S7E12 -- Inaugural Ultraman Mexico with Van Sanchez

The countdown to Ultraman Mexico is on—and the mountains are calling. We sit down with race director and former teenage Ultraman finisher, Van Sanchez, to map out exactly what athletes and crews will face across three days at altitude in Zacatecas. From a 10-loop open-water swim to a punchy run that climbs late and drops into a party finish.  

The field is stacked and global: Mexico, the United States, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina. You’ll hear about iconic veterans like Juan Antonio Craveri on his quest to complete every Ultraman-branded event, and the eldest entrant, Ramiro de Jesús Gutiérrez Piedra, chasing five Ultraman races in a single year. We address safety concerns head-on with clear context, highlight the deep local support and government coordination.  

Follow along October 17–19 on Instagram for live updates, results, and behind-the-scenes moments. Enjoy the preview, share it with your crew, and hit follow to stay tuned for race-week coverage and post-race debriefs.

Instagram: @ultramanmexico

Van has appeared four other times on the podcast.  You can find those episodes free in our podcast library.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ultraman Wales
• UltraMX515 
• Brooks Running
• BYD  
• Fresnillo Mining
• Vazlo Auto Parts
• City of Zacatectas
• Windstone Constructions
• Goodr Sunglasses
• Ciele Athletics
• Escualo
• Wayfar
• UM Arizona
• UM World Championships
• Pan American Race
• Festival Internacional de Teatro 

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Sheryl and Dave Cobb (S2E6)
• Jen McVeay (S2E8)
• Steven Keller (S6E13)
• Jane Bockus  (S1E4)
• ATHLETE LIST : Lucas Cruz, María Yanga Alvarez Solis, Hector Ayuso, Johusua Duran, Pablo Enrique Solís Mayorga, Diana Carolina Pereira Vieira, Karlo Mendoza Arancibia, Roberto Dávila Otozco, Luis Antonio González Padilla, Tania Margarita Briseño Valdivia, Hector Martínez Bogard, Rafa Jaime, Juan A. Craveri (S1E5), Erik Noe Duran Luna, Edson Nevárez, Isaias Mireles Vazquez, Adolfo López Mercado, Samuel Maturano Ortiz, Alejandro Rivas, Miguel Madrid Lopez, Mateo Alba, Maria Margarita Tascón González, Felipe Montiel Flores, Toni Marin Ramos, Adrián Comparan Cueva, Ramiro De Jesus Gutierrez Piedra, Jorge Adrian Perera Ramos
• David Gilmour
• Steve King (S1E1)
• Will Rogers (S5E8)
• Shane Duffy (S4E5)

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome, Follow, And Shoutouts
• 1:58 Introducing Van Sanchez
• 3:42 Why Join The Ultraman Brand
• 6:10 Sponsors And Community Support
• 10:05 Course Overview And Altitude
• 13:10 Day Three Hills And Run Finish
• 14:58 How To Follow The Race Live
• 17:33 Cameras Rule And Safety Priorities
• 20:18 One-Year Trial And Global Reach
• 23:00 Field Preview And Athlete Roll Call
• 28:30 Legends, Quests, And Coaching
• 31:20 Timing For Worlds And Logistics
• 33:28 Addressing Safety In Zacatecas
• 37:00 Ultraman Drama And Moving Forward
• 42:00 Closing Thanks And Weekend Preview

Transcript

Larry Ryan: 0:00

Hey, I'm Larry Ryan, and welcome to 515TheUltra Podcast. Just before we get started today, I wanted to ask if you are following us on your favorite podcast provider. If not, please hit that follow button. And if you haven't checked out our YouTube channel, go to youtube.com, search for 515 the Ultra Podcast. You'll see some of our conversations we've recently had, including our live broadcasts. If you speak English as a second or third language, I recommend playing the podcast through YouTube with closed captioning in your first language. Today's episode is a perfect chance to do that as it has been posted in both audio and video format. Thank you for listening. And a special shout out to Brian Amend, who recently supported the show through my support link. You can find that in the show notes where I list all of the people and events discussed in the episode. Here is today's show. My next guest has been on the show at least four times. In fact, his are some of the most listened to. He holds the third and fifth most downloaded episodes. Welcome back to the podcast, Van Sanchez. Hello, Van.

Van Sanchez: 2:14

Hello, Larry. It's a pleasure to be here again.

unknown: 2:18

Yeah.

Larry Ryan: 2:19

One year. Welcome back. Welcome back here. Regular listeners, you will know that uh Van still holds the record as the youngest person at 19 years of age to complete a 515 distance race when he completed that at the Ultraman Wales. Uh, how long has it been since you've finished Ultraman Wales, Van?

Van Sanchez: 2:41

10 years ago.

Larry Ryan: 2:43

10 years ago. How long does it feel like?

Van Sanchez: 2:47

Uh well, now now I am 30 exactly, Larry. This year um 31. I'm older, but it's part of the life. But keep enjoying this Ultraman life. And you know, we have many news for all the community. We have many things to share with all the people who who listen you.

Larry Ryan: 3:09

Yeah, yeah, that's great. Yeah, and we wanted to have you back on again to talk about your race. Obviously, when you competed at the Ultraman in Wales, you you came back with a fire to to spread the the 515 Aloha, Ohana, and Kakua, and you started up your own race, which you have successfully run in in your hometown there of Zacatecas, uh, Mexico. I hope I'm saying that right. I've been working on it for years. Uh and and you've done that for 10 years now.

Van Sanchez: 3:43

Yes, yes. 10 years now, here in Zacatecas. And and you say that, Larry. The thing is for me, I born here. All the people who is around the the now Ultraman Mexico, they they are completely happy to help and support the race, and that's very important for all the community. And you you hear now many stories from from the people who who joined us years ago about UltraMex 515, or yeah. And now we are ready to share the this new adventure, Ultramon Mexico, in a few days.

Larry Ryan: 4:23

Yeah, so you you you've had you've had a very popular brand. I'm I'm repping your your merch here from the Ultra MX series, the the MX515. Um, but you've decided to go and join in with the official Ultraman brand. What what was it that made you think that you wanted to make that jump over to be part of the the official Ultraman family?

Van Sanchez: 4:47

But well, Larry, you know all the story, but was and is still a challenge for for all the the Ultraman Mexico crew, all the stuff, because we need an upgrade for the Ultraman race. No, we are completely sure we we because we we we want shared to all the community a new Ultraman event here in Mexico, obviously, and a new level of quality of this kind of races. Now we are supporting by Brooks, and you know the brand, the shoe brand, and we have all the support behind of years of years of work with uh sponsors. That's important, and I I want this space to say thank you. And all the people who is behind the race, no, include my family, friends, and the community, athletes, uh, obviously uh uh Cheryl, David who who support me too much on this adventure, and I'm very happy to to start with this. The the all the year, Larry goes very fast for me, completely fast. Yeah, well and now we are here.

Larry Ryan: 6:08

Yeah, you're you're here now with the with the Ultraman Mexico, and and I did I see do you have a truck sponsor as well? Is that one of your sponsors?

Van Sanchez: 6:17

Yes, yes, yes, yes. It's a Chinese company, BYD. Yeah, yes, and you you you you see you will see the all the information uh on the web page, obviously, and and Instagram, yeah. And we try to include some brands who help us to share the Ohana, uh, with obviously here in Mexico and obviously uh in in US and and other countries.

Larry Ryan: 6:43

Yeah, no, it it's I've I've loved your marketing. I I saw your poster that you put out online that looked like so professional and fantastic. I've seen your your booklet that you're gonna be giving out to the athletes, everything looks great. Um, you're definitely taking it to the next level when it comes to that stuff.

Van Sanchez: 7:02

Yes, thank you, Larry. You know, you know, all the work uh behind of these kind of races because we are completely full of passion about ultraman. And it's all it's only not about talk about ultraman and I am a finisher and blah blah blah. No, yeah. I I think this is part of my life, it's part of your life too. And we want to share that for all the new community who is now involving on the on this kind of race, no. And you say that we're trying to to to be more professional with all the uh uh with with how looks the race is the is the thing, no, Larry. And we try that and we do it. It's uh it's the thing. Um I need to say again, thank you for all for all the people who um is involved on the race now, Larry. I I won't say thank you one by one to all the the sorry to all the Ultraman and Mexico sponsors because it's it's too much important for us, Larry. And I want use your space to talk about one one by one uh the sponsorships. If you if you help me, it will be amazing.

Larry Ryan: 8:16

Okay, absolutely. Yeah, let's let's shout out the sponsors.

Van Sanchez: 8:19

Yes, well, you have all the the the photographs on Instagram and all the social media, but I I won't say thank you to Fresnillo. Is the the is the biggest mine company in uh silver company in the world, you know that Larry. Yeah, Baslo Autoparts who help us too much. Zacatecas, the government, the government, so important here in Mexico to include the government on these kind of projects, Larry. Yeah, and you will see all the support behind us in the next days. Winston Constructions, who helped us with uh with the trucks, with the cars for the stuff. Goodur, you know the brand, the sunglasses, yes, Ciele from Canada, the hats, oh yeah, Bruce running, obviously the the number one brand in US. Wifar with the nutrition, and BYD with the uh uh official truck for the race. We try to include many brands on this project who help us to create this event, Larry. And it's the thing. Thanks so much, Larry.

Larry Ryan: 9:46

Yeah, absolutely. And and I know how important the sponsors are to making the race successful, to making it profitable so that you're not running a deficit when you're trying to put these events on for the athletes. Um you generally need to have a pretty big field of people just to stay afloat, which you have always had. You've always had great success in bringing in people to come to your races and and know different this year. Um, why don't we get into talking about maybe what the course is going to look like this year and then talk about some of those people that are coming to the race? Because this is a uh Ultraman Mexico preview episode. So um starting with the course, I know you've had some different courses over the 10 years where sometimes you've gone to a lake swim, sometimes you've gone to the um pool swim. Um, I believe this year, from what I saw in your booklet, you're going back to a lake swim. Maybe you can tell us about where that's happening and and what the water temperatures are, what they might expect, how many loops of the course, um, what's going on with the swim and the day one bike ride.

Van Sanchez: 10:52

Yes, for sure, Larry. Uh as you can can see, we we move the race for the capital, the main city, Zacatecas. Exactly. If you are if you use Google, you will see the the the city is beautiful, and you will check all the architecture and all the the the culture inside the city. And for the swim, we back again to the obviously to the to to the open water swim course. We use a swim course of 10 loops, one kilometer per loop for 10 kilometer swim. And all the the day one course is a challenge because we are an altitude of 2500 meters above the sea. That's important, yeah not all the time, but uh you know we start at two two two thousand two hundred and the race finish at two thousand five hundred meters above the sea.

Larry Ryan: 11:59

That's good, good elevation.

Van Sanchez: 12:01

Yes, if you're coming from the from the sea level, you you need time to acclimate it with the with the with with this course, right? Well, the up the on now the weather is is good, it's like in in in degrees now we are at 23-25 degrees, perfect conditions, not too cold, not too hot. Right, it's perfect. And now the conditions here in Mexico, all the year uh help us with too much rain. That's important. We have uh a very nice green fields on the mountains, and you know, when the rain comes, the the the the life starts again, and you know all the the all all the the grass the the trees all change completely. And for the um day three Larry, we use the same course at Ultra MX um Pan Y5. Yeah, yeah, it's it's the same, but in another direction because we're coming from another city, okay. Okay, yeah, and we finish with the same hilly section.

Larry Ryan: 13:14

Yeah, you got a big uphill at the end, right?

Van Sanchez: 13:16

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you you will you will you will help me if you share the the profile the next day perfect Larry, thanks so much. But well, the thing is it's the crown, no this hilly section, and you know we we finish with uh seven kilometers of downhill to the finish line, yeah, this year, and will be very challenging because you need uh uh uh extra effort to be there up the hill and then uh keep the energy to to to the downhill, no? Yeah, yes, and for the run course we we try to to create a a nice uh run course for for the athletes, and we use the same format one marathon go and one marathon back, right? Yeah, yeah, uh and we add for the wrong course Larry and unnecessary heal again.

Larry Ryan: 14:25

You can't steal that from Arizona, yes, yes, yes.

Van Sanchez: 14:30

We take that from from uh from Arizona, the last seven kilometers, the last seven kilometers uphill um near La Bufa. No, it's a mountain near La Bufa. Okay, it's not hilly than La Bufa, but it's close to that mountain, okay. And it's the same one kilometer downhill to the finish line, and it will be an amazing party there. You will see on social media, yeah.

Larry Ryan: 14:58

Um, and and what will be the best way for people to follow your race? We should talk about when the race is coming. Um, this episode is going to be released a day early because normally I release on a Friday. I'm gonna release on a Thursday to give people a chance. Um, the dates are October the 17th to 19th. 17th to 19th. Okay. And what will be the best way for people to follow along with the race?

Van Sanchez: 15:25

Uh obviously the the the the main one is Instagram and obviously Facebook too. We use you we use um both uh platforms to share all the information and obviously the web page, but the the live coverage is totally on on Instagram histories, is the best way.

Larry Ryan: 15:48

Okay, yeah. You know, some races are actually starting to live stream their entire event now.

Van Sanchez: 15:54

Yes, I know that. I know that, but Larry, I I need to say sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry, because now uh the the the work and and my life is like you know, I'm sure easy. Yes, I'm happy with the event, obviously, but ultraman is one part, um my family is one part, but well let's let's try it. Let's let's try uh uh let's try to organize uh the live coverage for the next year. And I need to use this space to to to say you are doing an amazing job uh with this, Larry, because you're keeping promoting the the Ultraman O Hana with this kind of professional and hard this this kind of hard work because I I know I know what what what is the the the difficult to organize a a lives uh a live session through 12 hours, three days.

Larry Ryan: 16:59

Yeah, yeah. Well, we can talk about that for uh once you get through this first one.

Van Sanchez: 17:05

Yes, yes, for sure. But uh I I will share you all the um the the results day by day, excellent. And you will share with with the uh with your community, um, and we'll be awesome if you help us with that. Because uh I we are um very happy to put all the the photos, all the videos, all the reels, all the results on Instagram stories because now you know all this around social media, right? So somebody can hate that, but not all the people. And it's it's if you use the social media right, you will have a good um, you know, promotion.

Larry Ryan: 17:51

It's a great promotion.

Van Sanchez: 17:53

It is, it is. Obviously, all the promotion is important. Print uh uh, you know, print a fire is important, all is important, but now the community and now the the the triathlon um community, the running community, all these um, you know, all this kind of bow moda is the is the is the word. Um but now it's trending now. Now it's trending, running is trending, triathlon is trending, and where is that on social media, and we understand that, uh Larry. Yeah, and obviously we need uh use the social media to keep promoting these um uh amazing and you know uh these amazing and lovely uh events now.

Larry Ryan: 18:45

Yeah. Well, well, let me ask you then. Um obviously there was uh a little bit of controversy out of Ultraman Florida this year when um Stephen Keller got disqualified after his championship three weeks later for using a camera on his bike. Um is that something that the Ohana Loa board has now re-examined, or is that rule still in place where even if it's a voice-activated camera, no cameras on the bike?

Van Sanchez: 19:16

No, no cameras on the bike is totally I I I it's my posture too, because the the first thing for all the races and will be the the the posture for all the athletes is the security, no Larry. And the rules are rules for that. And I think the the the athlete who wants shared will share on different uh with different um tools his race. No, yeah, was an episode. I think we need to close that as uh as um as a board, I think so, and keep running uh this with a new level, as as I say, Larry. And I think it was an episode, and and we need to finish with that and keep going with the future of this.

Larry Ryan: 20:09

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I understand. Um, can I ask you with you coming in as a first-year race? Are are you on a one-year contract right now to see how it goes, or do you have a multi-year contract with Ohana Loa? How has that worked out in your case?

Van Sanchez: 20:26

It is we have one one year to for a trial, obviously. And obviously, we won't continue with with this if we have the opportunity, Larry. Yeah, um, you know, I'm here since 10 years ago. 11, 10, 11.

Speaker 1: 20:45

Yeah.

Van Sanchez: 20:46

But uh I I just won I I just want to uh say uh thank to thanks to Cheryl, thanks to Dave, thanks to Gene, to Jane because they support me with this project and they trust in Mexico for this new adventure, you know. Right. Because uh I don't know, but if you if you are from Canada and we have many people different in another country who who want participate in in Ultraman, but they don't speak English, for example. This year we have four crews, four athletes from Spain. That's amazing. And we have many people from South America, they helped, they they they are very happy to stay here too, and they are part of the community. But this it's it's you know, Larry, it's difficult to share the Ohana through the countries, but now we have the opportunity to keep um keep building this amazing experience uh in Mexico, Larry, and I'm very happy to to start with this year. Obviously, all all my team and and me, obviously, we want Ultraman Mexico for for things I use, no, but who knows? Who knows, Larry? Now I have the opportunity, I have the the um I'm strong now, I have the possibilities, I have uh time to organize this as as I want. And I think it's my it's my feeling now, Larry, with with um with this year. And obviously, I hope we'll see you again with Ultraman Mexico uh on 2026.

Larry Ryan: 22:48

Yeah. And and can I ask, are you still doing the non-stop event as well? Or have you put that aside in order to focus everything on this Ultraman event?

Van Sanchez: 22:59

We organized the non-stop uh in in May, a few months ago. But for the next year, I think it's impossible to keep thinking on the non-stop now because Ultraman um you know absorbs too much from time from me and the job and all the stuff.

Speaker 2: 23:17

But yeah, who knows?

Van Sanchez: 23:18

Who knows? Because it it depends on the athletes, not me, not me. But you know, if Ultraman is difficult, the the same distance, non-stop, 36 hours non-stop, it's more difficult to get athletes, no. But the the plan is not for now, not for 2026. Um let's let's wait. No, we need to wait for for for the future, Larry. Okay, yeah.

Larry Ryan: 23:50

Well, I think we got a little good setup there in the background and and you coming into the Ultraman family, uh, coming back to the Ultraman family, I guess it is. You were there in Wales. Um, maybe let's start talking about your athletes that are coming this year, then. Um maybe Yeah, for sure. Well, we we can go through them. Normally we go through them kind of in age groups, but uh I I believe today you're more interested in going through them in their uh presentation order, that you'll be seeing them. Is that correct? Is that how you want to do this?

Van Sanchez: 24:21

Yes, we'll be more easier for me.

Larry Ryan: 24:24

Um but maybe let's start with how many how many men, how many women, um, and how many countries are going to be represented at the race this year?

Van Sanchez: 24:33

Yeah, the year we have uh athletes from that's very important, but we have uh two athletes from US, we have Mexico, we have Spain, we have Costa Rica, we have Venezuela, we have uh Ecuador, we have Argentina, um Colombia. Uh I think that's all yes, yes. Uh well on the list we have Lucas Cruz from US. He's uh 32 years old. We have um with the number two, Maria Álvarez Solis. She is 45 years old from Mexico. The next one is Héctor Ayuso, he's new on the community, he's from Spain, Joshua Durán from Costa Rica, he's new too. Pablo Enrique Solís Mayorga from Ecuador.

Larry Ryan: 25:40

He repeats again, and he's 43 years old.

Van Sanchez: 25:45

It is, it is, it is right. We have from Venezuela Diana Carolina Pereira, the second woman. She is 39 years old. We have Carlo Mendoza from Mexico, he's young, 33 years old, from Mexico too, Roberto Davila Orozco, 44 years old, another woman, Tania Margarita Briceño Valdivia, 35 years old, Luis Antonio González Padilla, from Mexico too, 51 years old, from US with but with Mexican heart. Héctor Martinez. Um Hector is fifty-five years old. We have Rafa Jaime, but he's uh he's now he he's having problems. You know who is Rafa Jaime? He's uh uh a blind athlete, and maybe uh um he he maybe he doesn't start. Oh okay, yeah, but well Rafa Jaime from Mexico. Okay, you know this man, Larry?

Larry Ryan: 27:10

Oh, I know this next one.

Van Sanchez: 27:12

Okay, and the next one is Juan Antonio Craveri from Argentina.

Larry Ryan: 27:19

Yes, I I had the pleasure of of crewing for Juan uh in Canada, and he was a guest on the podcast for season one, episode five. Um, he came on, and so I I invite people to go back and listen to that one for sure. He will be the only person, I believe, to have done every single Ultraman branded event. Now with yours, and I'm sure that's why he's there, because he was in Wales, he was in Australia, he's been at all the events that are even not even existing anymore, and he'll be the first and only, I believe, to be doing every Ultraman event.

Van Sanchez: 28:01

That's Ohana. That is Ohana. Yeah, well, well, we we are very happy to receive Juan here in Mexico, and the next one is Eric Noel Durán from Mexico. He's 49 years old, and with the number 15, we have Edson Nevarez from Mexico, with the number 16, Isaías Mireles Vázquez, with the number 17, Adolfo López Mercado, with the number 18, Samuel Maturano Ortiz, they are from Mexico, with the number 19 from Colombia, Alejandro Rivas.

Larry Ryan: 28:50

And he's a he's a previous racer as well, right?

Van Sanchez: 28:55

Yes, he uh from Colombia, and the next one is the number 20, Miguel Madrid Lopez. Uh he's uh an Ultraman finisher too, right? From Spain, yes, uh with the number 21, Mateo Alba, he's from Colombia too, is his first uh Ultraman race. The 22, another woman, Margarita Tascon Gonzalez from Spain, with the number 23, Felipe Montiel Flores from Mexico, with the number 24, Tony Marin Ramos from Spain, with the number 25, Adrián Comparán Cueva from Mexico, um with the number 26, Ramiro de Jesús Gutierrez Piedra, 58 years old, the eldest competitor in the field, is that correct? Yes, I think so. I think that you are right. Yep. And the last ones with the number 27, Jorge Adrian Pereira Ramos from Mexico, too, with uh 39 years old.

Larry Ryan: 30:18

And and Ramiro is is he still on the quest to do all five Ultraman races this calendar year?

Van Sanchez: 30:27

Yes, it is. He finished um Ultraman uh Florida, Ultraman Florida, Ultraman, Arizona, sorry, uh Ultraman Canada. He's he started uh the race in Ultraman Mexico, and obviously uh he will participate at the Ultraman uh World Championship this year, Larry. Ramiro is you know, he doesn't have social media, he don't use um Facebook, no Instagram, no, no, no social media, but he's an amazing person who people the the people who who who knows him knows that because he helped too much the community behind the scenes. And I I don't talk about the the the Ultraman community only, all the community behind him, his family, his friends, uh the people who worked with him. He is he's an angel for for includes for me because he was my crew uh uh when when I was um 19 years of age in in Wales. Oh yeah. But you know, we will share a photo. It's a burrito.

Larry Ryan: 31:43

Well, hold on. If he's still doing these races, why are you not still doing these races? When are we gonna see you in another race?

Van Sanchez: 31:51

Yes, maybe in the future, I don't know when. But but but this part is hard, I think so. You know that.

Larry Ryan: 32:00

And and are you still coaching a lot of Ultraman athletes as well? Are are some of them in your race?

Van Sanchez: 32:06

Not too much, Larry. Only um Emma Lucy, Centeno, and Ramiro and Hector now. Okay, um the the thing is we need uh uh uh uh a quality, you know. You we we obviously I want to give my my best with my time, you know that uh Larry, and now it's it's difficult for me. Um and but well we have three athletes from my team racing. It's difficult because uh I'm in, I'm out. I'm in, I oh yeah.

Larry Ryan: 32:44

And and do you know um how many are planning to go to Hawaii in November?

Van Sanchez: 32:50

Uh from from my list?

Larry Ryan: 32:52

Yeah, from your list. If if they finish the race, how many are are looking to go there?

Van Sanchez: 32:57

Ramiro and maybe two or three more, but the the problem here is the um the time between the the two races right now because it's the next month, November. Yeah, Ramiro has plans, but he had plans uh from the uh from the from one year ago.

Speaker 1: 33:15

Right.

Van Sanchez: 33:15

But for for for a normal athlete, I I I don't want to say normal, but but they they are thinking on on the next year, obviously.

Larry Ryan: 33:25

Okay, yeah, excellent. Well, um, you know, I would like to give you the opportunity here to address something that comes up with your race from time to time, and and and that's the safety aspect of of your area. I I know that um I saw one of the posts that you put up that someone replied to it saying that you know it's not necessarily the safest place for people to come and visit and do these races. But you've been doing this for 10 years, you haven't had any problems, you have the support of various levels of government, the local community, community leaders, embrace your event. What would you say to people who are considering your race but have heard that there's a high level of serious crime in the area?

Van Sanchez: 34:12

Yes, give us a change, just that. Because the people who is involved behind the event, the gobernador to uh Larry, he knows the importance of this kind of community races coming now. The next week we have two sorry three events three events here in the same area. The Pan American race, it's a car race. I don't know if you are here about uh the that that car that race, Larry.

Larry Ryan: 34:42

No, no.

Van Sanchez: 34:46

Pan American race. It's a car race.

Larry Ryan: 34:50

Okay.

Van Sanchez: 34:55

Yes, a rally, but in on on the on the on the path, on the on the um on the road. Okay.

Larry Ryan: 35:01

Yeah, yeah.

Van Sanchez: 35:02

Okay, yeah. You know who is David Gilmer? David Shimmer? David Gilmer from Pink Floyd.

Larry Ryan: 35:08

Oh, yeah, yeah. David, okay, yes.

Van Sanchez: 35:10

Yes, they they many years ago they come in to ra to to be part of the race with the car. But we have the next week uh two amazing uh events Panamericana race across Mexico with a car, with classic cars, Mercedes, BMW, classic cars. And we have the festival, international festival of theater in the city with that with companies from Europe, with the level of Cirdu Soleil, for example, and obviously good Canadian company there's Circule. Yes, but we have Cirdu Soleil here in Riviera Maya in the South of Mexico, obviously. But I I just want to say give uh a chance for Mexico, and I I won't um say this, Larry, because it's important. The people who comes, they will reply his experience here in in Mexico, in the area, and they vent. It's the only way, right?

Larry Ryan: 36:32

Yeah, so I and I know people that have gone there, Steve King, Will Rogers, you know, they've come back and they've said that they they felt okay there, they weren't concerned, that they felt like you had everything in place to make sure everything was really good.

Van Sanchez: 36:51

Yes, yes, they uh well the Cheryl and David comes here in in April and enjoy an amazing events here, cultural events here. Um well let's let's give us a chance, just give us a chance. I don't I don't want to say more because you will lose all the but yes, Larry, it's important for me, and obviously it's my country, no yeah. And obviously I love Mexico because I'm Mexican, sorry. But well, all the all the places have problems, not now here, because we're uh on on the way to to um to to to back again to the to be a a safe place.

Speaker 2: 37:45

No, yeah.

Van Sanchez: 37:45

We are we we can talk too much about this this um situation in Mexico and US, but now I think it's not the most important, Larry. And how how we can see, and and you will see for the next week. Yeah, what really happened.

Larry Ryan: 38:11

And you know, I I I can't really have you on the podcast without asking you a little bit about some of the drama that's happening with Ultraman. I know you wanted to, you said you want to put behind you what happened with the the videotaping and and the disqualification. Uh, but but overall, still since you've joined, like you you announced a year ago that you were coming into the Ultraman family, and during that time, Ultraman Canada had eight participants, and I think you took a couple of the people there. Arizona had five participants, and you took a couple of the people there. Um, Florida saw the champion DQ'd, um, not by the race director, but by the by the board. And then the Jen McVay's licenses were revoked during the summer. Um, Cheryl's trying to take over Florida now and put it together in just a couple of months. Um, there is a lot going on in the Ultraman family. Um, you might actually have the biggest field this year of of all the races. I'm not sure what they're expecting in November. Um how do you what are your thoughts about what's been going on and and how how do you think you can get past these things that have happened?

Van Sanchez: 39:29

Oh, yeah, yes, you have all the all the the uh you have a part of of this story, Larry. For me is the same. Yeah because now I'm focused only on Ultraman Mexico. No, I respect all the decisions of the board because it's the way it's the fort. And obviously I have the responsibility to support uh the this kind of decisions, you know. Yes, because this event for for the people who is involved on the organization will know the difficult to to to keep um you know to keep rolling through the years, no Larry. And now my point of view is okay, we need good this episode with all uh without all this uh drama and all stuff, and let's focus on the next year, no, because all the years goes very fast, includes for me, for all the people who involve on on the Ultraman races. But it is what it is we need to uh keep moving uh forward the future, no, Larry. It's my point of view is the reason because we put too much effort on Ultraman Mexico, right? Because we have a big community here in Mexico and and South America, Larry. Because the world is on it's not only um US and and you know and the people who is involved on this kind of races need need to know that let's leave the the the the garbage on the side and and and and go straight for the future, you know, because now we have the the the opportunity to to offer to the athletes a new level of events with the same Aloha, Ohana, and Kokua who created this. I am now three years old, you know that and uh I give too much time uh from my life on on the day by day to to create this with too much love, Larry. And offer this race for my community, for the Ultraman community, and it's the way Larry, it's it's my point of view. Uh sorry if if I don't have the the right words. Um if you want to listen more things or more stories uh about these uh problems in Ultraman Florida and all these stories. But now my my my my thought my you know my point of view sorry is is this sorry no create uh uh an amazing event here in Mexico. Recreate, sorry, this is recreate because we're coming from with we're coming here with 10 years of you know uh great great experiences, yeah.

Larry Ryan: 42:49

You've had you have the history, yes.

Van Sanchez: 42:51

Yeah, we have the experience. We are no new. That's the thing. That's the thing, but I respect the brand, obviously, because we love the brand. Ultraman changed my life and changed the life of many people. It doesn't matter who is still from of the race, including Sutherland, Mexico, for example. For example, maybe the next year will come uh another great Mexican. I don't know, but it doesn't matter.

Larry Ryan: 43:18

Yeah. Well, let me let me let me ask you, let me ask you another question. When I was looking through your booklet of your race event for this year, the last page of your booklet is a photo from Ultraman Arizona 2023. I'm in that photo. I was there crewing for Shane Duffy. Is this a signal that maybe you might want to take over the Ultraman Arizona race?

Van Sanchez: 43:54

No, no, Larry, no, no, no, obviously not, Larry. No, because um they had work on Iron Man, you know, yeah, they have life too. But no, no, no, no, no, no. I only I I I don't have too much time for Mexico, but it's thinking on true events. No, no, no, stop joking with me, okay.

Larry Ryan: 44:26

I I I just I thought I would ask.

Van Sanchez: 44:29

I don't know, maybe I think it's a beautiful photograph with many friends uh on the finish line. Yeah, but well, it is, it is, and I will say um thank you for many people who who is hearing this photograph, Larry too, and Armando Armelini too, he was there. And well, let's keep um moving forward, Larry.

Larry Ryan: 44:57

Absolutely, absolutely. Well, uh I want to thank you, Van, for coming in and listing off your participants who will be participating from the eight countries that they'll be participating from. A lot of Spanish-speaking countries there, obviously, South America, well represented, Spain, uh including the US. Um, you're you're providing now a service, I guess, to those Spanish-speaking people that they can be a little more comfortable coming to you rather than having to go to the English mandatory races uh previously for Ultraman. So good on you for providing that to them. Um, we will be looking forward to it this weekend as the podcast is dropping on a Thursday. Uh follow along on your Instagram mainly, and uh we'll get all the updates and and post stuff as as things are coming out for you as well.

Van Sanchez: 45:50

Perfect, Larry. Thanks so much. Uh please uh keep promoting these, no more drama, just work, and that's all. And that will be there.

Larry Ryan: 46:01

All right, thanks, man.