Courtesy of WSL – World Surf League
– Playa Revolcadero Delivers fun conditions on opening day
– Surfers put on a showcase of excellent surfing
– Mexican contingent remains potent heading into weekend’s action
– more information available AT WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM
 Credit: © WSL / Nichols |
| PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/ MEX (Friday, July 14, 2017) – The World Surf League (WSL) Powerade Surf Open Acapulco Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 fired into action at Playa Revolcadero in exciting fashion. Consistent three-to-five foot, occasional plus-size sets, rolled through the lineup and offered competitors plenty of scoring opportunity throughout opening day. Scattered peaks made the lineup difficult to read, but those who could find the gems took full advantage and found their way into Round Three after Rounds One and Two were completed in their entirety.
The always-charismatic Carlos Munoz (CRI) is back on Mexican soil and blasted an incredible performance to begin his campaign with the day’s best single-wave score, 9.00 (out of a possible 10), and heat total of 16.50 (out of a possible 20). A tough start to 2017 seemed to be behind the Costa Rican who came out firing on all cylinders with near-flawless surfing in the trickier afternoon conditions. “It’s been awhile since I’ve made a heat after going to South Africa and earlier this year at Martinique so it feels really good to come here and just make that first heat,” Munoz said. “I came to this contest for training before the US Open last year and wanted to do the same again. I just tried to find the little corners and do my best so it’s exciting to make it through. This is definitely great for my confidence moving forward now and just want to find those waves again.”
Stevie Pittman (USA) returned back to a QS jersey after recovering from knee surgery last year and did so in excellent form. The 17-year-old, North Carolina native went to work on the Playa Revolacadero lineup and posted an excellent 8.00 with his signature power-surfing to build a 15.40 heat total. The young competitor has a big year planned and wants to kick it off in the right direction with a result here. “It feels good to be back on the QS after my knee surgery last April took about six months to heal and haven’t had any problems with it since,” Pittman said. “It was a reoccurring injury so that surgery definitely helped. I’ve just been surfing and having fun, I know I’m good enough to be here it’s just a matter of finding the right waves so hopefully I can keep that up. I’m looking forward to this year with the Hurley Pro trials and I’ll be getting back into the Pro Junior events for US Open, maybe do a few more QS events, but I want to do well here first.”
Oahu, Hawaii native Noah Beschen (HAW) felt right at home behind a curtain of Pacific Ocean water dropping over him entirely to cap off his Round Two win with an excellent 8.17. Though still able to contest at the Pro Junior level, Beschen has turned his sights toward the big leagues and is putting in the work to get there. “I just took off and didn’t even think about a barrel, but then I was just in the spot so I stayed still and got barrled for a bit,” Beschen said. “This is a great spot to come to, especially just being up in California, it’s an easy flight and the wave has some punch to it — it reminds me a little of home. My goal is to just get enough points to find my way into the Triple Crown and after coming here last year it’s a little more familiar so I feel comfortable trying to get points. I’m still in the juniors, but I want to be on Tour and that’s where I’m putting my focus so I’m just trying to build my seed and get the work done.”
Martin Olea (MEX) began his Powerade Surf Open Acapulco campaign in Round One alongside his fellow countrymen and now finds himself in Round Three with two big heat wins. Born and raised in Barra de navidad Jalisco, Olea now resides in Cabo and finds himself in his first WSL event after earning some sponsorship funds. “It feels really good and I just want to keep surfing my best,” Olea said. “It’s fun out there, but you just have to find the right spot and with the energy in the water you can feel that right place to sit. This is my first time here after not being able to do so with lack of money. The guys from Buell Wetsuits in Santa Cruz are behind me so I could get here so I’m putting everything into this event. I just want to go out and give it my all.” Olea is joined by fellow countrymen Jhonny Corzo (MEX), Travis Southworth (MEX), Mitchell Salazar (MEX), Rey Hernandez (MEX), Alan Cleland (MEX), and Jafet Ramos (MEX) in Round Three. For more information, daily updates and photos from the Powerade Surf Open Acapulco, please visit www.worldsurfleague.com, or download the WSL App. Event organizers will reconvene for tomorrow’s 7:30 a.m. CDT call to determine a possible 8:00 a.m. CDT start. Powerade Surf Open Acapulco Men’s QS1,000 Round Two Results: Powerade Surf Open Acapulco Men’s QS1,000 Round One Results: Sale or license of the Images is prohibited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL RIGHTS NOT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE RESERVED BY WORLD SURF LEAGUE. |
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| About the World Surf League The World Surf League (WSL), formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), is dedicated to celebrating the world’s best surfing on the world’s best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The League, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a truly global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe. The WSL has been championing the world’s best surfing since 1976, running in excess of 180 global events across the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed world champions in Men’s, Women’s across all divisions within the tour. Showcasing the world’s best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the free WSL app, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Mick Fanning, Tyler Wright, John John Florence, Stephanie Gilmore, Gabriel Medina, Carissa Moore, Grant Baker, Paige Alms, Kelly Slater, Adriano de Souza and more battle on the most unpredictable and dynamic field of play of any sport in the world. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com |
