It's hard to be fond of a circuit, but it's not hard for me to say that the circuit I have the most affection for is ALAS.

Exactly 20 years ago I received an email from a crazy man, now a friend, named Karín Sierralta who told me that they had accepted me to work with them and that I was leaving for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama and Colombia.

I always say that this was (in addition to one of the happiest moments of my life) even though I had been writing about surfing for many years, the real beginning of my life as a surfing journalist. Or at least the beginning of believing that this dream of writing about surfing could end up feeding me and then my children too.

But besides making a dream come true, I met my second family there. And it's strange, because it's a family that works like all families, with implicit love and respect, jokes, with each person's role to help it move forward, and then it falls apart when the championship ends and we all go home, but again and again when this family gets together, it quietly rebuilds itself and its roles are filled.

My favorite surfer John John may be at the CT, I may be excited about the Olympic Games for the enormous honor they imply and their historical global impact, or the patriotism and colors of the ISA, but the truth is that the events I am most fond of are the ALAS.

And I'm sure there is more than one surfer or judge or organizer who thinks the same, who from their place has been in all of them and feels identified with what I say.   

And that's why I said it above, yes; but it's also because I feel that this circuit is ours; for those of us who vibrate in the Latin way, in the Hispanic-American way if you will; there we all feel part of something that is very special, that is difficult to explain but we care a lot about it; we love it very much.

It's like being at home away from home or with family away from our own families.

It's hard to explain, but that's the way it goes.

-Mimi Barona took the lead in the virtual ALAS ranking: https://dukesurf.com/mimi-barona-agarro-la-punta-del-ranking-virtual-alas/

-In ladies longboard the fight is now between Lía and Jazmine: https://dukesurf.com/en-longboard-ladies-the-fight-is-now-between-lia-and-jazmine/

-Now Oli Camarena is the leader of the virtual ranking of the ALAS Pro Tour 2024: https://dukesurf.com/ahora-oli-camarena-es-el-lider-del-ranking-virtual-del-alas-pro-tour-2024/

-The best waves of day 2 on video: https://dukesurf.com/las-mejores-olas-del-dia-2-en-video/

-Day 2 of the Surf City ALAS Pro, in photos: https://dukesurf.com/day-2-of-the-surf-city-alas-pro-in-photos/

-Joaquin del Castillo and Rubiana Brownell are now virtual leaders in the Open: https://dukesurf.com/joaquin-del-castillo-and-rubiana-brownell-are-now-virtual-leaders-in-the-open/

-Video highlights from day 1 of the Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro: https://dukesurf.com/video-highlights-from-day-1-of-the-surf-city-el-salvador-alas-pro/

-They confirmed the stages of the WSL 2025 in Uruguay and in Ladies: https://dukesurf.com/confirmaron-etapas-de-la-wsl-2025-en-uruguay-y-en-senoritas/

-There will be elections for the Uruguayan Surf Union in December: https://dukesurf.com/habra-elecciones-de-la-union-de-surf-del-uruguay-en-diciembre/

-The situation in women's longboarding: Battle between Lía and Marcela: https://dukesurf.com/the-situation-in-women's-longboarding-battle-between-lia-and-marcela/

-The clearest scenario for the definition of the title: Men's Longboard: https://dukesurf.com/the-clearest-scenario-for-the-definition-of-the-title-men's-longboard/

-The best photos from day 1 of the Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro: https://dukesurf.com/las-mejores-fotos-del-dia-1-del-surf-city-el-salvador-alas-pro/

-All the activities surrounding Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro: https://dukesurf.com/todas-las-actividades-que-rodean-al-surf-city-el-salvador-alas-pro/

-Photos from today's early free surfing at El Sunzal: https://dukesurf.com/las-fotos-del-free-surfing-de-hoy-temprano-en-el-sunzal/

-There will be ISA elections on December 10: https://dukesurf.com/there-will-be-isa-elections-this-december-10/

-Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador and Panama interested in the 2025 Pan American Games: https://dukesurf.com/guatemala-peru-el-salvador-y-panama-interesados-en-hacer-el-panamericano-2025/

-The Chapin surfing revolution: https://dukesurf.com/la-revolucion-del-surfing-chapin/

-This is how the $130.000 prize money for Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro is distributed: https://dukesurf.com/asi-se-reparten-los-130-000-dolares-que-premia-el-surf-city-alas-pro/

-Today's early free surfing in El Sunzal: https://dukesurf.com/el-free-surfing-de-hoy-temprano-en-el-sunzal/

-Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador and Panama interested in the 2025 Pan American Games: https://dukesurf.com/guatemala-peru-el-salvador-y-panama-interesados-en-hacer-el-panamericano-2025/

-This is how the rankings looked like for the final stage in El Salvador: https://dukesurf.com/asi-quedaron-los-rankings-de-cara-a-la-etapa-final-de-el-salvador/

-There is a record number of entrants for the Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro: https://dukesurf.com/hay-record-de-inscriptos-en-el-surf-city-el-salvador-alas-pro/

-Encouraging forecast for Surf City El Salvador ALAS Pro: https://dukesurf.com/encouraging-forecast-for-surf-city-el-salvador-alas-pro/

-Seba Williams and Lucas Cassity made the podium in the Cerritos QS: https://dukesurf.com/seba-williams-and-lucas-cassity-made-the-podium-in-the-cerritos-qs/

-DUKE's news from the final day of the ALAS Pro in Guatemala: https://dukesurf.com/el-informativo-duke-del-dia-final-del-alas-pro-de-guatemala/

-Urbina, Indurain, Gale, Zariquiey, Vicensini, Barthelmess, Silvagni and Reyes won in Guatemala: https://dukesurf.com/urbina-indurain-gale-zariquiey-vicensini-barthelmess-silvagni-y-reyes-ganaron-en-guatemala/

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