Highlights
- Alan Cleland’s surfing skills were nurtured by his father, a former pro surfer, from a very young age.
- Growing up in Boca de Pascuales exposed him to challenging waves and unique life experiences that shaped his fearless attitude.
- Despite facing dangerous situations, Alan’s surfing mentality has helped him remain calm under pressure.
Alan Cleland is a Mexican surfer whose fearless approach to the sport has been shaped by his unique upbringing in Boca de Pascuales, a remote fishing village on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Imagine growing up in a place where surfing and fishing are the only two options, and where one of the world’s most intimidating waves is your home break.
That’s exactly the environment that molded Alan Cleland into the fearless surfer he is today.
Parents Who Shaped A Surfing Prodigy
Alan Cleland was born to Alan Cleland Sr., a former pro surfer from the San Diego area, and his Mexican wife.
His father, known for his deep tube rides at San Diego winter reefs in the 1980s, fell in love with the palm groves and powerful waves of Pascuales during his late teens.
Alan Sr.’s passion for surfing was passed down to his son, pushing young Alan into his first wave at the tender age of two.
By the time Alan Jr. was four, father and son were regularly surfing together, laying the foundation for Alan’s future in the sport.
Tragically, Alan’s mother has passed away. In May 2022, he shared a heartfelt tribute to her on social media:
“Miss you mom❤️ it’s been a hard one without you but hope you’re in a better place looking over us:) love you ❤️”
Childhood In The Waves Of Pascuales
Growing up in Boca de Pascuales was a unique experience for Alan.
He describes his hometown as “really just a ghost town” where the only residents were either surfers or fishermen.
This simple lifestyle, he believes, has made him a calmer person.
By age six, Alan was surfing independently or with friends. His daily routine revolved around the waves:
“Wake up, go look at the waves, and if the waves are good, go surf. After three to six hours of surfing, [I] would come back to shore and do [my] school lessons.”
The challenging waves of Pascuales became Alan’s greatest teacher. He recalls:
“It’s a pretty gnarly wave. It was very scary, to be honest, growing up there.”
Despite Pascuales’s intimidating nature, Alan embraced the challenge, following his family’s one rule: Always go on the best wave you see.
This mindset has shaped his approach to surfing and life.
Fearlessness Beyond The Waves
Alan’s upbringing in mainland Mexico exposed him to dangerous situations that further honed his ability to stay calm under pressure.
At 12, he experienced being held at gunpoint during a car journey.
Surprisingly, he was the calmest person in the group, attributing this to his surfing mentality:
“For me, at that moment, at that time, I was just all survival instincts. [There are] all your instincts that come into play with surfing big waves, pretty much staying fearless, just look for any little opportunity and just be in the present.”
These experiences have contributed to Alan’s composed demeanor in competitive surfing, making the stress of competition seem manageable in comparison.
Just So You Know
- Alan Cleland didn’t learn English until he was six years old.
- He has a younger sister named Vanessa Cleland.
- Alan become the first surfer to represent Mexico at an Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
- Despite his challenging upbringing, Alan still considers Boca de Pascuales his favorite place in the world.
