We use cookies to improve your experience on our websites and for advertising. Privacy Policy

Events
News
Watch
Riders
Spots
More »

- Brands
- Travel & Local
- Good Guys
- Filmmakers
- Bosses
- Shops
- Media
- Movies
- Apps
- Photographers
- Tips & Tricks

Scroll

> News > Ecuador to Host Two WSL Qualifying Series Events in June After a 15-Year Hiatus

surfing News

Ecuador to Host Two WSL Qualifying Series Events in June After a 15-Year Hiatus

Adrian Dapelo on the lefts of Playa de la FAE in Salinas. Image credit: / Christian de Bruin / WSL

04 June 2021

After 15 years, Ecuador returns to the World Surf League schedule in 2021 to promote two consecutive WSL Qualifying Series combined Men’s and Women’s events in June. The first will be the Corona Montañita Open presented by Hyundai New Tucson 2022 and the City of Santa Elena from the 16th to the 20th in Montañita. The other is the Corona Salinas Open presented by Hyundai New Tucson 2022 and the City of Santa Elena from the 23rd to the 27th in Salinas, which in 2005, was home to the only World Surf League event ever held in Ecuador.

Both contests are QS1000 tier events and will distribute 1,000 QS points towards the WSL Latin America Men's and Women's regional rankings, which will classify surfers from South America to compete in the 2021 Challenger Series events that will determine spots on the 2022 World Surf League Championship Tour. Competitors from thirteen countries have already confirmed their entries in both divisions, including the host country of Ecuador. In addition, there will be athletes arriving from Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Panama, the United States, Hawaii and Portugal.

Participants at the Corona Montañita Open and the Corona Salinas Open are the current WSL Latin America Champions, João Chianca (BRA) and Daniella Rosas (PER), as well as the current WSL Latin America Pro Junior Champions Raul Rios (PER) and Taina Hinckel (BRA). Other premiere regional surfers are the 2018 WSL North America Regional Champion, Lucca Mesinas (PER), as well as the most prominent surfer in Ecuador, the 2011 and 2018 WSL Latin America Champion, Dominic Barona (ECU), who lives in Montañita.

“My expectations for these events are the best possible and I hope all the girls come compete here too with the same goal of winning the event,” said Dominic Barona. “I feel really good, I've been training a lot, not only the physical side. During this pre-season I’ve also been trying to perfect my technique, something I haven’t done for many years. I hope to do my best during these events here in Ecuador and there is nothing better than being able to compete close to home. In fact, having events of this magnitude and importance in our country is a dream come true, so I want to take this opportunity to win at home.”

The return of professional surfing to Ecuador has the full support of the Federal Government of Ecuador and the three Ministries of Tourism, Sports and Health will be involved throughout the entirety of the events which established COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols to be followed by everyone. Expectations are for the events to take place with the utmost safety for the athletes, personnel and local staff. To maintain safety, the presence of fans will be limited to the beaches in Montañita and in Salinas, both located on the Santa Elena Peninsula, about 2 hours south of the Guayaquil airport.

“These events are an extraordinary platform as an economic boost to tourism along the coastal strip of the Santa Elena region, which has been affected by the worldwide pandemic,” said the organizer of the two events, Xavier Aguirre. “Montañita and Salinas are two resorts that depend mainly on tourism for their livelihood. Surfing has been the main driver of development in these communities, surrounded by spectacular beaches with world-class waves. Bringing WSL events to Ecuador is a big step for the development of national surfing, raising the competitive level of our athletes, aiming to prepare them for the most important professional events and for the Olympic Games as well.”

MONTAÑITA – The Corona Montañita Open (men's & women's) presented by Hyundai New Tucson 2022 and the City of Santa Elena is a long right-hand pointbreak with pumping waves from North or South swells during almost the whole year, mainly between the months of March and August. Montañita is known as one of the best waves in the South Pacific, being one of the favorite spots for surfers from several countries in Latin America. In 2013, Montañita hosted the ISA (International Surfing Association) Games, which included participation of World Surf League Champions, Layne Beachley (AUS) and Sunny Garcia (HAW).

SALINAS – Playa de la FAE, which will host the Corona Salinas Open (men's & women's) presented by Hyundai New Tucson 2022 and the City of Santa Elena, is identified as one of the most consistent waves in Ecuador. Located inside a military base, it is formed by a bay with several options for surfing lefts and rights over well-defined breaks. Salinas has already hosted the ISA Games three times (2004, 2009 and 2014). It is also where the only World Surf League event was held in 2005. The contest was a 2-Star Qualifying Series event held at Punta Carnero Beach, where the Heitor Alves (BRA) took out the Final over Andrew Gahan (USA), Travis Mellen (USA) and Mike Losness (USA) respectively.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

About the WSL

Established in 1976, the World Surf League (WSL) is the home of the world's best surfing.

A global sports, media and entertainment company, the WSL oversees international tours and competitions, a studios division creating over 500+ hours of live and on-demand content, and via affiliate WaveCo, the home of the world's largest high performance, human-made wave. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the WSL has regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA.

The WSL annually crowns the men’s and women’s surfing World Champions. The global Tours and Competition division oversees and operates more than 180 global contests each year across the Championship Tour, the development tiers, including the Challenger, Qualifying and Junior Series, as well as longboard and big wave properties.

Launched in 2019, WSL Studios is an independent producer of unscripted television projects, including documentaries and series, which provide unprecedented access to athletes, events, and locations around the world. WSL events and content are distributed on linear television in over 743M+ homes worldwide and across digital and social media platforms around the world, including WorldSurfLeague.com.

WaveCo includes the Surf Ranch Lemoore facility and the utilizing and licensing of the Kelly Slater Wave System.

The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke.

Press Release Source: www.worldsurfleague.com