March 10th, 2018
|EN News
|POR Pablo Zanocchi

The first day of the Reef Pro Triathlon Cup, QS 1000, which is taking place in San Bartolo, was a long marathon of 32 heats that took up almost 12 hours of competition. The tournament started a little after seven in the morning and ended with the last drop of sun at 18:40.

Of the 96 male and female surfers who started competing, 32 ended up advancing to the final Sunday (16 in each division).

The waves at the second pier broke consistently all day, like a little machine that went through the low and high tide, displaying fun lefts and rights of up to a meter and a half in the face.

Sofia Mulanovich's return to competition has been a success. She won the first stage of the national championship yesterday and continued her good run today. All photos: Zanocchi

Peruvian Daniella Rosas, a 16-year-old junior, was the best surfer in her division, scoring 15,65 (8+7,65) thanks to an impeccable combination of maneuvers on two dream rights. Win or lose right away in this event, it will be surprising if in a few years she doesn't make it to the CT.

As is often the case, Ecuadorian Dominic Barona found her form in Latin America. After a slow start in the 6000m in Australia, it was all as simple as finding a good forehand and hitting one club after another. She scored 8,75 and backed it up with a 6,50 to advance first to round 2.

“I was finally able to show my level, I am happy, we are going series by series and God willing we can get a good result here,” said Barona after his series.

It will be very strange if Daniella Rosas does not manage to get into the CT in about five years.

Sofia Mulanovich, who announced a few days ago that she is returning to competition with the Lima 2019 Pan American Games in mind, lived up to expectations and dominated her heat from start to finish, making several powerful moves. Sofia is 34 years old and is surfing better than she did in 2004, when she won her two world titles.

This is how the women's series will be tomorrow:

S1: Dominic Barona (ECU) vs Tainá Hinckel (BRA) vs Daniela Rosas (PER) vs Coco Cianciarulo (ARG)
S2: Lucia Indurain (ARG) vs Yanca Costa (BRA) vs Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs Lorena Fica (CHI)
S3: Melanie Giunta (PER) vs Karol Ribeiro (BRA) vs Camila Cassia (BRA) vs Vania Torres (PER)
S4: Lucia Cosoleto (ARG) vs Julia Camargo (BRA) vs Anali Gomez (PER) vs Natalie Martins (BRA)

Argentina's Coco Cianciarulo won her heat in the style of a champion, with just a few seconds on the clock and needing six points, she held on to the challenge and got them on this wave.
Chilean Lorena Fica showed herself in tune with the waves of San Bartolo and, performing maneuvers like the one in the photo, made it to the next round.
Lucía Indurain was another Argentine who dominated her heat thanks to precise surging and good wave selection.

Among the men, the Peruvian team dominated; eight of the 16 surfers remaining in the competition are local, six are Brazilian, one is Argentine and the other is Chilean.

Lucca Mesinas was the best of round 2, scoring 15,55 (9+6,55) in the penultimate series of the day. In his best score, the Mancora native, who is known for destroying left-handers, shattered a right-hander in the series.

Two other locals, Cristobal de Col and Alonso Correa, won their heats thanks to a razor-sharp backside. Correa had the best score and the best wave of the day in round 1, 15,85 (9,35+6,5).

“I’m happy to be competing in a QS in Peru. The competitors in the WSL are all very good and I knew I had to keep improving with each wave I caught and that’s what I managed to do,” said De Col after his heat.

De Col's backside should now be at Snappers. Actually all his surfing on all legs.

Another person who also gave something to talk about was Gabriel Villarán, who, very quiet after barely passing his series in round 1, managed to display his best in round 2, with great precision and power in his surfing.

The quarter-finals of the men's tournament were thus determined:
S1: Guilherme Villas Boas (BRA) vs Wesley Santos (BRA) vs Juninho Urcia (PER) vs Tomás López Moreno (ARG)
S2: Gabriel Villaran (PER) vs Jhonny Guerrero (PER) vs Cristobal de Col (PER) vs Miguel Tudela (PER)
S3: Joaquín del Castillo (PER) vs Caetano Vargas (BRA) vs Renan Peres (BRA) vs Guillermo Satt (CHI)
S4: Lucca Mesinas (PER) vs Leo Neves (BRA) vs Alonso Correa (PER) vs Diego Aguiar (BRA)

While the CT began its first stop with the elite of the elite in Australia, the meeting of the lowest echelon of the WSL competition program took place in Peru. The level seen in South America was not far behind.

And as if that weren't enough for an endless series marathon, tonight there is a night surfing championship.

Tomás López Moreno is a name that is gaining notoriety in international events. Today he had a great day, passing both of his heats thanks to the power surfing that characterizes him. The Argentine was radiant after passing his last heat.
Whether he's a small board or a big board, Gabriel Villarán always makes people talk. The precision of his surfing today in his round 2 heat was a pleasure to watch.
Quietly Joaquin del Castillo entered round 3, once again his backside was the big key.
Sofia is determined and that's dangerous.
And back there, Peñascal sent his bombs throughout the day.
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Argentina Chile Ecuador Peru QS San Bartolo WSL