Cover photo: WSL/Mauricio Lazo - Special coverage presented by Maui and Sons

One of the best surfing tournaments in the world begins tomorrow with waves expected to be between two and three meters exploding over the dangerous El Gringo break.

This will be the very special tenth edition of the Latin Pipeline Masters, an event where legends are born and where the winners get a title that means much more than 3000 points and a check.

Here's everything you need to know about the tournament:

1: The Latin Pipe Masters and its implications 

This event is the Latin Pipeline Masters, whoever wins here is not winning anywhere, they are doing it in one of the most dangerous, tubular and perfect waves in the entire world.

A title here is a lifetime achievement worth far more than a check and 3000 points.

2: The previous champions, the Latin Pipe Masters, are the following:

2018: Jeronimo Vargas defeated Jacob Willcox in the final
2017: Tomas Tudela defeated Alvaro Malpartida in the final
2016: William Alliotti defeated Dean Bowen in the final
2015: Finals cancelled due to massive waves on the last day. Tied for third: Andy Criere, Miguel Tudela, Leon Vicuña and Manuel Selman
2014: Jessé Mendes defeated Marco Giorgi in the final
2013: Alvaro Malpartida defeated Anthony Walsh in the final
2012: Anthony Walsh defeated Eala Stewart in the final
2011: Guillermo Satt defeated Camilo Hernandez in the final
2009: Gabriel Villaran defeated Alvaro Malpartida in the final

3: The event celebrates its tenth edition

Tradition is no small matter. Every year that passes, the status of bullfighting gains more prestige precisely because there is one more tournament in which surfers will face that titanic wave.

When Fred Hemmings organized the first Pipe Masters in 1971 with six invited surfers and $1000 in prize money, he didn't know it would become what it is today.

A similar story is happening in El Gringo. Anyone who is contemporary with this should reflect on how lucky they are to be witnessing the making of the story of the greatest event of one of the best waves on the planet, which is located on the former Alacrán Island.

4: Archaeological findings on the island affect the spaces for the tournament

Major archaeological excavations that began last year have progressed this year and have ended with the discovery of human remains believed to date from the Late Intermediate Period, 1000 to 1400 AD.

According to Francisco Oso Gana, one of the event's organizers, some experts say that it was a place of sacrifice. “It's striking, thinking about El Gringo,” says the director.

This meant that the excavations gained more ground and the championship lost a bit. Therefore, spaces will be limited and the different excavations must be respected.

5: The forecast looks very good

According to the main models and what the organizer himself, Francisco Oso Gana, told DUKE, there will be plenty of waves, with good size at the beginning, dropping very little in the middle and ending with a solid day.

On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be solid waves between two and three metres in front (with bigger sets for sure), it will drop on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but will remain around three metres and will end with a Sunday of bombs.

6: Full registrations for the second consecutive year

The 112 spots that the WSL opened for the tournament were filled with athletes from more than 15 countries.

7: These are the championship series

The Maui and Sos Arica Pro series by Pablo Zanocchi He Scribd

 

8: Names that grow with the size of the sea

The local Arica team, with Guille Satt, Chris Herold, Guga Dvorquez and Danilo Cerda, among others, together with several Chileans who stand out on the wave, such as Manuel Selman, Diego Medina and Nico Vargas, will be present at the tournament.

The Peruvian armada, the country that won the most titles in the tournament, will also be there with a dream team: Alvaro Malpartida (the surfer with the best record of results on this wave), Tomás Tudela, Gabriel Villarán, Cristobal de Col, Alonso Correa, Sebastián Correa, Miguel Tudela, Joaquín del Castillo, will also be present.

Others who have stood out in the Latin Pipe who will be present are Carlos Muñoz (former fifth), Lele Usuna (former fifth), Aritz Aranburu (former ninth), Luisma Iturria (former third in 2011), Dean Bowen (former vice-champion), William Alliotti (former champion), etc.

9: Only one local has won

Guillermo Satt was the only local team to win the tournament cup in the 2011 edition of the championship.

Since then, the best result for the Chileans has been Selman's third place in 2017 and 2015.

Last year the best local performances were by Danilo Cerda and Nicolás Vargas who finished ninth.

10: The first champion

In 2007, the world tour came to Arica to host Rip Curl The Search, a CT that will go down in history as one of the best and most innovative tournaments.

Andy Irons had a week that went down in the history books and ended up winning with the rebelliousness that always characterized him.