International competition returns to Puerto this month with the fourth
edition of the Central Surf Invitational Longboard Tube Riding Contest
2003.
The brainchild of Central Surf's Angel Salinas, who has represented Mexico in numerous international longboard meets, the event caused a sensation on the pro-surf circuit in September, 2000, when the the best longboard surfers in the world had to battle enormous waves. The final was declared a draw after the waves topped out at 35 feet and the competitors had to be brought in by boat.
This tournament (by invitation only) is all about tube-riding. Surfers will be judged on how well they maneuver their big boards (they must be at least 9-feet) through the famous pipeline.
Last year, the contest was everything that surfing enthusiasts could have hoped for, even if it lacked the drama of 2000. It attracted some of the true superstars of international longboard: Joel Tudor, Lance Hook ano, Duane de Soto, Josh Baker and Dino Miranda among them. Also present again was the amazing Kim Hamrock, the only woman who regularly goes up against the guys in major competition.
Competition got underway on Day 2 with a gentle surf of 2 to 3 feet. By Day 3 it had built to an excellent 4 to 6 feet. From then on, the conditions were perfect: 4 to 8 feet barrels that allowed the experts to demonstrate their considerable skills for the judges whose scoring depended on how long the surfers spent inside the tubes.
How good were the conditions? Well, the judges awarded 3 perfect 10's
during the contest! Contestants represented Hawaii, Australia, USA,
Japan, Brasiland Mexico, but, in the end, it was the Hawaiians who took
top honors. (See results below)
"Man, Puerto Escondido is awesome!" claimed Duane de Soto, after he was crowned 2002 champion with the ceremonial head dress.
This year the tournament will take place from Tuesday March 11 through Sunday 16.
The welcoming reception for the competitors will be held in the gardens of the Hotel Posada Real at 5 p.m. Mon. March 10. The following days (March 11 - 16), contest meetings will take place between 5 and 7 p.m. in the restaurant at the Hotel Arco Iris
Further details on the tournament will be available at the Central Surf store on Zicatela.
It is encouraging that the state government is supporting this year's tournament again. Other sponsors include the Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Office of Visitors and Conventions and Anderson Surfboards. Don't miss what should shape up to be an amazing show, as the world's best longboarders are challenged to the limit of the sport by the capriciousness of Zicatela's surf.
The development of polyurethane foams and epoxy resins after World War Two produced more buoyant materials for surfboards and a single wide base fin was added to the back and the modern longboard was born.
In the late sixties and early '70s the prospering sport of surfing underwent what is now referred to as the Short Board Revolution. New designs and materials reduced the average 9 or 10-foot boards down to 6 and 7 feet in length.
The primary difference between the two is that the rider moves up and
down the board to control the longboard's movement, whereas the
shortboard is maneuvered by shifting your weight while standing in the
same spot on the board, much like riding a skateboard.
Shortboards are faster and more maneuverable; Longboards are best suited to small waves. You'll often see riders standing right on the nose of the board cruising a gentle wave into shore.
But this laid back technique isn't what you can expect to see when longboarders face the temperamental surf of Zicatela.