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.
Next month on October 14 - 16, the APSPR (Association of Professional Surfing of Puerto Rico) will begin it’s thirteen Tour season of competition to allocate the ranking points and crown the 2022 – 2023 Circuit Champion.
The international beer has returned as the circuit sponsor after 3 years of hold due to covid restrictions. Corona Extra has been the sponsor of the APSPR Pro Surfing in Puerto Rico ever since the tour’s inception in 2002.
“The event at Playa Middles, will have a total purse prize of $46,970.00 equal gender pay for the winners. In addition, and 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 provides athletes with the opportunity to have count their ranking points towards each respectively organization Championship Tour rank.
The competition format for the Corona Pro Surf Circuit APSPR / ALAS Invitational of a of 80 Men’s and a 32 Ladies draws, 4-man heats. Spaces and will consist seeding placement will be shared 50% for ALAS participants and 50% for APSPR participants. The APSPR will allocate their respectively Championship Tour ranking points and ALAS toward their respectively Championship Tour ranking points.
All the top ranked APSPR and ALAS surfers are expected to compete at Middles,
For all interested competitors.
Entries must be in by Thursday October 6, 2022. After October 6, a late entry fee will be charged, until entries finally close on Thursday the 13th.
In addition to both days of surfing competition, Corona Extra will host nighttime entertainment at several locations throughout the host town of Isabela, ensuring that the fun will continue around the clock all weekend.
Surfing fans who are unable to attend in person at Middles will have the opportunity to follow the action online at our website www.apspr.net .
Visit the media center on www.apspr.net for images, surfer quotes, archived press releases and athlete profiles.
We like to thank our generous sponsors Corona Extra and Corona Light for their commitment throughout all these years with APSPR and the surfing community.
Other sponsors of the event are:
Jose Cuervo, Hang Loose Surf Shop, Werner Vega Surfboards, Radtv.
The iconic reef at Domes Beach on the west coast of the island will see intense competition again next month when the top surfers from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and around the globe gather on March 13 –15, 2020 for the Corona Pro 36th edition, the most prestigious surf event in the Caribbean. Domes hold an historic place in surfing history as it was the site of the 1968 World Surfing Championships. This year, it will mark the start of the Corona Pro Surfing Circuit #13 Tour 2020 – 2021 with the Corona Pro 36th Edition.
Dominic Barona, Brian Toth / Champions Corona Pro 35th Edition. Photo: AC/APSPR©
Brian Toth (PR) and Dominic Barona (ECU) were Crowned Champions of the Corona Pro 35th Edition at Middles Beach in Isabela, Puerto Rico, Rafael Pereira and Alexis Engstrom are Corona Pro Surf Circuit 2018-19 Tour Champs.
The day began with a new 4’-7’ NNW swell and pristine conditions for an a historic field of 48 Men’s and 29 Women’s of twelve countries that delighted the crowd with great surfing performance.
With entries now closed, the seed draw shows many familiar names set to compete on top of a broad international field of competitors. Top-rated international visitor among the men’s are Joshua Burke, 22 (BBD) and Rafael Pereira, 29 (VNZ). Other top rank international competitors are, Jeison Torres 31 (CRI), Simon Salazar, 27 (COL), Daniel Olmos, 30 (COL), Angelo Bonomelli, 28 (ITA), Jose Lopez, 20 (VNZ) Magnum Martínez, 45 (VNZ). Among the women’s international visitors are Yulissa Matamorros, 18, (CRI), Ornella Pellizzari, 32, (ARG), Dominic Barona, 28 (ECU), Anali Gómez, 34 (PER), Kayla Durden, 26 (US), Molly Kirk, 19 (US), Emili Gussoni, 19 (ITA), Lily Pierce, 18 (GER), Jazzmin Bokola, (HWI), Autumn Hays, 20 (US), Brooke Young, 18 (US).
The current forecast for the 35th Edition Corona Pro this weekend shows on tap for Middles a 4' to 7' swell with light offshore southeasterly winds. The contest will decide the 2018 – 2019 Corona Pro Circuit Champ and will reward competitors with over $45,000 total prize purse for the Men's and Women’s divisions on an equal gender paid format.