Urcia, Santos and De la Torre took the first

Two Chileans and one Peruvian dominated the start of ALAS 2019 in Reñaca


January 9, 2019
|EN News
|POR DUKE

In the Chilean sea and surrounded by Chileans, Peruvian Juninho Urcia shone in the small waves of Reñaca and won the first stage of the 2019 Latin American surf circuit that concluded today. Meanwhile, locals Paloma Santos and Noel de la Torre won in the women's and men's divisions.

Urcia had a relatively quiet 2018, during which he spent much of it without a sponsor, and he started 2019 with a bang, winning a stage of a tour he had previously been familiar with.

“It is incredible to return to ALAS and to do this beautiful circuit with a victory. I had never before won a title at an ALAS Open stop, this year I decided to continue the circuit and this motivates me a lot,” said the local from Huanchaco to the ALAS press after beating the young star Noel de la Torre in the grand final. Maximiliano Cross and Danilo Cerda tied for third place.

Noel de la Torre, who has just finished in the top 10 in the ISA world championships, is a special case. He is 13 years old and is already making podiums. Comparisons with Guillermo Satt, who in 2006 came second in this event at the age of 14, are inevitable.

Juninho Urcia's ability in small waves is admirable, especially considering that he comes from a country with waves that have nothing to do with these. All photos: ALAS/Maui

In addition to finishing second in the Open, the Maitencillo native won the under 18 category, beating Argentine Juan Cruz Ruggiero in the grand final and leaving Ignacio Ruggiero and Nicolás Ramos in third place.

De la Torre said: “I am very happy, it was six very tiring days, but I was able to win Junior and come second in Open. Now I will continue training the physical and technical part to continue competing with great motivation.”

Finally, Paloma Santos defeated the young Argentine Coco Cianciarullo in the women's final.

After getting out of the water she said: “The event was very good and well organized. I didn’t do very well at the national competition that started last Friday, but now I can get rid of the bad vibes because this victory is here. Now I’m going to a national event in Iquique and then I’m going to the next ALAS event in February, and with the prizes I hope more girls will be motivated to sign up.”

Tied for third place were Analí Gómez from Peru and Catalina Escobar from Chile.

A happy grom: Noel de la Torre, junior champion and open vice-champion of the stage. What a beast!
Paloma Santos recovered from a national competition in which she did not do so well to win the ALAS.
The Peruvian anthem sounded on Chilean soil, Urcia felt it in his heart.
Coco Cianciarullo beat Analí Gómez in the semis and made it to the grand final where she was unable to beat Paloma Santos.
Comparisons with Guille Satt, who was a finalist in this tournament in 2006, when he was 14, are inevitable... Noel de la Torre is one to watch.
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