2026 Championship Tour rookie Nadia Erostarbe and high-performance coach Natalie Hummel join The Lineup to discuss confidence, pressure, and the mental side of elite surfing. After years of working toward the Championship Tour, Nadia Erostarbe is making her mark in her first full season, with semifinal finishes on the Gold Coast and in Brazil. Joining Dave Prodan alongside her performance coach Natalie Hummel, the Spanish surfer opens up about the highs and lows of her rookie year, the pressure of fighting to stay above the cut in 2025, and the mindset shift that helped her go from wondering if she belonged on tour to believing she could win CT events. Natalie explains how she works with elite athletes to navigate self-doubt, comparison, fear, and the unpredictable nature of competition. They dig into nervous system training, learning to feel safer under pressure, and why trying to control the uncontrollable can take energy away from the things athletes can actually influence. Nadia also reflects on representing Spain on the world stage, the advantages of finding her own path to the CT, and why she believes her journey has unfolded at the right time. She shares how changing her expectations helped her break out of a cycle of low scores and start seeing new possibilities in the water. Nadia talks about her relationship with DHD Surfboards, the boards behind her breakthrough performances, and her hopes for the final stretch of the season. Natalie offers advice for athletes looking to break recurring patterns, face their fears, and trust their own process.
Learn more about Nadia here and follow her here.
Unlock your highest performance with Natalie Hummel and Limitless Academy here and follow her on Instagram here.
About Limitless Academy
Her yearlong coaching program helps riders work through fear, navigate pressure, and build the skills to pursue their goals with more consistency. The program combines coaching with Natalie, guided practices, integration sessions, breathwork, and a supportive community.
Relive the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Xacobeo.
And catch Nadia in the 10th stop on the Championship Tour event, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Oct 16 - 25 here.
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