Surfing Republica - Marvin Chen Pérez: The Costa Rican warrior of prone paddleboarding
Costa Rican competitive prone paddler will defend the national colors at the 2022 World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Games in Puerto Rico. 
Lifeguard, surfer and now prone paddleboard competitor, Marvin Chen Pérez, will be on the Island of Enchantment representing the country in the world championship of the category and other branches of the longboard discipline.
But many might wonder, what exactly is prone paddleboarding? It's an extremely strenuous sport, performed on a special board, and involves paddling distances using only your hands, either lying down or kneeling. 
Pérez is a pioneer of this prone discipline competitively in Costa Rica and despite not having exclusive tournaments for this modality, the Jacoban has tried to perform against StandUp Paddle athletes in the National SUP Circuit.
Marvin Chen shared a bit about what it's like to be a pioneer in a discipline of this caliber in our country, and here's the interview.
How many years have you practiced this discipline?
I have been practicing it for eight years and I have always wanted to implement it in our country.
How difficult has it been to be a pioneer of this discipline in Costa Rica in the competitive field?
It's very difficult; it's about raising awareness of the sport, and besides the competitive aspect, I have no one to compete against other than people who do stand-up paddleboarding, which isn't recommended since the board is different and they use a paddle. Currently, I use a board that isn't specifically designed for prone paddling because those boards are too expensive and hard to find in our country, so I've been experimenting to be able to compete and train.
How many people do you know who practice this discipline in the country?
I know some people who live in Santa Teresa who practice this discipline, and interestingly, they aren't Costa Rican; they're Australian or American. I've had the opportunity to speak with Costa Ricans from San José, Puerto Viejo, and about six others who have shown interest in learning more about prone swimming, but I think I'm the only one who's truly involved in it.
How difficult is it to get surfboards and accessories specifically for prone surfing in Costa Rica?
It's extremely difficult because the sport isn't well-known in Costa Rica; there's no one who can shape this type of board. So, getting a board to compete on is firstly too expensive and secondly, very difficult to find. To give you an idea, to compete in Puerto Rico I'll have to rent a board there, one I've never used before, but only to be on the same level with the other boards and be able to compete.
How have you physically prepared for this World Cup?
I have always tried to keep training, as I have been very disciplined in the field of lifesaving, but now having this responsibility of representing the country, the training changes and although it is something so new and not having someone to guide me in Costa Rica, I have tried to apply what I have learned and do aerobic and anaerobic work, I also combine it with surfing and gym, since it is a sport in which you have to be very well prepared physically and mentally.
Where did the idea of competing in this prone discipline come from?
Personally, I've always enjoyed exploring this discipline, which is a sport widely practiced in Australia and the United States and is closely linked to lifesaving, practiced by big-wave surfers and lifeguards. I first encountered it in Sydney, Australia, while training there, and I've always wanted to implement it here in Costa Rica.
Currently, Marvin Chen is fully focused on the world championships; however, he has received invitations from world-renowned athletes and international organizations that hold competitions of this nature, and the Costa Rican could become the first Costa Rican to participate in events of this level.
Marvin will be part of the national team that will be present at the ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship from October 28 to November 6 in Puerto Rico, and Surfing Republica will bring you all the details of the Costa Rican events.