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Teahupo'o, Tahiti gets set for Billabong Pro Talk back on the Surf board |
Local Noyola Sets ASP Record at Billabong Pro
04.03.01Transworldsurf.com Just one week after winning the Nations Challenge in the Billabong Pro Panama, Puerto Escondido local Raul Noyola set an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) record by becoming the first Mexican to win a World Qualifying Series event (WQS). Noyola's dramatic win came in 5-7 foot beach break surf that is similar, though less powerful, to the waves of his home break, the "Mexican Pipeline." Waves consistently poured through for the entire event, and the conditions tested the fitness of all competitors, leaving many surfers short of three high scores while losing time in difficult paddle outs. An exception was Julia Christian, of Carlsbad, California. Coached in this event by 7-time Panamanian National champion Gary Saavedra, Christian surfed perfect competitive heats, returning to the shore after each wave and paddling out in the rip current between the sandbanks. Her strategy paid off in the final, where she emerged a clear winner, ahead of local favorite Lisbeth Vindas. Just last week at the Billabong Pro Panama, 18-year-old Christian was placed 2nd behind World Championship Tour seed Keala Kennelly, and must be seen as the brightest prospect from Southern California. Robyn Davies from the UK took the three largest waves of the final, but unfortunately all closed out, and she was left with low scores and third place. Filling fourth place was Costa Rican Andrea Diaz, who also received much crowd support. Fellow countryman Gilbert Brown justified his wildcard slot in the men's event, and was cheered on to a well-deserved fifth place finish. Along with Diego Naranjo, Freddy Camacho and Geancarlo Loria, Brown is one of Costa Rica's hottest locals. Peruvian wildcard Magoo De La Rosa, who free fell into the pit and emerged some seconds later from the barrel of the event, was unlucky not to advance from his quarterfinal. In the men's final, Mike Hoisington surfed as good as ever, but with wave choice a deciding factor, was let down by a lower third ride. Standout surfer of the event was Asher Nolan, who blitzed all his earlier heats with hard, fast verts on the larger waves, but ran out of steam in the final to finish third. Most disappointed was fourth-placed Matt Keenan who had aimed for a better finish than the third place he received in the Billabong Pro Panama final the week before. The waves at Puerto Escondido had more than prepared Raul for this final. The stocky, powerful Noyola threw chunks of spray on each turn, and ended the close out section with huge moves. The foundations of professional surfing laid by fellow locals Roberto Salina, Coco Nogales and Eric Ramirez for newcomers David Rutherford, Oscar Moncada and others had borne fruit through Raul Noyola's victory in Costa Rica. The popular winner was the Latino toast of the night. Mexican surfing has come of age. The Sunchild tour continued in this land of abundant reef, point and beach breaks with a concert at the event site, where they played alongside reggae, trance and punk bands late into the tropical night. After the event, contestants, spectators and party people wearily made their ways back along the dusty roads to the wooden bungalows they called home, stoked to have been a part of the Billabong Central American Series 2001. Bring it on 2002!
Results of the Billabong Pro Costa Rica Men's
Results of the Billabong Pro Costa Rica Women's 
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