Javi Sola is a special skimmer for many reasons. Many of them are immediately apparent: a spectacular style, immense power, exemplary competitive spirit… But others, probably some of the most important, are not so easy to see: his character, his values both on and off the water, and his philosophy of physical and mental training, which are very likely what have led him to where he is today: European champion.
He holds a title that he undoubtedly deserves. The same one that Juanlu González won in 2023. A title earned through discipline and effort, self-criticism, and respect. Javi seems like he’s from another era. And when one of those skimmers wants to be part of our family, there’s no other way to act than to welcome him with open arms.
There was a time when skimmers focused on being the best, and when they were truly good, in most cases, the “reward” of sponsorship followed. These days, it’s harder to find those kinds of skimmers, because the most common ones are those who strive to get sponsored, hoping that sponsorship will show the world, their friends, and their social media followers that they’ve reached that status. It’s precisely this fact that serves to convince themselves of who they are.
In short (and generally speaking): before, you practiced to be good and then get a sponsorship; now you practice to get a sponsorship so that it makes you feel good. *Note: the key lies in the nuances. Nuances, but important ones.
Ultimately, a sponsorship is a business relationship where both parties (rider and brand) benefit, and no one can (or should) question that. But it can also be or represent much more than that: support, help, extra motivation, a sense of family, of feeling valued, and many other things that, in many cases, are key to an athlete’s development.
Although we’ve always considered Javi a brother and shared many moments, trips, conversations, and competitions, we always respected and accepted his professional decisions and never offered him a sponsorship (in fact, we never offer sponsorships to riders from other brands unless that rider specifically requests it for a particular reason. And Javi was supported and sponsored from a very early age). Furthermore, we very rarely sponsor minors. Nuances. But something changed a couple of months ago, and starting in January 2026, Javi will be joining us as a Dogflut rider, something we’ve always wanted and didn’t expect, but which makes everyone in our family happy, excited, and proud. It’s an honor.
For those who don’t know him, Javi Sola has been in the game for over 10 years, climbing from victories in junior categories when he was just a kid to becoming what he is today: European champion in the open category. All of this has been accompanied by triumphs, like the 2022 International in Portugal; epic battles, like his 1vs1 UST semifinal in Cádiz against Lucas Fink, where he pushed a world-class figure to the limit; and significant praise, such as from a legend like George Bryan, who has seen hundreds of top-level skimmers, saying that he was impressed watching him compete in the first stage of the 2025 European Championship.
A new adventure begins. We’ll see where it takes us.
Welcome Ravi. And long live the Armenian national team!