Whatever happens in the semifinals, Ecuador’s Álex Suárez will finish the ALAS Global Tour Garabito Pro as the leader of the Open ranking. Everything will be decided tomorrow, with 12 finals at Playa Hermosa.
If yesterday belonged to the Costa Ricans, today it is the Ecuadorians who return home with big smiles and high expectations for tomorrow—the final day of the ALAS Global Tour Garabito Pro.
After two rounds of Men’s Open competition, only eight surfers remain in contention. Three of them are Ecuadorian: Bruce Burgos, Maximiliano Sáenz, and Álex Suárez. Suárez has double reason to celebrate because, after Uruguay’s Martín Ottado was eliminated in Round 3, he took over the ranking lead—and will retain it regardless of what happens tomorrow.
“I have been working very hard for this moment, and I am ready for this and much more. Becoming the ALAS ranking leader is what I set out to achieve from the beginning of the year. My goal is to become Latin American Champion and bring this joy to Ecuador,” Suárez said after a memorable heat in which he secured first place with an impressive full-rotation aerial.
Interestingly, Suárez had a similar wave at the start of the heat, but he was smart enough not to risk attempting an aerial on such a hollow section. “I could have damaged my board, and I decided it was not the right time for that risk; there was still plenty of time left in the heat,” he explained. As the heat progressed and it was time to go all in, he did not hesitate: he launched himself on a very fast section and landed in front of the whitewater. It was an almost perfect wave, which the judges scored at 9.93 points.
The situation is similar in the Women’s Open division. Among the eight surfers remaining for tomorrow’s semifinals are two Ecuadorians: ranking leader Dominic Barona and reigning ALAS Champion Génesis Borja.
Emma, the little giant
There is no doubt about the standout performance so far at the ALAS Global Tour Garabito Pro: Emma García. Having turned just thirteen this month, the Peruvian entered the Under-14, Under-16, Under-18, and Open divisions—and remains in contention in all of them.
She has already reached the Under-14 and Under-16 finals and will compete in the Under-18 and Open semifinals. She will enter the water four times tomorrow and, if she advances, could surf as many as six heats. With certain results, she could finish the event as the ranking leader in both Under-14 and Under-16.
“I’m very tired, but we’re giving it everything in the next heats. I’m very happy to compete in all the divisions. I feel that competing against girls who are better and older than me helps me a lot. I get motivated when I beat them, and I learn from them,” said the new breakout star of Peruvian surfing.
Everything will be decided tomorrow
The final day will begin with the Men’s Open semifinals at 6:20 a.m. The semifinals will run until 9:40 a.m., followed by the twelve finals. Check the final-day schedule in the Schedule tab on our website.
The ALAS Global Tour Garabito Pro was sponsored by Corona Cero, Icoder, Banco LAFISE, the Costa Rican National Olympic Committee, the Costa Rican Surf Federation, Alamo Rent a Car, Lapoint Surf Camps, and Electrolit. It was supported by Místico Beach Town and Resort, Hotel Tramonto, The Backyard Hotel, Surf Dojo, Hotel Ola Bonita, Restaurante Vida Hermosa, Pizza Pata, and the Playa Hermosa World Surfing Reserve.