BIG SHIFTS IN TEAM STANDINGS FOR THE FINAL DAY OF THE REEF ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES IN PANAMA

Noe Mar McGonagle is Costa Rica’s last man standing and will be looking for a spot on the podium during the final day of competition. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

Team Champion and Individual Gold Medalists will be Crowned on Sunday

The second to last day of the Reef ISA World Surfing Games saw big changes in the overall team standings.

The door is now wide open for Brazil, which is now in the lead, and for Peru and Australia, which are close behind and are making a charge for the stash of trophies – the Fernando Aguerre World Team Champion Trophy, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President’s Trophy and the “Copa V Centenario Del Descubrimiento Del Oceano Pacifico,” or 5^th Century Cup of the Discovery of the Pacific Ocean, and the individual Gold Medals.

Sunday is the final day of competition, when the Team Champion and Gold Medalists will be decided.

“Competition is getting down to the wire with the exciting Final Day on Sunday,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “Surfing conditions are expected to improve with waves in the head high range. I wish all the National Teams and their surfers the best of luck! You won’t want to miss any of the amazing action on the live webcast.”

Peru’s Anali Gomes had the day’s highest total heat score of 16.04 and is now in the Women’s Qualifying Final. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

Today featured high performance surfing from all competitors in both the Men’s and Women’s Repechage rounds. Surf conditions improved from the previous days, but remained challenging with a strong onshore wind.

The highest scoring waves saw a mix of powerful turns and critical airs.

The Men’s Qualifying round during the morning saw some of the day’s best action. The in-form local Panamanian surfer, Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzales, who’s been on fire all contest long, was in last place in the final minute of his heat, but he managed to pull a huge air that awarded him 7.60 sending him to first place. The local crowd on the beach erupted with loud cheers in support of their fellow countryman. Gonzales defeated Leandro Usuna (ARG, 12.93), Francisco Bellorin (VEN, 12.46) and Thomas Woods (AUS, 11.07).

In the Men’s Repechage, Brazil’s Alan Jhones, was the best surfer of the Round, earning 13.00, defeating his team-mate Jose Francisco (BRA, 8.67), Mikey February (RSA, 7.90) and Thomas Woods (AUS, 6.77).

In the Women’s Repechage, the best surfer was Ecuador’s Dominic Barona, earning 12.00, easily defeating Kelly Ann Laide (PUR, 8.27), Faye Zoetmulder (RSA, 5.80) and Barbara Segatto (BRA, 4.07).

Following the Repechage, the finalists of the Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Round were decided. These competitors are just one more heat away from the Grand Final.

In the Men’s Qualifying, South Africa’s Shaun Joubert was again a standout of the day posting 12.60 points, defeating Jean Carlos Gonzales (PAN, 11.77) and Noe Mar McGonagle (CRC, 8.67).

The Men’s Qualifying Final will feature Shaun Joubert (RSA), Cristobal de Col (PER), Guillermo Satt (CHI), and Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzalez (PAN).

In theWomen’s Repechage Peru’s Anali Gomez posted an amazing 16.04, one of the highest scores of the day. Gomez defeated Suelen Naraisa (BRA, 11.67) and Rachel Mead (SWI, 4.37).

The Women’s Qualifying Final will feature Anali Gomez (PER), Dimity Stoyle (AUS), Ella Williams (NZL) and Suelen Naraisa (BRA).

Nao Omura from Japan and Ecuador’s Dominic Barona are still competing and keeping the hopes alive for their teams. Omura posted a 13.66 against Kelly Ann Laide (PUR, 9.34) and Tanika Hoffman (RSA, 6.53), who is now out of the event.

Barona scored 15.43 points against Nataly Bernold (SWI, 9.17) and Maria Lucia Cosoleto (ARG, 3.73), who’s also out of the Medal Race.

For a full list of today’s results, click here- http://isawsg.com/results/

At this point in the contest, Team Brazil is leading followed by Australia, Peru and South Africa.

Here’s a full list of team standings after day 6 of competition:

1. Brazil
2. Australia
3. Peru
4. South Africa
5. Costa Rica
6. Argentina
7. Chile
8. Panama
9. Italy
10. Ecuador
11. Puerto Rico
12. New Zealand
13. Venezuela
14. Japan
15. Mexico
16. Switzerland
17. El Salvador
18. Guatemala
19. Uruguay
20. Jamaica
21. Turkey
22. Canada
23. Sweden
24. Russia

The top 7 placing teams will qualify for the ISA China Cup, the ISA’s signature event that is held annually in January on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games resumes tomorrow with The Morning Show at 6:20am (Panama time) hosted by Chris Ernst and Philip Muller, featuring Chile’s Guillermo Satt.

Following that, the competition will feature:
Open Women’s Repechage 6
Open Men’s Repechage 8
Open Women’s Qualifying 5
Open Men’s Qualifying 6
Open Women’s Repechage 7
Open Men’s Repechage 9
Open Women’s Repechage Final
Open Men’s Repechage Final
Final Women
Final Men

The live webcast of the entire championship is available on http://isawsg.com/

Here is the schedule for Day 7:
Saturday, 6:20am Santa Catalina, Panama
Saturday, 4:20am West Coast USA
Saturday, 1:20pm Western Europe/South Africa
Sunday, 9:20pm Sydney, Australia
Sunday, 11:20pm Auckland, New Zealand