Puerto Rico is Ready for the Masters
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2008
Last year's local team and runner-up in the first edition of the annual ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, Puerto Rico is now in Peru looking to repeat or improve their great results. From March 31 until April 5, they will compete against 17 other National teams in the perfect waves of Punta Rocas.
Puerto Rico proved to be tough competition as locals, and this year, they will be challenged to prove themselves in foreign waters. In 2007, the legendary "boricuas" surfers Juan Ashton and Alberto Licha were both medal winners. Surfer Juan Ashton won the Gold Medal in the Masters while teammate Alberto Licaha secured the Bronze Medal in the Grand Masters. Both teammates are here in Peru, and they will be under the spotlight in both events.
The full Puerto Rico team includes:
- Masters - Juan Ashton; Gustavo Bettancourt
- Grand Masters - Alberto Licha; Stephen Bradley
- Kahunas - Michael Torres; Victor Torres
- Grand Kahunas - René Gonzalez
- Master ladies - Becky Taylor
Jorge Gonzalez, Vice President of the Puerto Rican Surfing Federation, said, "All the surfers have a great surfing experience, I think that the long and strong waves of Punta Rocas are a lot like the good days in Arecibo, Aguadilla or Rincon, so we have a good advantage here. Anyway, the cold waters and the need to wear wetsuits is not something we're used to."
Gonzalez added, "Alberto Licha, someone that previously won a contest in Punta Rocas, was in a great shape and attitude but had a little accident, hurting his ankle during the big swell that hit our island last week."
Contest update
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship will start today, March 31; the wave forecast for Punta Rocas is looking really good, with the peak of a South West swell reaching a solid 8 feet for Tuesday and Wednesday. Currently, the waves at the contest site are breaking perfectly in the 4-6-foot range. All of the athletes are training hard, as the overall level of surfing is very high.
The Sands of the World Opening Ceremony took place in Miraflores, Lima last Sunday. The 18 participating countries mixed sand from their local breaks to demonstrate how a peaceful gathering of people from around the world for a surfing competition, may bring peace to our planet.
You will be able to see the Second Edition of the Annual ISA World Masters Surfing Championship live. Visit www.isasurf.org from March 29 until April 5.
Source:
www.surfline.com
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