http://www.surfcaribe.com

Prev|Nextshow thumbshide thumbs

Saturday morning dawned sun shiny for another FSPR event. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

The Municipality of Aguadilla was extremely helpful in facilitating logistic support for the event. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

If it’s Wilderness, you know Maso will be there with his barbeque. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

If it’s Wilderness, you know Maso will be there with his barbeque. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

As Juan Carlos Gerena went vertical in an early heat, spectators were watching from the comfort of the shade along the beach. Classic Caribbean surfing. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

San Juan’s Tommy Bursian came to play, but couldn’t make it into the deeper rounds of competition on the second day. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Wilfredo “Control” Deliz knows this beach better than many, but it was going to take more than great surfing to advance. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Stephan Bradley is another local with intimate knowledge of these waters, but with a stacked field of competitors even this kind of surfing wouldn’t get him far. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Arcing through a fluid cutback and right into a 3rd place finish in the Men’s division was Otto Flores. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Gustavo Betancourt demonstrating his backside prowess. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Unmistakably Wilderness. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Women’s SUP winner, Heather Baus, on her way to victory. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

In the Women’s Longboard competition Marien Blanco couldn’t be beat. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Even with this kind of style, Ricardo Muñiz could only tally a 4th place finish in the Men’s Longboard division. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Mooooo! Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Maria Kuzmovich has become a force on the women’s surfing front in Puerto Rico. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Another local girl surfing at an extremely high level is Lilac Alvarado. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

But none of the other ladies could stop local Aguadilla powerhouse, Liza Caban. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Kelly Laide going off the top with style. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Cindy Melendez is another girl coming on strong with moves more reminiscent of the boys that most girl surfers out there. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Maria again, whacking it. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

The SUP division provided some of the most exciting competition of the entire event, and Rafael Cruet narrowly emerged with the win. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Greg Carson finished 3rd in the SUP, and we’re not sure if he made this turn, but he kinda looks like Tony Romo in the grasp of Osi Umenyiora. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Ernie Alvarez may be known for his long distance paddling feats, but he can ride waves with the best of them. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Hector Santamaria in the midst of his eyebrow-raising aerial 360 maneuver. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

There was plenty of fun to be had on the beach for the little ones. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

Maria Kuzmovich, journalist Marta Garraus, Heather Baus, Greg Carson, and surf artist Fiore De Castro. Photo: Sara Díaz-Velarde

By Steve Fitzpatrick

It seems like brighter days are most definitely on the horizon for the Federación de Surfing de Puerto Rico.  With support from local beer mogul Medalla, the FSPR recently staged the second of their annual events for 2011 at Wilderness in Aguadilla.  This series of open events serves as qualifying competition for the national team that will represent Puerto Rico in this year’s ISA World Surfing Games and was hotly contested in surf ranging from 6-10 feet groomed by easterly trade winds forming perfect waves.

Nearly 100 competitors battled it out in six divisions including Open Men, Open Women, Men’s Longboard, Women’s Longboard, Men’s SUP, and Women’s SUP under sunny skies and with throngs of spectators on the beach to cheer them through each heat.  Under the direction of Lisa Laide, the entire event ran according to schedule for all the contestants who had registered on time at the sponsoring surf shops including Tres Palmas, La Ocho Surf Shop, Kaliche, Surfzone, and Surf Town.

Although among friends, the competition was fierce and several memorable moments are worth noting in particular.

In the Open Men’s division, standout and up-and-comer, Hector Santamaria, drew cheers from the crowd when he successfully executed an aerial 360 earning the highest score awarded on a single wave during the entire event.

Luife Guzmán, who was simultaneously surfing his way to a second place finish in the Hatillo Municipal contest, took the Men’s Longboard title with a deftly completed “helicopter” (spinning the board 360 degrees while standing on the nose, ala Herbie Fletcher) during the final heat.

In the Men’s SUP category a tight final was taken by Rafael Cruet, but not after the lead seesawed back and forth between himself and the other three finalists, Adrian Garcia, Greg Carson, and Javier Gorbea.

But perhaps the most impressive moment of the entire contest came from the women, and it had nothing to do with the actual act of surfing.  The second heat of the Open Women’s competition saw the arrival of newcomer Jolaris Carreras, who at only 12 years of age found herself on the beach at Wilderness for the first time with the solid 6-10 foot surf staring her down.  Initially intimidated, Jolaris was hesitant to paddle out and was ready to withdraw from her heat.  The other girl competitors, however, wouldn’t have any of that, and in a true demonstration of sportsmanship (can we say “sportswomanship”?) and good will, Maria Kuzmovich and Kelly Laide escorted Jolaris into the lineup while Lissie González caddied for her through that heat as well as the rest of the contest.  This show of compassion for a fellow competitor was completely unexpected, and helped young Jolaris push her surfing to a new limit while gaining a huge helping of admiration from everyone in attendance, both competitors and spectators, and creating a level of mutual respect not often seen in competitive sports.  And although Jolaris only caught one wave during that heat, and was eliminated in the process, the reception she received upon exiting the water was like nothing ever seen at Wilderness or any FSPR event.  With the help of her rivals, Jolaris put it all on the line, grew immeasurably, and earned the respect of her peers in the process.  Remember that name, Jolaris Carreras, as you’re bound to hear a lot more about her in the future, both near and far.

The FSPR would like to thank all of the contestants as well as the many sponsors that help make their events possible: The Municipality of Aguadilla and it’s Honorable Mayor Carlos Méndez Martínez, Medalla, Malta India, Copa Airlines, El Nuevo Día, The Department of Natural Resources, The Department of Sports & Recreation, and the media partners that provide coverage including Surf Caribe.

The next FSPR event will be held in Rincón on the 26^th and 27^th of March.  You must be an active member of the FSPR to participate in these events, so if you haven’t become a member yet be sure to do so soon via their website at www.fs-pr.com.

Official Results

Open Men
1. Gabriel Velilla
2. Joe Suarez
3. Otto Flores
4. Hector Santamaria
Open Women
1. Liza Caban
2. Maria Kuzmovich
3. Lilac Alvarado
4. Cindy Melendez
Open Men’s Longboard
1. Luife Guzmán
2. Eduardo Negrón
3. Fernando Guzmán
4. Ricardo Muñiz
Open Women’s Longboard
1. Marien Blanco
2. Ivesselis Penfield
Open Men’s SUP
1. Rafael Cruet
2. Adrian Garcia
3. Greg Carson
4. Javier Gorbea
Open Women’s SUP
1. Heather Baus
2. Helga Gobel