Larisa Morales Gets Silver In The 
Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup In South Korea

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

Mexican wakeboarder, Larisa Morales, won second place in the Junior Ladies category of the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup, celebrated in the Hwamyung Eco Park in the city of Busan, South Korea.

In the final, Morales dueled with her archrival from several years ago, Italian competitor Giorgia Gregorio, who won for the first time in 2011. The following year, Gregorio returned to defend her title, beating the Monterrey native in the United States championship. The rating that the judges gave Morales was a 13.43 in execution, a 14.58 for intensity and a 13.88 for composition, giving her a total of 41.89 points and Second Place overall.

Meanwhile, the scores for Giorgia Gregorio were: a 15.54 in execution, a 17.37 for intensity and a 16.65 for composition, giving her a total of 49.56 points, plus the championship title and gold medal. Third place and the bronze medal went to Zhen Kun Duan of China with 33.45 points. This was a very worthwhile contest for both Gregorio and Morales since, out of six competitors in the final heat, these two were the only one that scored above 40 points.

At just 16 years old, Larisa Morales is already a young and talented athlete in this difficult extreme sport that is wakeboarding. Her talent has made it possible to see the Mexican flag flying high and to hear the national anthem on foreign soil. Morales’ next competition will be the third stop of the 2013 Wake Tour Mexico that will be held on September 20th & 22nd in Cancun, Quintana Roo.

The Mexican team achieved the following places during this contest in South Korea: Larisa Morales was Junior Runner-up, Jorge Alberto Perez finished in 20th place in the Junior Men’s category, Carolina Rodriguez made it to position #15 of the Women’s Open category and Juan Pablo Ochoa placed 37th in the Men’s Open category.  

ASP 3 Star pantin classic Galicia PRO

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

Thanks to a powerful reverse and high-speed tricks, Steven Pierson was crowned champion of the ASP 3-Star Pantin Classic Galicia Pro in Pantin, Galicia, Spain, with three foot waves to motivate the competitors.

In spite of his victory, Polynesia proved to be no easy feet for Pierson, who scored mere 1.13 tenths over New Zealander Billy Stairmand who placed second.

At the start of the event, no one bet on Pierson to take the lead, as he is a discreet surfer. But as he passed his heats, Pierson let his surfing do the talking and eliminated talented surfers one-by-one on his way to the final.

“I’m super motivated. My girlfriend and friends came to support me and, fortunately, things went in my favor. My next stop is Azores; my win here will give me the necessary points to be a wildcard. I hope to do well there and raise some points in the standings,” Pierson commented.

Bill Stairmand wasn’t able to reclaim his 2010 title, but stood out in the semifinals with his truly spectacular aerials. When the finals came around, however, just a point and tenths separated him from continuing to the next round.

Carlos Muñoz of Costa Rica ended up placing third and unfortunately couldn’t find the waves to produce his progressive aerial surfing, which, in the previous heats, had given him the victory to fight for the final. “Last year I lost in the second round, so I’m pretty happy with third place today. I came here to train and visualize myself making it to the final. This was a confidence booster and has definitely helped me this week,” Muñoz said.

Jose Ferreira of Puerto Rico took fourth place, reaching the final of a great European event for the first time. This is his first full year in the qualifying series after campaigning at the European Junior Pro. Ferreira showed determination through the early rounds of the competition but just couldn’t find the waves he needed in the final.

The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro was made possible through the support of: Árbol es Vida, Vodafone Yu, Diputación de A Coruña, Xunta de Galicia, Deporte Galego, Concello de Valdoviño, Concello de Ferrol, Garnier Delial, Estrella Galicia, Cabreiroá, Surfing Latino, Novagalicia Banco, Surfer Rule, Pequot, Spotfav, Rockstar Energy Drink, Carrís Hoteles, Intermax, Gadis, Concello de Cedeira, Coca Cola, and the Gallega Surfing Federation, among others.
 

FINAL RESULTS OF THE PANTIN CLASSIC GALICIA PRO:

1 - Steven Pierson (TAH) 16.83
2 - Billy Stairmand (NZL) 15.70
3 - Carlos Muñoz (CRI) 14.37
4 - José Ferreira (PRT) 13.77

SIMA IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE ISA’S INCLUSION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) has committed to supporting the International Surfing Association (ISA) in its long-term campaign for the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics.

At a recent SIMA board meeting, the unanimous decision was made to financially support the ISA in its fundraising program, “Friends of Olympic Surfing”, in the amount of $25,000 per year for the next three years.

Meanwhile, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said, “We are very honored by the generous support of SIMA. Its leaders and its members not only recognize the extraordinary value that surfing could bring the Olympic movement, but also the unique global platform for growth and development that the Olympics could provide for our sport. We’ve made great progress in the last five years with this mission, but we still have a lot of work to do. I’m convinced that, with the fundamental support of SIMA today, we’ve found a much better chance for our cause.”

What has been a crazy mission for some has now moved one step closer to becoming a reality.

SIMA has invited ISA President Aguerre to speak at the “Surf Summit”, an annual leadership conference for the surfing industry. It’s set to be held in May of 2014 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Aguerre, who was the keynote speaker at the 2002 conference, will provide a detailed update of industry leaders in the developmental efforts of ISA Olympic surfing.

The delegation includes:

ALEJANDRA QUEVEDO  (Women’s Bodyboard)
DAFHNE ABARCA  (Women’s Shortboard)
JOSE MANUEL “YUCO” TRUJILLO  (Shortboard Open)
ALDAHIR CRUZ  (Shortboard Open)
VICENTE VEGA (Shortboard Open)
ARTURO AYALA (Bodyboard Open)
ULISES RODRIGUEZ  (Bodyboard Open)
BORIS DUEÑAS  (Bodyboard Open)
JORGE DIAZ  (Bodyboard Open)
ANGEL ROMAN (Masters’ Bodyboard)
FERNANDO GARCIA  (Longboard)
MANUEL RIOS  (Masters)
RAUL SANCHEZ  (Grand Masters)
JUAN BRAVO   (Grand Kahuna)
JAVIER HERNANDEZ  (Grand Kahuna)
FILIBERTO ALEMAN  (Judge)
Delegate Javier Hernández (President of the Guerrero State Surfing Association (ASEG for its initials in Spanish))

The delegation will travel early this week by air and had just been awaiting support from Napoleon Astudillo. 

2013 NATIONAL SURFING GAMES ROSARITO “HEATS”

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

The Games are heating up in the cold waters of Northern Mexico. Good waves are expected at the beaches of Rosarito, Baja California Norte, which will feature the best state selections fighting for their chance to be national champions in the event’s twelve categories. The battle is about to begin for the 2013 National Surfing Games Rosarito!

OPEN CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT #1
MITCHELL SALAZAR (SIN)
KAI LOWE (BCS)
ALEJANDRO MUÑOZ (OAX)
ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ (NAY)

HEAT # 2
MARTIN OLEA (JAL)
BRIAN CASTRO (SIN)
CESAR PETRONI (OAX)
MARIO FARIAS (MICH)

HEAT # 3
MARCOS HOOTMAN (COL)
CHARBELL AZZI (BC)
ALAN BLYTH (BCS)
DIEGO CADENA (NAY)

HEAT # 4
CARLOS RAMOS (BCS)
JULIO QUIÑONES (COL)
GERARDO ABURTO (JAL)
RAUL MEDINA (MICH)

HEAT # 5
HECTOR TORRES (DF)
TRAVIS SOUTHWORTH (QROO)
BALTAZAR MACIAS (BC)
EZAHUD HERNANDEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 6
ALAN KRULIK (BCS)
MIKE VELAZCO (OAX)
ISSAC SAMANO (NAY)
JOSE MANUEL TRUJILLO (GRO)

HEAT #7
FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ (SIN)
HECTOR SOTO (COL)
JUAN BASULTO (NAY)
ANGELO LOZANO (OAX)

HEAT # 8
ALEX PABLOFF (BC)
MIGUEL ROSALES (COL)
MARCOS GALINDO (SIN)
COBY HERNANDEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 9
DYLAN SOUTHWORTH (QROO)
KEVIN MEZA (BC)
RAMON PRIETO (VER)

SENIORS CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT #1
JESUS ALAMO (COL)
ALAN KRULIK (BCS)
MOISES VALDEZ (BC)
GUILLERMO CADENA (NAY)

HEAT # 2
FELIX ABARCA (BCS)
CARLOS SALAZAR (SIN)
JESUS VELZAQUEZ (BC)
RAUL MEDINA (MICH)

HEAT # 3
ADRIAN MORALES (BC)
HECTOR TORRES (DF)
ERNESTO HERRERA (BCS)

MASTERS CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
ALAN BLYTH (BCS)
GONZALO HERNANDEZ (QROO)
ALEX ORTIZ (BC)
GUILLERMO CADENA (NAY)

HEAT # 2
ALFREDO RAMIREZ (BC)
LUIS CASTRO (BCS)
JULIO NARANJO (COL)
MANUEL HERNANDEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 3
HERIBERTO RAMIREZ (QROO)
EVELIO CULIN (COL)
JOSE VALLE (BCS)
HORACIO GARCIA (NAY)

HEAT # 4
FRANSISCO GRANADOS (COL)
BALTAZAR MACIAS (BC)
ALEJANDRO DE LA TORRE (OAX)
FRANSISCO TORRES (SIN)

GRAND MASTERS CATEGORY

HEAT # 1
ELIAS BURGEÑO (SIN)
GUILLERMO WOODWARD (COL)
JOSE ZEPEDA (BC)
HORACIO GARCIA (NAY)

HEAT # 2
GONZALO HERNANDEZ (QROO)
MARTIN MEDINA (BC)
EUGENIO CALIGARIS (COL)

HEAT # 3
ALFREDO RAMIREZ (BC)
ADRIAN VALENZUELA (SIN)
HUGO CAMACHO (COL)

KAHUNA CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
WERNER MEZA (BC)
EDY ZAMUDIO (SIN)
SERGIO REYES (BCS)
JAVIER HERNANDEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 2
ERNESTO ACEVEDO (BCS)
FERNANDO VIRAMONTES (BC)
ADRIAN VALENZUELA (SIN)
JULIAN GALEANA (MICH)

HEAT # 3
FABRICIO FIGUEROA (BCS)
ALEJANDRO SELLERS (SIN)
PROSPERO OCHOA (BC)
OSCAR MACIAS (NAY)

GRAND KAHUNA CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
JORGE McFARLAND (BC)
RIGOBERTO OCAMPO (SIN)
ALFONSO POLIDURA (DF)
HECTOR RIVERA (BC)

HEAT # 2
VICTOR CEBREROS (SIN)
JESUS MADRIGAL (COL)
OSBALDO CHAVEZ (BC)
LUCIANO MONTOYA (SIN)

LONBOARD CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
FERNANDO VIRAMONTES (BC)
PEDRO SALAS (BCS)
ALEJANDRO DE LA TORRE (OAX)
MIGUEL SINCLAIR (NAY)

HEAT # 2
SOL RODRIGUEZ (BCS)
JESUS ALTAMIRANO (SIN)
TZAHUI POO (NAY)
FERNANDO GARCIA (GRO)

HEAT # 3
GONZALO HERNANDEZ (QROO)
ROBERTO DURAN (SIN)
ADRIAN MORALES (BC)

HEAT # 4
ALEX PABLOFF (BC)
MIGUEL AVIANI (BCS)
ISRAEL PRECIADO (NAY)

WOMEN’S SHORTBOARD CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
LYDYA LADAH (BC)
LEILA TAKEDA (QROO)
NADIA BUENROSTROS (NAY)
ANNA ROUSSEAU (BCS)

HEAT # 2
ALEXIA ECHEGARAY (SIN)
DENISSE MARTINEZ (BC)
SOFIE SITGES (NAY)
DAFNE ABARCA (GRO)

HEAT # 3
ITZEL ZAMORA (SIN)
PAOLA SIERRA (JAL)
PAOLA OLACHEA (BC)

HEAT # 4
PAMELA VERBOONEN (VER)
SONIA BARROS (NAY)
CECILIA GONZALEZ (JAL)

BODYBOARD OPEN CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
ARTURO AYALA (GRO)
MOISES VALDEZ (BC)
ALEX DE LA TORRE (BCS)
ANDRES ESQUIVEL (NAY)

HEAT # 2
BRIAN LOPEZ (COL)
LEANY BERNAL (NAY)
OMAR DIAZ (SIN)
BORIS RUEÑA (GRO)

HEAT # 3
DEREK GONZALEZ (BC)
RAMON GARCIA (SIN)
ALFONSO PINEDA (COL)
LUIS BECERRA (NAY)

HEAT # 4
HUGO COLLINS (BCS)
PAULO FLORES (SIN)
CHRISTIAN CARDOSO (NAY)
ULISES RODRIGUEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 5
RAFAEL AGUILAR (SIN)
ALEX GONZALEZ (BC)
MARCO NAVARRETE (BCS)

HEAT # 6
MIGUEL TORRES (BC)
SERGIO LOPEZ (BCS)
ANDRES MENDOZA (MICH)

MASTERS BODYBOARD CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
MOISES VALDEZ (BC)
NELSON VILLALOBOS (BCS)
ANGEL ROMAN (GRO)

HEAT # 2
HECTOR SARACHO (SIN)
MIGUEL TORRES (BC)
MAURICIO MONTAÑO (BCS)

HEAT # 3
JESUS NUÑEZ (SIN)
ALFREDO RENDON (BCS)
HUGO MARTINEZ (BC)

WOMEN’S BODYBOARD CATEGORY (Final Round)

HEAT # 1
PALOMA AGUIRRE (BC)
MARISOL BARQUIN (VER)
ALEJANDRA QUEVEDO (GRO)
KENIA LEON (BC)

DROP KNEE CATEGORY (First Round)

HEAT # 1
PAULO FLORES (SIN)
MARCO NAVARRETE (BCS)
MOISES VALDEZ (BC)

HEAT # 2
JOSE PERALTA (BC)
HECTOR CORTEZ (BCS)
ULISES RODRIGUEZ (GRO)

HEAT # 3
HUGO MARTINEZ (BC)
RAMON GARCIA (SIN)
MAURICIO MONTAÑO (BCS)