Special coverage presented by: Panama Tourism Authority, Panama by nature, Visit Panama, Panamanian Sports Institute, Psycho Tuna, Interenergy, Copa Airlines, COS Panama y Swellboards  

The young talent from Panama, Agustín Cedeño, a local from Playa Venao, the venue for the 2022 Pan American Surfing Championship, shares valuable information about the iconic beach that is once again hosting an international tournament.

Between August 7 and 13, its home will host more than 200 shortboarders, longboarders and SUP surfers from 17 countries who will seek Pan American glory after almost four years without the event taking place.

Cedeño lives in Venao and has surfed it from 20 centimetres to eight metres; he knows what the beach does with each swell direction, with each tide and with each size. This is precisely what he details below, among other things.

Best swell for Venao:
I would say that the best swells I have surfed and that in my opinion have been the best, come from the South between 210 to 215 degrees and combined with a 15-18 second period.

Best tide:
People like it and ever since I started surfing I've heard everyone say it's the mid tide, but I personally have always liked the low and high tide, both extremes.

Best size:
For average surfers, 4-6 feet is a perfect size for the beach. From 8 feet onwards it is quite demanding and not everyone can master it (that's where the criticism of Venao begins).

What is Venao like on an epic day?
I could tell you that in the summer, with the offshore, the rights and lefts are well marked, it looks like a pointbreak, lines that you see marked from behind the snouts, where you can tube and do up to 6 maneuvers per wave, even at low or high tide.

What is Venao like on a big day?
On a big day, Venao will demand conditions and a bigger board. The lineup moves around 50 meters further back than normal, a lot of mass moving, it gets strong and rough. And with the right conditions, you can catch the waves of your life, with only three or four local friends in the water (laughs).

Venao Grande makes it possible for many people to get jobs, trips to the city, etc. (laughs). It creates many opportunities, you go surfing it without people.

What is a typical day like?
On a small day, Venao is soft, without force, few waves, but at low tide, even if it is small, it gains more force and you can have a lot of fun.

A great place in Venao?
A great local from Venao is Richy Arosemena, he has the biggest wave surfed in Venao and I think one of the biggest waves surfed in Panama. He knows all the storms and best swell directions for Venao and all the waves in the area, he is one of the few people I go to ask his opinion about the swells.

There is no better person who knows Venao like he does.

What we hope to see at the Pan American Games in Venao:
We hope that the conditions will align to have a good show, there will surely be a high level and hunger to compete, it is an event involved in the Olympic qualification, and well what is certain is that there will be a big crowd (laughs).

The best thing to do in Venao when you're not surfing?
We have options like jiujitsu, skateboarding, fishing, yoga, and other fun activities, and well, for lovers of insanity (Panameñismo) (laughs) there are parties and festivals.