APSPR Corona Extra Pro

 Circuit at Middles Beach in Isabela, Puerto Rico crowned Florida’s Gabe Kling and Amy Nicholl in 3 to 4 foot clean surf. Runners-up were Josie Graves from Isabela, Puerto Rico and Nikki Viesins from Indialantic, Florida. Kling topped graves with consistent surfing and a 14.34 heat total to Graves’ 12.50. Amy Nicholl’s backhand approach was enough to narrowly defeat Viesins with a 11.03 heat total to Viesins’ 10.40.

 The Corona Pro Women’s winner Amy Nicholl earned $5,000 for her win. "Conditions were really meager on the first day, so I was really excited to be seeded into the second day thanks to my win from last October at the Corona Extra Pro. Today I just took it heat by heat, got a couple seconds, a couple firsts, and in the end of the day ended up on top, and I’m really excited about that," Nicholl said.

The best of the women’s surfing on the final day was seen during the Women’s round 2 Heat 3 came from Nikki Viesins who took the win with the highest single wave a 7.6 and highest heat total 14.37. Other standouts were Amy Nicholl with the second best heat total in the same heat a 12.43. The crowd also saw strong surfing from semi-finalists Liza Caban (Aguadilla, PR) and Alexis Engstrom (Rincon, PR/ NY).

Event number two of the Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit will be held October 6th and 7th, 2012 at Middles Beach, Isabela on the northwest corner of the island. The event points will add-up to decide the 2012 Men’s and Women’s Champions of the APSPR (Asociacion Profesional de Surfing de Puerto Rico) annual championship for the eleventh year.

The total Men's prize purse will be $25,000, while the Women competitors will share a total purse of $12,000.

 “Since 2001, Corona Extra has been the biggest supporter of Puerto Rican pro surfers. The $37,000 total purse means that we will be able to pay the winner of the Men a first prize of $10,000. The Women’s champion will receive $5,000.

Currently leading the Mens rankings for 2012 is Franscisco Bellorin, 22, of Venezuela, who won the first event at Domes in February. Bellorin is followed by Brian Toth, 27, of Isabela, who is a three-time champion of the APSPR Circuit. Toth is the most successful Puerto Rican surfer ever, having competed for several years on the international ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour, where he is currently ranked number 33.

On the Womens side of the draw, the current ratings leader is Quincy Davis, 17, of Montauk, New York, who won the Domes event in a close heat over Maria Kuzmovich, of Daytona Beach, Florida. Both Davis and Kuzmovich are expected to compete again at Middles, as they chase the 2012 APSPR Womens title. The highest ranking local Puerto Rican woman is Liza Caban, 19, of Aguadilla.

 “All competitors should have their entries in by Wednesday, September 26 to guarantee their slot. After Sept. 26 a late entry fee of $35.00 will be charged,” said Viviannee Vega, APSPR Executive Director. “The final deadline for entries is Saturday, Sept. 29 at 4:00pm at Hang Loose Surf Shop in Isabela.” For more info competitors can contact us via our website < www.apspr.net >,or call at (787) 560-0181 from 10:am to 5:pm.

Francisco Bellorin and Quincy Davis are the Corona Extra Pro Champs at Domes, Rincon PR

The nickname "relampago negro" is Spanish for "black lightning" It was bestowed on Bellorini by the contest announcer and judging panel that were stunned by the speed of his surfing. "Mick Fanning, of Australia is called "white lightning" for the same reason, said co-head judge, Sammy Martinez, of Arecibo. "The speed and flow that Bellorini displayed reminded all of us of him".

For ten years the APSPR under the sponsorship of Corona Extra has been the recognized sanctioning body for pro surfing on the island of Puerto Rico. Each year there are two contests for both the Men and Women surfers and the APSPR keeps a ranking of the points they earn and crowns the annual champions. This year's race will begin Saturday and Sunday, March 3 & 4 with the first event of the 2012 season at Domes Beach in the city of Rincon. A field of 80 or more contestants is expected that will include competitors from the Mainland East Coast, California and Hawaii.

The final event of the 2011 season was won by Hawaiian Kekoa Bacalso,in a close final with his Floridian opponent Gabe Kling. That event was held at Middles in October and Bacalso took home $10,000 for his victory. Amy Nicholl, from Florida won a two-event sweep in 2011, with victories at both Middles and Domes.