PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Oaxaca/Mexico – The opening day of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido saw both local talent and international standouts shine through the early rounds while a building swell in the four-to-six foot (2 metre) range continued to fill in at the infamous Mexican Pipeline.
After completing 10 heats, event officials were forced to call competition off due to Puerto Escondido’s typically unfavorable afternoon onshore conditions.
The Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido’s iconic location has not only attracted some of the finest up-and-coming competitive talent looking to establish themselves on the ASP One World Ranking, but has also drawn in a bevy of big-wave chargers who flock to Mexico in search of Puerto’s renowned barrels.
Charles Martin (GLP), 20, battled through the flu in his first heat of the event and managed to post the highest heat total of the day despite the illness. The talented regular-footer relied on both his tube-riding ss and stylish forehand carves while navigating through the tough late-morning conditions to advance through to the Round of 64.
“I woke up this morning and I was super sick and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to surf,” Martin said. “I felt better when I got in the water and I sat in the right place in my heat. I’ve been watching the wave over the last few days and that helped me to decide where to sit today.I got two alright waves out there in my heat.”
Although Martin is currently amidst his maiden voyage to Puerto Escondido, the Guadalupe native’s time spent in France’s punchy beachbreak has helped prepare him for Playa Zicatela.
“This is my first time to Puerto,” Martin said. “I’ve been to Mexico, but never to Puerto, so I’m stoked. I’ve spent a lot of time in France, so the conditions feel similar, but Puerto has a bit more power and it’s a harder wave to surf. Hopefully I can find some more good ones and continue to make heats.”
Angelo Lozano (Puerto Escondido, MEX), 23, who won an ASP 2-Star at his home break in 2008 and finished third at last year’s Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido, quickly changed his game plan from hunting to barrels to scouting clean open faces that offered scoring potential on turns as the onshore wins rapidly increased throughout his heat.
“I’m really happy that I made that heat,” Lozano said. “I couldn’t hear the scores out there and I didn’t know what was going on. I thought I lost the heat. I was just trying to find a few corners and do a couple of turns because it was so hard to find a barrel out there with the closeouts and the current.”
Lozano, who is one Puerto Escondido local who travels the globe on the ASP Star series, is elated to have the opportunity to capitalize on the valuable ratings points on offer at this year’s Quiksilver Pro in his home town.
“I’m so happy we have the event here again this year,” Lozano said. “Having a Star event at home really helps. It’s really valuable. We usually have to travel and spend a lot of money and surf different waves, so to have a contest at your home break is really nice.”
Diego Cadena (Puerto Escondido, MEX), who was an early round standout at last year’s event, easily advanced through two heats today with the energy of the local crowd behind him and hopes that his home break will deliver firing swell for the remainder of the waiting period.
“All the energy of the locals helps a lot,” Cadena said. “Having a crowd and being a local at Puerto Escondido is really cool. I hope this event continues every year. This place gets big barrels, but we haven’t been lucky yet with the swell. Hopefully one day we can show you how Puerto is on good days.”
The Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido holds a waiting period from July 16 through 23, 2010 and is web LIVE via www.quiksilver.com/puerto
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido Round of 80 Results:
Heat 1: Charles Martin (GLP) 12.50, Julio Nurse (VEN) 6.47, Ariel Willeford (ARG) 3.67, Ramon Navarro (CHL) 2.53
Heat 2: Angelo Lozano (MEX) 8.93, Cheko Ramirez (MEX) 5.03, Martin Vasquez (MEX) 4.56
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido Round of 88 Results:
Heat 1: Ariel Willeford (ARG) 6.56, Martin Vasquez (MEX) 6.54, Juan Manuel Arca (ARG) 4.60, Diego Pertusiso (MEX) 2.34
Heat 2: Lucas Santamaria (ARG) 10.76, Diego Cadena (MEX) 9.17, Oscar Davo (MEX) 3.43, Jamie Sterling (USA) 3.27
Heat 3: Andan Hernandez (MEX) 7.13, Carlos Goncalvez (ECU) 5.66, Diego Pagliandini (MEX) 6.64, Jamie Sterling (USA) 3.27
Heat 4: Andres Di Marco (ARG) 11.07, Angelo Donano (MEX) 4.86, Gabriel Aramburu (PER) 3.53, Heriberto Ramiez (MEX) 1.50
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido Round of 96 Results:
Heat 1: Martin Vasquez (MEX) 6.23, Oscar Davo (MEX) 3.23, Phillip Salazar (MEX) 3.10, Alavarez Elohe (URY)2.97
Heat 2: Diego Cadena (MEX) 7.25, Diego Pertusiso (MEX) 4.60, Jose Manuel Trujillo (MEX) 3.50, Quetzal Estrada-White (MEX) 3.50
Heat 3: Gabe Garcia (USA) 6.40, Titi De Col (PER) 3.94, Jensen Hassett (HAW) 2.60
Heat 4: Heriberto Ramiez (MEX) 8.67, Andan Hernandez (MEX) 3.93, Mitchell Salazar (MEX) 2.43, Cesar Siles (PER) 1.47
