prepared physically. Although there is a small but significant difference: we do not use our legs, or this is kept to a minimum in the ‘trainera’.

WR: Have you ever done traditional rowing?  If so, how does it compare?
AM: Yes, I started with Olympic Rowing when I was 11 years old and have continued ever since, although at the moment I only take part in a couple of flat-water rowing events per year.

I think they are two very different disciplines. While in flat water rowing you are in your lane and nobody hinders you (gets in your way), the water is very different and you need perfect conditions. In coastal rowing there are many external conditions that may get in your way towards the finish: opponents, buoys and weather conditions. I would say the flat water and coastal rowing technique  is different.

WR: What are your favourite conditions to row in?
AM: I wish I could ask for 2 metre waves for all championships, ha, ha… besides the competing I would enjoy surfing the waves.

WR: Where is your favourite place to train?
AM: Nowhere specifically, just a place with a lot of waves, teammates to train with and good weather. For example, I would love to be able to train in Australia.

WR: What is your next big goal and how do you plan to achieve it?
AM: To achieve my fifth medal in a Coastal Rowing Championships. I will achieve it by training hard as I have over the past years. I do not have any secrets. I hope that in four years time my next objective may be to row in a coastal rowing Olympic event.

WR: What do you do when you are not rowing?
AM: I only spend a short time without rowing, but I also do running and swimming. Sport is a part of my life.

WR: What will you do for Christmas?
AM: I will spend Christmas with my family as long as possible because throughout the year we are 1000 km apart, and I will start my training to slowly get back into shape.

WR: Which sportsperson do you most admire?
AM: Zinedine Zidane, one person that represents the athletes’ values: fellowship, effort and respect.