EL RASTRIAL, Arecibo, Puerto Rico (Wednesday, October 2, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) North America Qualifying Series (QS) is officially headed back to Puerto Rico for the La Marginal Pro, a men's and women's QS 3,000, beginning October 30 through November 2. This monumental return marks the first time WSL competition hits Puerto Rico's shores since the 2011, following the 2010 Rip Curl Search Pro where Kelly Slater (USA) earned his 10th World Title. Now, the men's and women's QS are set to bring back premier competitors to contest with Puerto Rico's own standout talents for 3,000 points.
"We are so excited to have Puerto Rico back on our North America QS schedule," said WSL North America Regional Manager Meg Bernardo. "It's fantastic to have the Federacion of Puerto Rico Surf support this event. It underscores the importance of establishing a pathway to the WSL and creating a solid relationship between us. Launching as QS 3,000 makes this an event our surfers won't want to miss."
Puerto Rico's contenders such as Dwight Pastrana (PUR) will get to represent the island in home waters for the first time as a QS competitor in his career. - WSL / Christian Rua
Federacion of Puerto Rico Surf Brings WSL Back in a Major Way
After nearly 13 years, Puerto Rico will host a QS event following the success from hosting the ISA World Surfing Games. Arecibo's growing community around the waves of El Rastrial begins to lay the infrastructure for future generations of surfers and competitive surfing. With the help of the Federacion of Puerto Rico Surf, the island's own will have a chance to showcase their potential and learn from some of the region's, and world's, top competitors.
"We are looking forward to hosting the WSL for the La Marginal Surf Pro," said Federacion of Puerto Rico Surf President Oscar Martinez. "This event will bring the best male and female surfers from our region to compete for important QS points on the road to qualifying for the WSL Challenger Series and, ultimately, the Championship Tour. The contest will be held in the powerful and high-performance wave of El Rastrial in La Marginal, Arecibo, located on the North Coast of Puerto Rico. We hope this is the first of a long list of WSL events to be held in la Isla del Borinquen and that it serves as a pathway for local talent to showcase their competitive surf level and, in the near future, make history by having the first-ever Puerto Rican qualify for the Championship Tour."
The Caribbean can produce some of the world's best waves and Puerto Rico continues to be a focal point for a variety of world-class waves. - WSL / Ardiel
The break of El Rastrial includes mainly a lefthand reef break that also offers some shorter righthand waves. Open to an array of swell, Arecibo's coastline on the north side of Puerto Rico will favor late-season storm swell or the possiiblity of powerful north swell tracking down the East Coast. This lineup could provide a high-performance spectacle for some of North America's top-tier competitors to light up and showcase what's possible on the wave.
"Arecibo is grateful and ready to work with the World Surf League for this event that will take place in our town," said Mayor of Arecibo Carlos "Tito" Ramirez. "Being a stop within the QS offers an excellent opportunity for our athletes to achieve the desired points to rank among the best in our region. The celebration means a boost to the economy of Arecibo and the region. The success of the recently celebrated ISA World Surfing Championships validated the organizational capacity, responsibility, and commitment of all of us who are part of the municipal administration with surfing and Puerto Rico. It also demonstrated the enormous heart that characterizes Puerto Ricans. After 13 years since the last time the QS was held on the island, we are eager for our coast to receive each athlete from North America, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean."
Havanna Cabrero Leads Women's Local Talent to Represent the Island
This opportunity provides a pivotal competition at home for the surf-rich culture of Puerto Rico and its competitors. For the likes of Havanna Cabrero (PUR), MÃamar Soto (PUR), Mia Calderon (PUR), Dwight Pastrana (PUR), and many more, it notes the first QS event in their career of being able to compete in home waters. Cabrero, 24, who looks to rejoin the Challenger Series ranks after a brief hiatus from WSL competition, knows the levity of Puerto Rico's return to the QS schedule.
"It's amazing. We're having a QS for the first time in my [competitive] lifetime so just having it at home after traveling around North America for all these events it's really special," said Cabrero. "I know that will bring a lot of good energy for the surf community and more people getting involved so I'm really excited to have one at home. Arecibo is getting more involved with surfing so big thanks to them for hosting and for planting the seed for more events to come."
The La Marginal Pro event window opens October 29 through November 2 at El Rastrial, Arecibo, Puerto Rico.