Mexico pumps for opening round of Puerto Escondido Challenge

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Oaxaca/Mexico (Friday, June 24, 2016) – The Puerto Escondido Challenge, the first event of the 2016/17 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT), kicked off today with monstrous 30-foot-plus (10 metre) waves in unruly and challenging beach break conditions.

With only the top three finishers from each six-man heat advancing out of Round 1, the world’s best big wave surfers battled the elements to secure a spot in the Semifinals.

2015/16 BWT Champion Greg Long (USA) led the field with back-to-back solid scores in Round 1 Heat 1 and was the first surfer to secure his place in the Semifinals. Long set the pace for the opening heat of the event by picking off multiple right-hand barrels to earn a 20.01 heat score (out of a possible 30). Albee Layer (HAW) secured a 12.83 heat score and the second position. Kai Lenny (HAW) and Gabriel Villaran (PER) battled for third place, but it was Lenny who showcased full commitment as he pulled into a deep barrel and edged out Villaran by only 3.10 points. Villaran, Jose Ramirez (MEX) and Koa Rothman (HAW) are eliminated from the event.

“The waves are really good right now and there are a lot of corners if you know where to sit,” Long said. “I actually deliberately rode a much bigger board than I ever do out here. There is a lot more volume so I could cover the ground that I needed to. It is something new for me, but in a heat if you can’t catch a wave, nothing else matters. My strategy was to keep moving around wherever it was clean and I locked in four waves.”

To see all the photos from the day click here

2014/15 BWT Champion Makuakai Rothman (HAW) charged through Heat 3, with Pedro Calado (BRA) and BWT veteran Carlos Burle (BRA) close behind. Rothman, last year’s BWT runner-up, locked in a near-perfect 9.50 and a solid 7.80 back-up score. Calado fired with an excellent 9.07 and 6.93 to earn the second position. With only 0.29 points between Burle and event wildcard Angelo Lozano (MEX), Burle’s 23.56 heat total was enough to advance to the Semifinals.

“This is my second time to Mexico and the waves are really fun,” said Rothman. “I was just in the right place at the right time. I am not thinking about the end result. I am just thinking about my first wave tomorrow morning and hopefully I am in the right spot. The local boys charge.”

Jamie Mitchell (AUS) netted the highest single-wave score of Round 1, a perfect 10.00, with an extremely technical barrel ride in Heat 4. Mitchell’s final score, a near-perfect 29.03, was the highest of the day, earning him the heat win and a place in the Semifinals. The bout also saw high-scoring rides from local wildcard Jimel Corzo (MEX) and Rusty Long (USA), who will also proceed to the Semifinals.

Jamie Mitchell's perfect 10 point ride

“I think we were all worried about the fourth heat with the wind coming up, but I think we scored the best conditions of the day,” Mitchell said. “The tide was dropping, the winds stayed glassy and the swell was peaking. I found an early right hander and nearly made it out, which put me into a good rhythm. I found that left and didn’t think I was going to make it, but somehow I pulled out of that. It was an historic day. Incredible surf and incredible barrels.”

Will Skudin (USA) charged through Heat 2 and claimed the heat win with a 22.07 heat total over former BWT Champion Grant Baker (ZAF) by only 0.74 points. Rogercin Ramirez (MEX), event wildcard and local favorite, opened Heat 2 with a monstrous barrel, pulling off a technical exit to earn an authoritative 9.00, which brought the large hometown crowd to their feet. Ramirez held the lead against the field, but with fifteen minutes left on the clock, Skudin and Baker fought back to secure the first and second positions, respectively. Skudin, Baker and Ramirez will advance to the Semifinals. BWT heavyweights Billy Kemper (HAW) and Damien Hobgood (USA), along with local wildcard Coco Nogales (MEX) were knocked out of the competition.

“It was hard to find those corners out there,” Skudin said. “It was big and heavy, and I just put my head down and kept on going. I was hoping that eventually I’d lock one down and make a good barrel. Unfortunately, I didn’t make a really good barrel, but I made it through the heat.”

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. local time for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.

Puerto Escondido Challenge Round 1 Results:

  • Heat 1: Greg Long (USA) 20.01, Albee Layer (HAW) 12.83, Kai Lenny (HAW) 12.66, Gabriel Villaran (PER) 9.56, Jose Ramirez (MEX) 8.77, Koa Rothman (HAW) 6.46
  • Heat 2: Will Skudin (USA) 22.07, Grant Baker (ZAF) 21.33, Rogercin Ramirez (MEX) 20.73, Billy Kemper (HAW) 18.87, Damien Hobgood (USA) 18.23, Coco Nogales (MEX) 11.01
  • Heat 3: Makuakai Rothman (HAW) 26.80, Pedro Calado (BRA) 25.07, Carlos Burle (BRA) 23.56, Angelo Lozano (MEX) 23.27, Trevor Carlson (HAW) 16.93, Tom Lowe (GRB) 12.74
  • Heat 4: Jamie Mitchell (AUS) 29.03, Jimel Corzo (MEX) 24.43, Rusty Long (USA) 23.84, Cristian Merello (CHL) 21.34, Nic Lamb (USA) 14.13, Oscar Moncada (MEX) 7.00

Comments

poo-man's picture
poo-man's picture
poo-man Saturday, 25 Jun 2016 at 9:06am

That barrel of Jamie's was nuts

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Saturday, 25 Jun 2016 at 10:23am

Not sure about it being 30ft? from what I saw but some big closeouts were tackled, well done jm, good luck tonight. Looks a lot better in the still pics than it did live

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Saturday, 25 Jun 2016 at 10:36am

WSL alternate their wave height measurements depending on which region they're in. Anything in the US and EU is in "face feet", anything in Australia and Hawaii is in "surfer's feet". Though sometimes they mix it up.

Also gotta remember this is a press release that has gone out to mainstream news sites, so the bigger the number the more impressive it sounds (and the more likely the article will be run). 

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Sunday, 26 Jun 2016 at 3:37pm

Therein lies the WSL's biggest problem...targeting its information to mainstream public in an attempt to generate traffic and value to its brand at the expense of its core audience. How many casual observers are going to read their information, tune in to watch and then stay on as a regular user and fan without being a surfer themselves? Outside of maybe the Olympics as a novelty; I don't watch, or engage in following, any sports I've not been an active participant in. All the while the existing surfing fan is becoming more and more alienated with their PR/Marketing bullshit, inane repetitive commentary and straight out lies trotted out by the WSL.

The visuals of Jaws/Puerto/Fiji etc surely stand on their own as a spectacle...

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Saturday, 25 Jun 2016 at 6:24pm

Its only when craig calls it 10ft

Albertinelli's picture
Albertinelli's picture
Albertinelli Saturday, 25 Jun 2016 at 7:45pm

Sick to death trying to watch the great waves and had to mute the commentators. Fuck these Yanks are so fucking annoying the way they carry on for each ride. Man this wave was Sooo Huge it is amazing he was sooo deep these guys are warriors. FUCK OFF! these are just like Carpark rights and Carpark left at North Narrabeen on a Big Day over a sandbank. get rid of these commentators they are wankers just listen to them. the waves on this day were so overrated

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Sunday, 26 Jun 2016 at 7:12am

What a final, well done Twig.

frog's picture
frog's picture
frog Sunday, 26 Jun 2016 at 12:24pm

The big wave tour will suffer over the long haul from jaded over exposed viewers who have seen bigger or more spectacular. Five years from now it'll have to be a monster day to hold our attention.