Day 7 Highlights/Photos/Press Release “Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival 2023”

May 24, 2023

ANTOFAGASTA RESIDENTS CONTINUE ADVANCING THROUGH THE ROUNDS IN THE ABF 2023 Manuel Cepeda and Sasha Damjamic, the prominent local representatives, enjoyed a triumphant day and secured their qualification for the upcoming pivotal rounds. The 2023 edition of the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival (ABF) is currently underway at Playa Llacolén, bringing continuous good news for the riders…

ANTOFAGASTA RESIDENTS CONTINUE ADVANCING THROUGH THE ROUNDS IN THE ABF 2023

Manuel Cepeda and Sasha Damjamic, the prominent local representatives, enjoyed a triumphant day and secured their qualification for the upcoming pivotal rounds.

The 2023 edition of the Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival (ABF) is currently underway at Playa Llacolén, bringing continuous good news for the riders of Antofagasta. This time, it was the turn of Manuel Cepeda and Sacha Damjamic, the region’s top performers who currently hold the tenth and eleventh positions, respectively, in the International Bodyboarding Committee (IBC) world rankings.

Once more, the waves embraced the eager contenders, surpassing all expectations, courtesy of the excellent weather conditions, which have been ideal for this type of competition. Leading the charge, Damjamic was the first to enter the water and, with an excellent performance, secured first place in his heat with a total of 13.15 points.

“It was a very tough heat given the caliber of my fellow competitors. It was my first time in the water during this tournament, and I was a bit nervous, but I managed to find my wave at the last minute and advance. I’m extremely happy and ready to give it my all in the next round,” stated Sacha Damjamic.

Amidst the intensity of heat 6, Manuel Cepeda stepped onto the battleground, confronting the forces of Joel Rodrigues (Portugal), Roberto Bruno (Brazil), and Moises Silva (Chile). Coming from the majestic shores of Antofogasta, Cepeda showcased his expertise and profound understanding with the very wave that nurtured his rise, the revered Cúpula. As the relentless clock ticked away the precious minutes of the 25 minute heat, Cepeda triumphed, seizing the throne with an awe-inspiring score of 11.90, propelling him victoriously into the next round.

Not content with his previous triumph, Cepeda made a return to the water, this time in the DROPKNEE division. He engaged in a close duel with Peruvian contender Ricardo Sotelo, ultimately prevailing and securing his spot in the semifinals, where he will meet the formidable Amaury Levernhe from Reunion Island.

“As the day progressed, the wave conditions grew increasingly challenging, stirred by the rising wind. However, I successfully maintained a high level of performance and secured first place in both the MEN and DROPKNEE divisions. Cúpula is a great wave where barrels can be found in nearly any condition, though it presents an additional challenge when crowded. Nevertheless, my familiarity with this wave allowed me to perform well,” said Cepeda after his two participations.

On the seventh day of the ABF, the JUNIOR MEN division saw Roger Fusculin from Brazil and Micheel Yancee from Peru emerge as the finalists.

The ABF is set to begin at 7:15 am tomorrow morning. While there’s a slight uncertainty due to the massive swell on the rise, it is highly probable that the competition will proceed as planned. Stay tuned for further updates.

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Press Release by Eric schnitzler and Ricardo Jeria

Date: May 23, 2023, from 7:30am GMT -3

Location: Llacolen, Antofagasta,Chile

Wave: ” La Cupula de Poder”

Invita: @inside_bhp

@goreantofagasta @sqmchile @ccu @ibcworld_tour @ig.carpas @budeo.oficial @fech_bodyboard_ @laterceracom @mercurioantofagasta.cl @antofagasta_tv @fm7antofagasta @antofadespierta