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IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING season for surfing in Puerto Escondido. We were
treated to the Oxbow Soul & Style contest and the Invitational Longboard
Tube-Riding event, which brought the best longboard pros in the world to
our town. Then last month brought us the remarkable bodyboard event at
Punta Colorada
Just as Puerto Escondido is the number 1 surf destination in Mexico, so its fall classic, the International Surf Tournament of the Fiestas of November is the country's premier surfing contest.
Under the capable management of Central Surf's Angel Salinas, Puerto's Ambassador of Surf to the world, and Tom Chaney, the team responsible for the success of the above-mentioned contests, this year's tournament has been dubbed the "PXM International Pro."
A large field of hopefuls from some dozen different countries will match their skills against Zicatela's famous Mexican Pipeline.
The tournament offers a purse of $10,000 dollars. Last year, first place honors went to local surf star, David Rutherfored (whose brother, José, captured the bodyboard championship for the second time in October). Local surfers have dominated in recent years. Perhaps that's because they know how to make the best of the placid surf that often prevails this time of year. But then the Pacific is a fickle beast; there's no telling what November conditions will be like, so anything can happen.
This is a great spectacle; there is always lots of action on the beach during and after the competition. The competition begins on Zicatela at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday 18, with the official Opening Ceremonies taking place at 9 a.m. The action continues Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The semifinals and finals are scheduled for Sunday, November 21. 7:30 to 11 a.m., with prize ceremony and closing ceremony at noon.
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And, of course, the ever-popular Miss Bikini Contest will return. Look
for it at 11:30 a.m., Sunday Nov. 21, after the competition Finals.