Alexis Engstrom & Gabe Kling

Claims Victory on the 23rd Edition of the

Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit

Yesterday at Maria’s Beach on the northwest corner of the island, in the town of Rincon, the 23^rd edition of the APSPR (Asociacion Profesional de Surfing de Puerto Rico) crowned it’s champions in some of the most challenging conditions ever seen for a pro surfing contest. With a massive north swell hovering stationary over most of the Caribbean, the field of 48 men and 16 women faced wave sizes in the 10 – 15 foot range, and no clear channel through which to paddle out.

Organizers realized early in the week that the location and format of the contest would have to be dramatically altered in order to complete the competition in the scheduled weekend time period. Originally slated to be run at nearby “Domes” Beach, the contest structure was relocated to Marias, further around the point, in hopes that the reef there would be more contestable. “This is one of the biggest swells we have ever seen during any of the ten years we have been holding the Corona Circuit”, said Werner Vega, APSPR President. “And the available venues we were permitted are not the usual spots where the biggest waves on the island are normally ridden”. All of the experienced local pro surfers agreed that none of them would have attempted to paddle out at Marias at the size that greeted them Saturday morning.