An incredible final as Mike Velasco, Hector Santiago, Asaya Brusa and lili giron win the 2013 Puerto Escondido open

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

The day of reckoning came on Sunday morning when the finals for the four different categories were held at the 2013 Puerto Escondido Open at Playa Zictela. The event was packed with more than a thousand spectators who delighted in the tricks performed by these extreme athletes in waves of up to 7 feet.

This was the thirteenth edition of the event, which was attended by nearly a hundred competitors from various parts of Mexico and from around the world. The contest was filled with pleasant surprises in the Open final and we saw two experienced competitors, the 8-time National Champion, Roberto Salinas, and the National and World Cup Champion, Julio Quiñones, battle it out against relative newcomers, Mike Velasco (19 years old) and Jony Corzo (15 years old), both of whom gave a great show and proved that they were hungry to make it to the final.

The quarterfinals kicked off the day and, surprise! Angelo Lozano was eliminated by his younger brother, Jony Corzo, and Roberto Salinas. In the second heat, Nahum Corzo and Heriberto Ramirez took the top two places, leaving Tehuen Petroni eliminated. In the third heat, Mike Velasco and Julio Quiñones advanced to the semifinals, eliminating Oscar Chino and Remi Chaussemiche.

In the semifinals, Jony Corzo took a big left and exited the tube successfully, giving him a perfect 10 score, making his wave the best wave of the event.

During the final, Quiñones started catching the first waves, while the young Velasco and Corzo fought back with everything. Roberto Salinas didn’t find the waves, tubes, aerials and floaters to make the competition exciting, so it was Mike Velasco that finally came out as the champion.

The bodyboard final was also exciting and very hard-fought. The competition heated up between current National Champion from Acapulco, Ulises “Votrek” Rodriguez, and the locals Hector “Motor” Santiago and David Olvera. The revelation of the event, Ranferi Ruiz, who with his thirteen years of experience, fought one-on-one against these experienced bodyboarders. It was an action-packed final that left “Motor” Santiago claiming first place.

After several wipeouts, the “Princess of Puerto”, Asaya Brusa, was able to overcome the tension and confidently gave a few good hits with her style.

The experienced Lili Giron, Roxel Perez and Soledad Fernandez, as well as the novice, Olivia Ramirez, all gave a good show in the waves, but it was Lili Giron that took the victory.

To wrap up the contest, a Tow Out Volcom aerial show was held, in which Jose Manuel “Yuco” Trujillo took first place, while Jose Ramirez flew the highest in the bodyboard category.

Shortboard Open
1. Mike Velasco
2. Jony Corzo
3. Julio Quiñones
4. Roberto Salinas

Bodyboard Open
1. Hector “Motor” Santiago
2. Ranferi Ruiz
3. David Olivera
4. Ulises Rodriguez

Women’s Bodyboard Open
1. Lili Giron
2.  Soledad Fernandez
3. Roxel Pérez
4. Olivia Ramirez

Women’s Shortboard Open
1. Asaya Brusa
2. Jessica Shelby
3. Valeria Peconni
4. Magda Mendiondo