Arecibo hosts top surfing qualifier starting today

By The Star Staff

Arecibo Mayor Carlos “Tito” Ramírez Irizarry announced Tuesday that the staff of the northern coastal municipality is ready for the staging of La Marginal Pro, a qualifying event held by the World Surf League (WSL) in which more than 170 surfers who will compete in the waters off Rastreal Beach.

Ramírez Irizarry, along with Puerto Rico Surfing Federation President Oscar Martínez, said one of the WSL’s top qualifiers kicks off today with qualifying runs and ends on Sunday, Nov. 3. Registration has closed and the data shows that La Marginal Pro is the largest WSL event on the North American circuit.

“This is an ideal setting for PR and world surfers to demonstrate their skills and abilities in the field of surfing,” Ramírez Irizarry said. “We are very excited about this activity that once again places the eyes of the world on our Villa del Capitán Correa.”

“The best surfers in the world will occupy Rastreal Beach in Arecibo. Competitors came predominantly from North America, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico,” Martínez said. “Fourteen of them are our Puerto Rican athletes who have the backing and support of their Puerto Rican fans.”

The local contingent consists of 16 men and nine women seeking their ticket to the Surfing World Championships. Among them, Havanna Cabrera, Mia Calderón, Jolari Carreras, Dwight Pastrana and Ricardo Delgado stand out, along with Brian Toht, the promising Puerto Rican competitor who excelled at the ISA World Surfing Games.

Other amenities for the general public include live entertainment. Among the scheduled musical performers are La Secta and Los Rabanes.

“People will also enjoy the gastronomic variety available through the town’s local businesses while being able to learn more about the city’s activities and the tourist attractions that characterize Arecibo,” Ramírez Irizarry said.

More information on La Marginal Pro can be found by visiting the digital platforms of the World Surf League and the Municipality of Arecibo.