WADE CARMICHAEL IS THE NEW CHAMPION AT THE SURF OPEN ACAPULCO

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

Australian surfer, Wade Carmichael, becomes the new champion of the Surf Open Acapulco, presented by Vans and the Guerrero State Government. The “ultimate battle” at Playa Revolcadero took place around noon on Saturday, with waves of up to eight feet.

Carmichael faced American, Tim Reyes, who drew from his experience all throughout the competition but just couldn’t manage to overcome the Australian, Carmichael, who was caught the first left wave in the final group, man-to-man, and did various maneuvers that kept him in first place until the end. He scored a 13.50 for his best two waves, compared to Tim Reyes’ 8.50 score, although Reyes performed well over the five days of the competition. Twenty-year-old Carmichael was ranked fifth in the ASP World Junior Tour last year and this year is starting to dabble in the QS (and what a way to do it!).

Venezuelan surfer, Francisco “Lolo” Bellorin was the most prominent Latino surfer, finishing in third place overall. Bellorin possessed extraordinary strength in his surfing, doing high aerials and other tricks in the Revolcadero waves. Unfortunately, in one of the semifinals, Tim Reyes caught a huge floater and received a high score that Bellorin just couldn’t beat.

Japanese surfer, Kaito Ohashi, had a really good competition, with hits and risky tricks, but was also unable to advance to the final. In the semifinal, he faced off against who would later become the champion of the Surf Open Acapulco, Wade Carmichael. Ohashi also tied with Bellorin for third place.

Brazilian competitor, Wesley Santos, at just 16 years old, scored the only perfect 10 wave of the event when he caught a large tube, earning the first perfect score of his career.