Argentina is ready for the Juniors

The Argentinean Surfing Association has announced the list of surfers that will represent the country in the seventh edition of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, to be held from March 28 until April 5 in the waves of Salinas, Ecuador.

The Argentinean Junior Squad is:

Under 18 Boys
Pedro Francistegui
Nehuen Adamo
Martín Carricart
Pablo Cosoleto

Under 16 Boys
Julián Martínez
Lyn Petersen
Gonzalo Barrera
Nicolás Ventura

Damas Sub. 18
María Paz Usuna
Maia Cherr
Martina Gainza
Lucía Cosoleto

Team Manager
Roberto González Niesl

Coach
Maximiliano Prenski

Assistant Coach
Silvio Pedro

Medic
Alejendro Besteiro

Argentina competed in every edition of the championship. Their best result was a 7th achieved in Durban 2003.

GENERAL INFO
Source: Federico Ayciriet – Argentinean Surfing Association - www.asasurf.org.ar

Argentinean surfing obtained historic results in February during the second and third events of the Latin American Professional Surfers Association (ALAS) Tour, which took place in Ecuador and Chile.  The podium places were filled by Mar del Plata-born, Maxi Siri and Martin Passeri, as well as, the Chubut-born, Marcelo Rodriguez in the OPEN Pro category.  It was an unprecedented result in the Latin Tour and showed the evolution of the sport in Argentina.

The Argentinean surfers, who had just returned to Mar del Plata, spoke of their satisfaction with these results and of the great comradeship growing among the Argentineans,

Montañita – Ecuador
Argentina’s first success came in Montañita, Ecuador, at the Reef Classic Conquer from February 9 – 14, 2009.  There, Maximiliano Siri obtained a commendable third place after eliminating in quarter-finals none other than “Nono” Pereira, 2008 Latin American Pro Champ and ratings leader. The three-time Argentinean champion declared, “It was good to all of us. We obtained excellent results competing with elite athletes and, personally, this motivates me to continue training and trying to improve day after day.” Now we are thinking of Panama where I hope this very good “argenta” phase continues”.

Marcelo Rodriguez also had a great performance which presently places him as circuit leader.  The rider from Rawson gained a fifth place and ratified his good moment saying, “It was my first time there and actually, the waves were incredible.  Montañita is a super ripable right and the championship was difficult because there were a lot of athletes competing.  Maxi’s surfing was amazing during the whole event. And not only that,  from the very first heat, he had very difficult opponents.  During the semis, he didn’t have a good wave selection, which stopped him from continuing.  I had a good event and needed only 5.6 to reach the semis, something that left me angry on one side but serene on the other because I left everything I had in the water”.

Reñaca – Chile
A week later, the Reef Classic Latin Pro Sony Ericsson Cup took place. There, Martin Passeri and Marcelo Rodriguez obtained second and third places; something Argentinean surf had not achieved before.

Passeri, who is the only Argentinean four-time champion and the country’s only surfer that won the ALAS Tour (2006), was motivated by the collective performance of the team. “I would like people to realize how important it was that in these two events we rose to the podium, and that for the first time ever there are two Argentineans in such podium. 

The work that takes you there, the effort carried out by each one of us, the great and humble group that traveled together in these two trips, supporting each other.  Maxi deserved this for a while; Marcelo is earning it day after day.  Lele (Usuna) was close but was always there and Lucón (Lucas Santamaria) will surprise us all soon enough.  And other quality surfers as Nahuel Rull and Amalfitano are joining us.” 

We would also like to emphasize the second and third places obtained by the two-time Latin champion Martin Perez and Federico Goñi in the Longboard category.

Evaluation
The results obtained by each surfer are significant in relation to the aspirations of each one has in positioning themselves in the main echelons of the Latin ranking.  Nevertheless, we must point out that the success was not individual, but collective. 

The athletes displayed a sense of belonging, a group identity that strengthens national surfing not only in the discourse but in results. Passeri commented on the team’s attitude, “I was very happy to see Maxi on the podium in Ecuador, and also when the two of us stepped up in Chile. 

If we had gone to Chile as a national team, we would have been champions there.  That is not a minor episode.  I think that the National Circuit and the work we are doing has something to do with how we all got there well trained, in competition form.”   

The next stage in the ALAS Tour will be the Panama Reef Classic, a six-star event, that will take place in Cambutal Beach, Panama, April 22 - 25, 2009.

The Argentinean Surf Association congratulates and thanks all its surfers for placing the national flag in the highest levels of the Latin tour.

Mar del Plata-born Martin Carricart obtained first place for the Under-18 category in the X-treme Junior Passion PRO, sponsored by Mohs, which took place in the Luna Roja Resort on February 21 and 22, 2009.  The event was the fourth date of the Argentinean Surf Association circuit and serves as classifier to the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championship in Salinas, Ecuador. Also placing was: Teté Gil in Women, Felipe Suarez in the Under-14 and Julian Martinez in the Under-16 categories.

One week away from the World Junior Championship, the youngsters competed in one of their last chances to place themselves in the ASA ranking, aspiring to occupy places in the team that will represent the country in the waves of Salinas.

This event promises to constitute itself in a classical competition of the category. Martin Carricart showed a high-level of surfing and, in the final Under-18 heat, obtained the highest score in the competition with waves of 8.5 and 9 points totaling a score of 16.4 points.  After him, Pedro Francistegui obtained a score of 14 and proudly took the second step on the podium.  Segundo Mendez Acosta and Lin Petersen respectively  took third and fourth.  With this win, Carricart received a ticket to Costa Rica offered by Despegar.com.

Among the ladies, Teté Gil took a great step in her career by winning the circuit.  In the finals, she beat an inspired Maria Paz Usuna, as well as Maia Cherr and the last Argentinean champion, Consuelo Pose.

In the Under-16 category, the defining results of the afternoon were seen.  Julian Martinez, Nicolas Ventura and Facundo Ané, in that order, took the first three positions with a difference of only 1.75 points.  Gonzalo Barrera arrived in fourth place.  The first position obtained by Martinez won him a Mohs surfboard shaped by Renato.

On the other hand, the beginner category for under 14-years-old had Felipe Suarez as first place winner, while the second place went to Fermin Besteiro, the current ranking leader.  Third and fourth places were obtained by Tobias Ortells and Gonzalo Fuentes.

Aitor Otaño was present at the PX Junior PRO. He graduated in Australia with a specialty in surf yoga techniques and gave a free open yoga class in the GEKO Apart Hotel, Route 11, Km. 542, across the Luna Roja Beach Resort.

Additionally, in sophisticated modules contributed by RUCAPANEL, the public enjoyed a selection of the best Xtreme Passion programs.  Meanwhile, the competitors had massage and relax sessions in a Jacuzzi, and also enjoyed a catering service offered by the Tijuana Soul Bar.

The Argentinean Surf Association thanks Maxi Marinucci for collaborating with disseminating the event, and X-treme Passion, Mohs, Despegar.com, Fox Sports, Luna Roja, Rucapanel and Social Foundation for contributing to its achievement.

After two spectacular surf-loaded days, the fifth edition of the Arenas Verdes Surf Content came to an end. 

The event is valid for the ranking of the Argentinean Surf Association in the Longboard, Women, and Under 14, 16 and 18 categories, which was held February 14-15.
The competition was organized by the Loberia Municipality and sponsored by Surf Addiction, Ola Violenta, Pichilemu and Vans. 

The beautiful Arenas Verdes beaches bore witness to an impeccable championship that had winners Martin Perez (Longboard), Teté Gil (Women), Nehuen Adamo (Under 18), Brian Masmut (Under 16) and Fermin Besteiro (Under 14).

The swell on the second day of competition was similar to the first: a calm sea with medium to small waves, tubular and near the shore.  For that reason, the schedule marked the beginning of the action for midday, time in which the sea level lowers and allowed for adequate tournament conditions.
Competition

Among the ladies, the first place went to Teté Gil who dominated the heats since the semifinals.  Her good performance closed with a general score of 11 points during the final heat.  Far behind the Waikiki-born, came Maia Cherr, Rochy Pose and María Paz Usuna, in that sequence.

The three junior categories had a special element because in a month’s time, the 2009 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in these categories will take place and some of the vacancies in the national team will be defined by the ASA ranking. .

In this sense, the success was a step forward for  Nehuen Adamo (under 18), Brian Masmut (under 16) and Fermin Besteiro (under 14).

Martin Perez proved his predominance in the Longboard category and obtained a new triumph that leaves him one step away from the championship and the ISA World Surfing Games, to be held in Costa Rica, August 2009.  Leandro “Catupé” Santacrocce was second, while the third and fourth places were obtained by Fefe Goñi and Lucas Rubiño.

Argentinean Junior team intensifies work

During the month of February, the Argentinean Junior Surf pre-selected team began its intensive preparation work for the “2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship” that will take place in Salinas, Ecuador, from March 28 to April 5.

The Argentinean Surf Association continues a rigorous work schedule for those aspiring to join the national team, which includes three weekly meetings, two of them in double shifts. They have been training since November, with the National Team Coach, Maxi “Rulo” Prenski and Silvio Pedro, from La Redonda Gym who works with the team on their physical preparation.
Training Schedule

Tuesdays: 8 a.m. – Biology Sector, Playa Grande / 7 p.m. La Redonda Gym (B de Irigoyen 3845)
Thursdays: 8 a.m. – Honu Beach Resort / 7 p.m. La Redonda Gym (B de Irigoyen 3845)
Saturdays: Time and place to be confirmed.  Championship simulation.

Hat-trick for Rodriguez

Marcelo Rodriguez was crowned champion of the second date of the Miramar Triple Crown, valid for the Open Pro category of the Argentinean Surf Association ranking.  The competition took place at the Puerto Viejo beach resort and was presented by Centrum and Speedy.  With this victory, his third in three competitions, the Rawson-born athlete walks proudly towards obtaining the Argentinean championship.

After two spectacular surf-ridden days, Marcelo Rodriguez got hold of the third date of the Argentinean surf circuit after winning in a thrilling final against local surfer, Agustin “Chingu” Bollini.

Rodriguez was the first in the water on the second day of competition at 9 a.m. when the first round of the Open Pro category was completed.  From that moment on, and until his victorious ending, his general score was never below 12 points. Excellent surfers were left behind; among them Frankie Usuna and Nehuem Adamo who surprised many and struggled their way into the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Agustin Bollini surpassed Lele Usuna with a 14.50 score in his best waves, compared to Leandro’s 11.40.  Nevertheless, Chingu had the bad fortune of snapping his board in half seconds away from finishing the heat, so he had to surf the final with a loaned board.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Rodriguez clashed with Maxi Siri, the Argentinean vice-champion, in a moment when the wind changed from south to west and the waves spaced out.  In this context, the two surfers dueled until the end, leaving the difference of only 0.50 points in favor of the Playa Union local.

The final heat was less hard-fought than the previous heats.  Chingu, who had beat out Gimo Usuna, Maxi Prenski and Lele Usuna, could not adapt to the new surfboard and finished the series with a score of 12.35 compared to the implacable 15.65 points of the circuit leader, who said after finishing the heat:

“I am very happy, actually, I can’t even believe this has happened.  I did not believe I could win this event because I was ill during the weekend and noticed it when I left the water in the first round because I felt extremely tired, more than normal.  I thought that my physique was going to play a bad trick on me but luckily the heats became more bearable from then on, because the sea adjusted and the waves were not so far apart, so I didn’t have a great wear down and well, here again, I won.  I am truly happy”.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

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