Translation: Heido Sundstrom
The 2013 National Surfing Games in Rosarito came to a successful and well-organized close at the beach by the pier of this Baja California tourist destination.
During five days of competition, the best state selections from Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan, Distrito Federal, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Quintana Roo and the hosts, Baja California, heated up the cold waters of Rosarito.
The emergence of new national champions, others that returned again in excellent shape and the small difference of points between first and second place demonstrated how close the competition truly was. There was a high level of surfing in the heats and, why not, seeing as how the “cream of the surfing crop” was there to compete in major categories.
Diego Cadena is, without a doubt, one of the best athletes that Mexico has. He took the heaviest category, the “Open”, followed by another great, Angelo Lozano. To the surprise of many, however, the highlights of the competition ended up Mario Farias and Mike Velasco.
In the “Women’s” category, Leila Takeda just wasn’t able to maintain her champion title, which Pam Verboonen nabbed rather easily with a five-point lead, sending Takeda to second place.
Raul Medina took the “Senior’s” category, while “El Tigre” roared again and took first place in the “Master’s” category. Hugo Camacho won his first national title in the “Grand Master’s” category and, winning both categories of Mexican surfing legends, the “Kahuna” and “Grand Kahuna”, the illustrious Javier “Charra” Hernandez took the gold.
Itzahui Poo placed first in the “Longboard” category, and for the bodyboarders, Ulises Rodriguez won in both the “Open” and the “Drop-knee” category. Legendary Kenia Leon triumphed over Alejandra Quevedo, who debuted in national competitions. Among the bodyboarding legends, Moises Valdez beat Jesus Nunez, Hector Saracho and Miguel Torres.
A very impressive finish for the athletes that competed in two categories, demonstrating their excellent physical and mental condition to face the best in their category and withstand the climatic conditions of Rosarito that many are unaccustomed to, as they normally surf in warmer waters.
As Rosarito says, “Hasta pronto!” Acapulco and Los Cabos say, “Welcome!” to the National Children and Youth Surf Games and the National Bodyboard Games that will take place in the month of October.
OPEN CATEGORY STATE POINTS
1. DIEGO CADENA NAY 9.56
2. ANGELO LOZANO OAX 7.50
3. MARIO FARIAS MICH 6.76
4. MIKE VELAZCO OAX 5.94
WOMEN’S CATEGORY
1. PAMELA VERBOONEN VER 8.74
2. DENISSE MARTINEZ BCN 3.64
3. NADIA BUENROSTROS NAY 3.46
4. ANNA ROUSSEAU BCS 2.18
SENIOR’S
1. RAUL MEDINA MICH 8.8
2. ALAN KRULIK BCS 7.58
3. TZAHUI POO NAY 6.96
4. CHANO MUÑOZ OAX 6.66
MASTER’S
1. GUILLERMO CADENA NAY 10.94
2. HERIBERTO RAMIREZ QROO 7.16
3. HUGO CAMACHO COL 6.3
4. BALTAZAR MACIAS BCN 5.7
GRAND MASTER’S
1. HUGO CAMACHO COL 6.78
2. MARTIN MEDINA BC 5.68
3. ELIAS BURGEÑO SIN 5.04
4. JOSE ZEPEDA BCN 4.40
KAHUNA
1. JAVIER HERNANDEZ GRO 7.30
2. EDY ZAMUDIO SIN 7.16
3. JULIAN GALEANA MICH 4.06
4. PROSPERO OCHOA BC 3.08
GRAND KAHUNA
1. JAVIER HERNANDEZ GRO 7.52
2. JORGE McFARLAND BC N 6.76
3. RAUL SANCHEZ GRO 6.48
4. ALFONSO POLIDURA DF 2.18
LONGBOARD
1. TZAHUI POO NAY 8.16
2. MIGUEL SINCLAIR NAY 6.14
3. ALEX PABLOFF BCN 5.62
3. ANGELO LOZANO OAX 5.50
BODYBOARD OPEN
1. ULISES RODRIGUEZ GRO 8.34
2. RAFAEL AGUILAR SIN 7.68
3. HUGO COLLINS BCS 7.58
4. JORGE DIAZ GRO 6.10
WOMEN’S BODYBOARD
1. KENIA LEON BCN 9.62
2. ALEJANDRA QUEVEDO GRO 7.00
3. LISA TORRES BC 2.36
DROP-KNEE BODYBOARD
1. ULISES RODRIGUEZ GRO 8.70
2. MARCO NAVARRETE BCS 6.12
3. RAMON GARCIA SIN 5.60
4. HECTOR CORTEZ BCS 4.24
MASTER’S BODYBOARD
1. MOISES VALDEZ BCN 7.82
2. JESUS NUÑEZ SIN 7.10
3. HECTOR SARACHO SIN 6.20
4. MIGUEL TORRES BCN 5.24
Translation: Heido Sundstrom
At a recent press conference at the Hotel Kristal Beach, organized by the Municipal Institute of Acapulco Youth and led by Kristian Vargas Rodriguez, the different cultural events and sports that make up the Sports Promotion Program, “Youth in Action”, were announced. Youth in Action aims to promote and encourage healthy practices within the community, especially amongst young people. Their motto is: “Here anyone can practice sports”.
On the podium, the following municipal authorities were in attendance: the Secretary of SEDESOL, Rodolfo Monreal Avila; Sporting Director, Adolfo Aquino; Congresswomen, Teresa A. Reynosa and Veronica Melo, and Youth Director, Kristian Vargas.
The activities to be offered include: Swimming in Pie de la Cuesta, Acrobatic Gymnastics, Modern Dance and Self Defense, Soccer, Volleyball, Skateboarding and Basketball in the Colonia Morelos, a Marathon in Petaquillas, as well as Surfing in Playa Revolcadero. All of these activities are open to the public and will be taught free of charge.
The Micha Surf School will teach surf lessons between 8 and 10 am on the weekends. To register, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (You must live in Acapulco to be eligible for this program.)
The 2013 National Children’s Games and Historic Revolcadero Youth Surfing Festival will take place on October 18th – 20th, 2013 at Playa Revolcadero in Acapulco and will include participants from all twelve states of the Republic divided into eleven categories: 6 – 8 years Shortboard, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18, Girls Under 16 and Under 18, Girls under 16 and Under 18, Under 16 bodyboard, under 18 and girls under.
The winners will be selected to represent Mexico at the various international events organized bi by the isa (International Surfing Association) in 2014.
The event is supported by Mayor Luis Walton, Kristian Vargas of the Youth Institute, Councilman Wulfrano Salgado, Congressman Angel Aguirre, as well as the Secretary of Tourism (as reported by the event director, Ernesto Trujillo).
"As an Olympian and proven leader in the Olympic Movement, Thomas Bach has earned the respect and support of his colleagues to lead the IOC," remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. "On behalf of the 35 million surfers on five continents, we offer our sincere congratulations to President Bach and best wishes for his important mission ahead. We are excited and eager to work with President Bach and his team going forward and to continue to offer our sport of surfing as a way to strengthen the Olympic Movement."