Cover photo: Zanocchi - Special coverage presented by Maui and Sons.

Peruvian Alonso Correa placed second in the QS 3000 Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour that concluded today on 8 to 10 foot waves at El Gringo, earning 2250 points that catapulted him to 13th position in the QS ranking.

Correa was determined and confident throughout the tournament and was 1,20 meters away from becoming the fourth Peruvian to win this championship, which this year celebrated its 10th edition. According to what he told DUKE, that 1,20 meter difference could translate into two barrels that he was very close to leaving or one in which he could have slowed down more.

The final score placed Nolan Rapoza of the United States in first with 10,10 (5,43 + 4,67) and Alonso second with 8,9 (5,83 + 3,07).

The Peruvian's confidence and determination were evident, as he dealt with every bomb that came his way. He beat Skip McCullough in the quarterfinals and Dean Bowen in the semis. In the decision, he got into a couple of giant caverns that could have changed history.

On the other hand, Nolan Rapoza celebrated his first final, his first victory in his first visit to Arica, in tears. He said that the wave at El Gringo is one of the best in the world, “right next to Pipe.”

The sea was not suited to the final, big waves of 8 to 10 feet broke with a crosswind that is not typical of the early mornings in El Gringo. This made life difficult for the competitors who found some bubbles in a wave that was already very complicated.

The quarter-finals turned out like this:
Dean Bowen defeated Wiggolly Dantas
Alonso Correa beat Skip McCullough
Nolan Rapoza defeated Vitor Mendes
Mihimana Braye defeated Joaquin del Castillo

The semi-finals are as follows:
Alonso Correa beat Dean Bowen
Nolan Rapoza defeated Mihimana Braye

At the awards ceremony, as usual, the organizer Francisco Gana promised the mayor and the Ministry of Sports that next year the tournament would be worth 6.000 points.