Cover photo by Maui. Special coverage brought to you by Maui and Sons

Today, the old Hotel Arica breathed calmly in the cold sea breeze that caresses it on May nights. It listened to the waves of El Buey breaking, mixed with the silent conversations of the diners in the formal restaurant that its facilities offer facing the Pacific Ocean.

His impeccably dressed staff missed a custom that accompanied him year after year: The launch of the Maui and Sons Arica Pro, the Latin Pipe Masters.

That same hotel that hosted Kelly and Andy today woke up to a new reality that speaks to the future of surfing.

The strange noise, which was getting louder and louder, moved a few kilometers towards the center of Arica, to the impeccable new five-star Antay hotel, which has several swimming pools, several floors, a casino, a spa and a host of extras that will leave any guest speechless.

The opening ceremony, which was attended by the mayor himself, took place in a part of the hotel that aims to become the first high-performance surfing center in the country, with a mini ramp, gym, spaces for boards and changing rooms, among other things.

The event's leader and organizer, Francisco, el Oso, Gana, made clear his intention that the tournament will finally become a 6.000-seat tournament in 2020.

One of the authorities reported that 80.000 dollars of public funds had been invested in this year's tournament to hold the championship.

The food and drink were impeccable.

Several of the same banquet participants then visited the casino, and then the restaurant, where they dined on exquisite food.

The winds of change have blown through surfing.

And tomorrow the tournament starts, and there's one thing that will never change: Those giant, scary tubes that break at El Gringo will continue to be just as scary and majestic as they always were. And with one or 10 stars, two or a hundred thousand points, the boys are going to take those bombs no matter what happens.