All photos: USU/Art Marlo

Sebastián Olarte and Delfina Morosini won the first stage of the Uruguayan surfing circuit that just concluded on the waves of Corumbá in La Paloma and began 2019 as leaders of the ranking.

Lucas Madrid, Martín Ottado and Julián Pérez completed the grand final, placing second to fourth respectively. Among the women, the draw was completed by Lucía Andreoli, Nicole Delger and Nicole Leiva, also second to fourth respectively.

The event was held almost entirely on Wednesday, in consistent waves with good form, with the sea a little rough at the beginning, and concluded early today with a final held in smooth and perfect waves. Now the juniors will continue competing.

Martín Ottado, a 17-year-old member of the youth team, was the big surprise of the tournament, using his backside as his main weapon to eliminate several of the best opens until he finished third in the grand final.

With the victory, Olarte is now in the running for the first four-time open men's championship in the history of Uruguayan surfing, although the plan is to do between four and six stages.

In addition, a new competition format was inaugurated, which reserves the first division for only the best 32 in the circuit, generating an access division that will see the 10 worst relegated and the 10 best (from B) promoted.

Complete results
Open men
1- Sebastian Olarte
2- Lucas Madrid
3- Martin Ottado
4- Julian Perez

Open ladies
1- Delfina Morosini
2- Lucia Andreoli
3- Nicole Delger
4- Nicole Leiva