By Andrea Carrera – Peruvian Surfing Federation - www.surfingperu.com.pe

Joaquín del Castillo of Punta Hermosa was crowned the champion of the first stop of the National Juniors Tour IPD Cup, in Cerro Azul. The event took place from January 15 to 16. Adrián García, Alonso Ruiz and José A. Espejo won their divisions (Under 14, 12 and 10 respectively). In the women’s rounds, Miluska Tello got off on the right foot winning in the Under 18 and Under 16 categories while Adriana Samanamud and Milagros Herrera won in the Under 14 and the Under 12 categories.

The Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 categories included José A. Espejo, Alonso Ruiz and Adrian García, who stood out the most. These three small but talented surfers demonstrated that surfing in Peru is growing every year.

In the Under 16 category, Joaquín had fierce competition against Juninho Urcia, Luis E. Escudero and Sebastián Correa. Their positions changed with each wave. Joaquín only got one 6.93 while Juninho had a 7.93. On Joaquín’s last wave (7.87) he jumped to first place and secured his victory. Something very similar happened in the Under 18 category when he confronted the renowned Carlos Mario Zapata, Sebastián Correa and Alonso Correa. The final results were also very close, but in the end, the victory went to the Punta Hermosa local.

Miluska Tello, also a local of Punta Hermolsa, did not fall behind in the beginning of the National Junior Tour. Tello fought for victory in the Under 16 and Under 18 divisions, in which she obtained the women’s highest scores.

The Peruvian longboarder, Picollo Clemente, is off to a great start this year at the Six Star ASP Huanchaco Longboard Pro, topping his previous placement as runner-up at the same tournament in 2010. To win first place Clemente had to successively eliminate Brazilians Rodrigo Sphaier (who beat Clemente in last year’s final), Leco Salazar and finally Danilo Rodrigo.

This victory gains Clemente 3500 points for the LQS ranking and places him first in the race to be crowned South American Longboard Champion ASP. 

If Clemente holds the top two positions in the two remaining stops (both to take place in July in Brazil), he will be the first Peruvian longboarder in history to join the World Longboard Tour (WLT).

The 16-year-old Peruvian, Miguel Tudela, was crowned champion of the Junior division of the Reef Classic Conquer Montañita, which took place on January 1 to 4 in Ecuador. Tudela showed an excellent performance at the third stop of the ALAS Latin Tour. His first place in the Junior and his third place in the Open makes him a promising Latin American champion.