With summer in full effect along the north coast of Borinquen, Josie Graves and the Ergo Underground team pull off another in their series of impromptu contests bringing together an unprecedented numbers of competitors in a friendly clash of the island’s top surfing talent.
This past Saturday, July 3, Hollows beach was taken over by the Underground froth of Puerto Rico’s finest surfers. With a record breaking 48 competitors in the Men’s division and five contestants in the Girl’s division, it was a long day with a total of 25 heats, awesome waves, lots of ripping, and plenty of sun for this edition of the Ergo Underground Series.
With the Underground contests being run entirely by the surfers who are competing, the surfers of Puerto Rico proved that they are a very talented bunch in and out of the water. Everything from registrations, to making the heat draw, to judging was run by the surfers, so not only are all the surfers capable of winning a surf contest but also they’re capable of organizing one, too!
There were some awesome performances in the water and Hollows provided great 4-5 foot surf all day. With some styling prizes brought to the winners by Ergo, Sexwax, The Room Surf Shop, DNA Energy Drink, Smith, and two free meals at Killer Tacos, the surfers were not short on motivation to surf their best. With good surfing going on all day by both guys and girls, and a five heat run needed for the eventual winners, it was going to be a test of endurance and wave knowledge. In the end it was Gaby Escudero and Maria Kuzmovich who took the top prizes in their respective divisions. Not to be left out in both divisions were the second place performances thrown down by Wesley Toth and Lilac Alvarado. The girl’s final had nonstop waves for the whole 20 minutes and the girls took advantage of it charging Hollows steep walls with no fear! Lilac was dominating the first half of the heat, showing knowledge of the wave, but Maria came on strong in the last five minutes to post the two highest scores of the heat and take the win and the free lunch from Killer Tacos for the highest score! In the guy’s draw strong performances were delivered by Tom Bursian, Pablo Diaz, Ricardo Lucke, Nico Moreda. Wesley Toth was on fire all the way up to the final where he was stopped by Escudero. Both Toth and Escudero put on a spectacular demonstration of precise backhand surfing, and Wesley took the other free lunch at Killer Tacos in the semifinals with the only 10 of the contest and the highest score of the event.
The entire Ergo crew would like to extend big thanks to everyone who helped this day be possible! And thanks to the surfers for showing up and blowing up!
Results
Open Men’s
1. Gaby Escudero
2. Wes Toth
3. Ricardo Lucke
4. Nico Moreda
Open Women's
1. Maria Kuzmovich
2. Lilac Alvarado
3. Cristina Hernandez
4. Natty Perez
5. Liz Hauser