MIDDLES, Isabela Puerto Rico (Sunday, October 16,2022) – Rafael Pereira (VNZ) and Dominic Barona (ECU) are the crowned champions at the 36th edition of the Corona Extra Pro Circuit at Middles Beach in Isabela, Puerto Rico.  The Corona Pro APSPR/ALAS Invitational completed the Men "s and Women’s Pro in highly contestable 3'-5' surf with light side-shore winds offering conditions for competitors to display an array of progressive, committed maneuvers on the lefts and rights.

The Men’s Pro saw a handful of upsets as some of the top seeds like Brian Toth (PR) and Bryan Perez (SALV) weren’t able to execute their best performance and went down to Jose Joaquin Lopez (VNZ) and Oscar Urbina (CRC) in Semis 1 in a hard-fought battle. Lopez combination of vertical snaps and airs on his forehand was rewarded with the highest wave of the event, a 9.67 and the highest heat score of the event, an 18.67. On semis 2, top seed and defending champ of the Corona Pro Surf Circuit, Rafael Pereira (VNZ) and seed #5 Martin Ottado Breccia (URU) were outperformed by dark horse first appearance at the Corona Pro, Luke Gordon (US). Pereira advanced to finals with a 9.84 heat score while Gordon was rewarded with a 14.0 heat score to win the heat. Breccia finished 5th place with an 8.47 and Kai Gale Grani (PAN) 7th place with an 8.37. 

The Men’s Pro final between Lopez, Urbina, Gordon and Pereira was also a hard-fought battle with Pereira claiming the $10K, the Corona Pro APSPR/ALAS Invitational Champion title and defending his top seeding by displaying a combination of progressive maneuvers and airs and rewarded with a 12.17. In a close battle with Pereira, Lopez finished 2nd with an 11.93 taking home 4.5k, Gordon ontained 2.3k by finishing 3rd place with a 10.07 and Oscar Urbina took home 1.5k by finishing 4th with an 8.1 heat total.

The women's division also saw some upsets as top seeds Alexis Engstrom (US) was eliminated on heat 4 in the quarters finals and Lucia Cosoleto (ARG) 2nd seed was eliminated on semifinals one. The semifinal was a battle of wave choice as Rosanny Alvarez (VNZ) with a heat total of 8.17 and top seed Lucia Cosoleto (ARG) with a heat total of 5.26 were both defeated by Indiana Ferri (CRC) with a 13.33, and advancing on second,  local rising star Jolari Carreras with a 10.06 heat total. In Semifinal 2, Dominic Barona (ECU) posted the top score of the event, a 9.17, as well as the 2nd highest heat total, a 14.67. Barona strong surfing outperformed Rubiana Brownell (CRC) who was rewarded with a 10.76 to advance in 2nd and took down local raising star and first appearance on the Corona Pro, Mia Calderon (PR) rewarded with a 4.47 heat score and Jazmine Dean (US) rewarded with a 3.51 total heat score.

Barona's strong backside and, back to back surfing performance was rewarded with the highest heat total of the event, a 15.3 for the women's division, claiming the $10K, the Corona APSPR/ALAS Invitational Champion Title and defending her Middles Title. Rubiana Brownell (CRC) finished 2nd with a heat score of a 12.36 taking home 4.5K, the local rising star, Jolari Carreras, finished 3rd with a 11.27 heat score and bringing home  2.3k, finishing 4th was Indiana Ferri (ARG) with a heat score of 7.77 taking home a check for 1.5K.

The Corona Pro APSPR/ALAS Invitational is the 1st stop of a series of three APSPR events annual circuit. For the first time in history, ranking points will also count for the Latin American Pro Surf Association (ALAS). The joined efforts made by APSPR and ALAS provide athletes with the opportunity to have count their ranking points towards each respectively organization Championship Tour rank and cualification route to the Olympic Games.

Thanks to the generous sponsors for the Corona Pro Surf Circuit APSPR/ALAS Invitational:

Corona Extra, Tequila Jose Cuervo, Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, Werner Vega Surfboards, Hang Loose Surf Shop, Osnet Internet Forever

The other generous sponsors of the Corona Extra Pro Circuit are: Corona Extra, Corona Light, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, AT&T, Coppertone, Jose Cuervo, Cabreiroá, Finlandia, Hang Loose Surf Shop, Werner Vega Surfboards, Mango's, El Nuevo Día, Wapa Tv, N- Punto, Alfa Rock and Mundo Rad. For more information, event videos and more check www.apspr.net