Uruguay, the country closest to the QS 1500 being held in Mar del Plata, has no representatives in the classic tournament of the world circuit that takes place year after year during Holy Week.

The secretary of the Uruguayan Surfing Union, Francisco Pérez del Castillo, explained the reason for the notable absence: “Give or take a few, it costs a Uruguayan to go and compete in the QS in Mar del Plata:

-Registration = US$ 250
-Insurance = US$ 300
-Membership for one event = US$ 100
Total = US$ 650

To that you have to add the ticket on the bus at US$ 100 more - if they don't get a car -, accommodation and travel expenses. It's a trip that costs more than US$ 1000, a very large budget, especially considering that they are not well-funded and have to chip away at the stone from round 1. It doesn't seem viable to them."

Del Castillo also explained that the surfers who chose to go out of the country, Máximo Vargas and Martín Ottado, chose to go to ALAS, which, in addition to being more price-friendly, has better waves. It also has the presence of the very experienced Lucas Madrid who acts as a guide for the younger ones.

In Barranca, 100 kilometers north of Lima, the second stage of ALAS of the year is taking place.