Santa Catalina in all its glory. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales
Offshore Winds and Clean Overhead Waves Welcomed the 24 National Teams on Day 1 of Competition
The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games kicked off with excellent waves in the head-high to overhead range at the world-class reef break in Santa Catalina, Panama.
The surf conditions were spectacular with offshore winds and clean, overhead waves that brought all the teams to the edge of the cliff overlooking the reef to watch the action.
The waves were powerful and hollow, allowing for a variety of maneuvers from barrels to airs and powerful turns.
“It was amazing watching the live webcast and the incredible waves in Santa Catalina on the first day of the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “The people of Panama and all of the fans watching the live webcast around the world are in for an amazing show throughout the whole competition. Watch it live everyday on www.isawsg.com!”
Day 1 of the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games featured 24 heats of Open Men’s Qualifying Round 1.
Venezuela’s Francisco Bellorin was the top performer of the day with the highest total heat score of 17.93, defeating Kaito Ohashi (JPN, 12.63), Luis Vindas (CRC, 9.21), and Stefano Eposito (ITA, 3.73).
Italy’s Federico Pilurzu, in the barrel, took advantage of the glassy morning conditions and advanced to Qualifying Round 2. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle.
The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games is a double elimination competition, with the first two surfers always advancing to the next round. Surfers in third and fourth place move into the Repechage Round, giving them a second chance to advance. However, another third or fourth place finish, and they will be out of the competition.
Other top performers of the day were South Africa’s Shaun Joubert and Australia’s Thomas Woods, with the highest single wave score of 9.43.
Joubert (RSA, 17.43) defeated Tristan Aicardi (CHI, 10.76), JC Susan (NZL, 5.67), and Ronley Lewis (JAM, 2.30).
Woods (AUS, 17.83), defeated local surfer Jean Carlos “Oli” Camarena (PAN, 11.10) and Sebastian Olarte (URU, 8.04).
Today’s notable standouts included the lone team representative from Sweden who advanced in 1st place to the next round. The local Panamanian team had a positive day with 3 out of its 4 athletes advancing to the Qualifying Round 2, and one to the Repechage Round.
Unfortunately, for Team Turkey its two surfers, Onat Ersoy and Tunc Ucyildiz, fell into the Repechage Round. Joining the Turks in the ‘last chance’ round is Russia’s only surfer, Sergey Rasshivaev.
For a full list of today’s results, click here- http://isawsg.com/results/
The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games resumes tomorrow at 7:40am with The Morning Show hosted by Otto Flores. Guests will be Panama Team Members Gary Saavedra and Malena Toral.
Following that, the competition will feature:
12 heats of Open Men’s Qualifying Round 2, and
12 heats of Open Women’s Qualifying Round 1.
The live webcast of the entire 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games is available on http://isawsg.com/
Here is the scheduled or Day 2:
Sunday, 7:40am Santa Catalina, Panama
Sunday, 5:40am West Coast USA
Sunday, 2:40pm Western Europe/ South Africa
Sunday, 11:40pm Sydney, Australia
Monday, 12:40am Auckland, New Zealand
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running the Open Division World Championship since 1964, the World Junior Surfing Championship since 1980, the World Masters Surfing Championship since 2007, the World Bodyboard Championship since 2011, the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival in China, and the World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship beginning in 2012. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the World Tandem Surfing Championship, and will launch the World Longboard Championship in 2013. ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 73 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER), Debbie Beacham (USA) and Layne Beachley (AUS).
More on www.isasurf.org
