Twenty-four heats were surfed today in an extensive yet rewarding day with good waves, impressive maneuvers, and scores.
We began with a round of 4 heats of 30 minutes in the DK category, where once again Hawaiian Kawika Rohr Kamai shone with the highest score of the round, followed by the Ecuadorian Jerico Rosero (10.55 points). However, undoubtedly, the standout performer was the Hawaiian junior female athlete Aarya Tabalno (16 years of age), who yesterday contested the world title in that division and today managed to advance in second position in her DK heat, surfing at a high level and showing the world that the ladies can also shine in Drop Knee stance.
We then proceeded with two consecutive rounds of MEN, with 16 highly charged heats full of memorable moments and impressive performances. The biggest surprise came from the Canarian Armide Soliveres, who achieved the highest score of the Championship so far, totaling 17.75 points, followed by the Moroccan Brahim Iddouch, who finished third in 2014 and later crowned champion of this event in its 5th edition in 2017. He also mentioned that this was his all-time favorite event and where he felt most comfortable.
We also had the Women’s Elimination Round 3, where we witnessed the best performance so far in this category, courtesy of the South African Pamela Bowren, who took the two best waves of her heat, reading the challenging dome wave perfectly, scoring 16.75 points (a wave of 7.75 and another of 8.50), leaving all other competitors in a combination situation and without the possibility of taking away the top spot from her heat.
To conclude with excitement, the young revelation athlete of the year, Luana Dourado from Portugal, won the last heat of the day, leaving behind important names from the professional world of women’s bodyboarding. Moreover, she became the Junior Women’s Champion of this event yesterday and is on the verge of making history in a super heat against Luna Hardman to determine the Junior Women’s World Title of 2024.
You can’t miss tomorrow’s day, as the wave conditions seem to be at their best, and we will see for the first time in this event our athletes from the TOP RANKING of the DK, MEN, and WOMEN divisions.
This event is organized by Budeo Club and presented by Escondida | BHP and SQM Yodo Nutrición Vegetal brings together the best athletes from countries such as Japan, South Africa, France, Spain, Hawaii, Italy, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Chile, among others, who can be seen in action until May 26 on Llacolén Beach, in the southern sector of the city and completely free of charge.
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