Epic Conditions on Day 3 for the AWT Desert Showdown

A south swell silled in to Punta San Carlos bringing consistent logo to mast high waves at the point that rolled into the Chili Bowl. Competition began at 11:30 and ran all the way until 6:30, with 16 minute heats, and all 4 division seeing some exciting action!

Amateur Action
The large amateur division dominated the action for the day with everything but the final heat getting completed. First thing up for the day was the 3rd round, so if you weren’t in the top two the event was over for you. Ripping their way to victory in round 3 were Fiona Wylde, MacRae Wylde, Eric Sinclair and Marc Bitoun, while also advancing with second place finishes were Tom Soltysiak, Ruben Lemmens, Mike Colee and Roberto Torkildsen.

Up next on the docket in the amateur division was the quarter finals which saw some awesome action! Canadian and in his first ever wave contest Tom Soltysiak showed some impressive surf style and took first while Ruben Lemmens also advanced with a second. The second quarter final saw Marc Boulton continue to impress the judges with his riding to take first while Eric Sinclair advanced in second.

“This was the best day of amateur competition ever. The AMs have to be stoked!” —Levi Siver

Day 3 Amateur Bracket

Women’s Action
The women division also saw some awesome action on day 3, pumping through 3 rounds of competition. Round 1 winners were Fiona Wylde and Ingrid Larouche, meaning they won an automatic bye to the semi-finals.

Fiona Wylde with a nice air

Round 2 saw some of the most impressive set waves roll through with all four women picking up their fair share of impressive rides. Advancing to the semi-final were Sarah Delaunay and Tanya Saleh who racked up the best scoring waves of the heat. Kate Barker and Sam Bittner didn’t advance but they likely rode some of the biggest waves of their lives.

The semi-final was a tight battle. Ingrid Larouche struggled to find a set wave early but scored an epic wave late in the heat to secure the victory. Also moving on to the head-to-head final was Fiona Wylde who has probably spent more time on the water here this trip than anyone and is really dialing in the conditions.

Pro Action
The first two rounds of the Pro division were completed as conditions were consistent and firing! Round one winners got an automatic by into the 3rd round. Taking these heats were Camille Juban, Levi Siver, Bernd Roediger and Kevin Pritchard. The move of the day was definitely Roediger’s massive head-dip aerial off a mast high point wave during his heat. Not one to back down Kevin Pritchard through the most innovative move of the day, an insane Back Loop Off-the-lip!

Levi with a nice top turn

Pressure was on in round 2 as anyone not claiming first or second was now out of the competition. Russ Faurot’s massive aerial at the point helped him take Heat 5, while Casey Hauser also advanced. Jonah Lepak, a former west-coast top pro who has now jumped back onto the scene with his incredible riding style, won heat 6. Jake Miller also slashed his way into round 3 with some nice waves. Taking heat 7 was Morgan Noireaux with a nice mix of wave gouges and aerials, while Ferdinando Loffreda also advanced. The final heat saw Keith Teboul simply destroy the point waves for the win with Kevin McGillivray also riding incredibly well to advance.

“Those were the biggest waves I’ve seen here in six years!” —Keith Teboul

Masters Action
The masters division was also able to pump through every heat except for the final. Advancing from round 2 Jamie Crowley and Mike Colee from one heat. From the other heat Marty Rosse (despite sailing with stitches in his foot from the previous day) and Eric Sinclair also advanced. The third round saw Norm Roediger and Marty Rosse advance as well as Ferdinando Loffreda and Mike Colee advance to the semi-final. Marty Rosse and Mike Colee with both continuing their solid performances. Roediger who patiently picked off the best set waves to score the most points took the semi-final. But Loffreda also advanced setting up and epic head-to-head final in the masters division!