All photos: Ignacio Dimitstein

Argentine Santiago di Pace won the Santos del Mar invitational tournament that just concluded in El Buey on a day of solid 12-foot Hawaiian waves and very good conditions.

Everything seemed to be going to be a Peruvian victory, thanks to the impressive performance of Toto de Romaña, who started by getting a good tube on a left and later got a deep right on the peak, among other waves of the grand final.

But with 10 minutes to go, the judges awarded a 6,9 for a big right hand that the Argentine successfully landed but failed to complete, throwing himself into the foam. This turned around the series that De Romaña had dominated from start to finish.

Di Pace's second wave was a big left surfed mid-set that the judges awarded 6,17. The final result was very close: 20,20 (6,9x2 + 6,4) to 19,83 (7x2 + 5,83).

Santiago di Pace's two waves in the grand final:

Sebastian de Romagna's two waves in the final:

Third place went to local German Varas, fourth to Peruvian Sebastian Correa, fifth to Peruvian Alejo Loret de Mola and sixth to Chilean Patricio Mekis.

"I'm very happy, I still can't believe it, it's unbelievable. Now it's time to enjoy and spend the money!" said the Argentine in his acceptance speech.

For his part, Toto from Romagna was the only one of the six finalists who did not attend the awards ceremony because he was surfing.

The third one to speak was the local great Germán Varas, who said: "I would have liked to win, but congratulations to Agujita, an idol, you are like my dad in the water."

Final results:
1- Santiago di Pace (ARG)
2- Sebastian of Romagna (PER)
3- German Varas (CHI)
4- Sebastian Correa (PER)
5- Alejo Loret de Mola (PER)
6- Patricio Mekis (CHI)

Best Wave Award: 
Patricio Mekis of Chile's left tube in the grand final