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BIG BUEY
Pipeline comes to Chilean Big Wave Contest
(*Special thanks to photog/writer Phillip Muller for this story -- he also has some high res shots for sale. Email him for info.)
First off, it should be said that after an epic Big Buey last year, this season was a bit of a light version. Not to say it was a walk in the park or anything. Solid swells had been reaching the north of Chile for the last month, but the ocean seemed to take a rest as the contest went into its waiting period.
Two days before the contest was to begin, the Buey was firing big huge barrels. Luckily for the international invitees, all the Chileans surfers were at the other perfect big wave spot in Arica: El Gringo for the national championship, called "Maestros del Gringo". (Ramon Navarro won against Morris Tapia.), so they were able to sample the Buey's gaping tubes on their own.
Four days in the two-week waiting period, what was to be the last swell for the next fortnight came along the chilean coast towards Peru. The decision was taken between the organization and the surfers after a long meeting the following morning, all decided to launch the contest in six- to eight-foot solid surf and get the first round going -- if no other swell was to come before the 31st of July, the results of the first round would be taken in account.
Unfortunately, the following day, the Buey was even smaller -- altough the Gringo was pulling perfect tubes, lefts and rights. Most of the international invitees after having being barred from surfing the Gringo due to the national championship most of the previous week, were psyched to get a taste of the Chilean version of Pipeline and managed to put on a stellar tuberiding show for a thrilled mass of spectators who came to watch all morning. (In Arica, nearly all surf stops at noon because the wind comes up on the main spots)
The buoys charts finally announced that the waves would be getting smaller the whole second week of the waiting period. This made the Friday rounds the final call for Big Buey 2005 -- and one happy Brazilian. Marcos Monteira from Brazil finished first of the competition, topping Jamie Sterling and Greg Long who finished second and third respectively with an impressive strong surf, dominated his heat which was also the one with the biggest surf and most waves ridden that day.
More impressive is the fact that Marco came from Brazil with his own money earned as a life-saver near Rio de Janeiro. It was a dream for him last year to come and surf the big northern waves of Chile. He was spotted by the organizers of Big Buey as he was ripping the place on a personal surf trip with a very distinctive style -- and without leash because he forgot it at home.
Needless to say, he was officially invited this year's contest. It seems the organization wasn't wrong in inviting him -- he also won an international expression session that took place during the Gringo Contest, dominating an international field of pro surfers tubing deeper than his new colleagues.
All of the invitees were willing to be amongst next year's invitees, the strongest voices amongst them being the Long brothers and Jamie Sterling who assured their participation in Big Buey 2006 which will count with a longer waiting period to be able to wait for the optimum conditions to run a big wave contest.
*SPECIAL BONUS: FIVE MINUTES WITH JAME STERLING
Second place finisher Jamie Sterling is a 24-year-old big-wave charger from Hawaii who spent two weeks in Northern Chile. Here's a quick few questions:
After 2 weeks living in front of this wave, what are your impressions about "El Buey"?
For me, it's one of the most perfect big-wave spot in the world. It has a good left and a good right -- not many good waves are lefts, and as a goofyfoot, I find that great.
How would you describe Chile and Arica in particular?
Chilean people are nice, partie until five in the morning, chilean girls can dance very good and I love the chilean red wine and seafood here…
What do you think of this contest Big Buey 2005?
It's a gre
at dream and vision. I can see this contest in the future as a world-class venue for a big wave event.
The setup is perfect. The combination with with the Hotel just in front of the wave is great. It establishes a relationship with the wave. You follow all the moods of the wave, weather and tides. It makes it very accessible.
Your opinions about the international group that was invited?
It's a good cultural experience to know the other international athletes, styles, the boards. It creates more awareness.
And the latin surfers?
They're charging. Their surfing level is good. The Big Wave movement is young and growing. They're coming big.
How do you consider Chile and big waves?
It's perfect. It's the opposite to Hawaii. It's small in Hawaii actually and being able to chase big waves here in the Hawaiian summer is good for myself and to become an better big wave surfer.
Are you coming back next year?
Definitely. I'm happy to be at the beginning of a great dream and passion and proud to promote big wave surfing in Arica for years to come. The wave (El Buey) alone is enough to make me come back. I would put the Buey at the same level as Waimea Bay. That wave can get huge.
RESULTS:
1 Place: Marcos Monteiro (Brasil) $1500
2 place: Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) $600
3 place: Greg Long (California) $400
4 place Diego Medina (Chile) $300
5 place Santiago Di Pace (Argentina) $200
6 place: Evaristo Ferreira (Brasil)
7 Place: Rusty Long (California)
8 place: Cristian Merello (Chile)
9 place: Jose Gomez (Perú)
10 place: Reinaldo Ibarra (Chile)
11 place: Giovanni Visconti (Chile)
12 place: Dusty Meddleton (Hawaii)
13 place: Renato Aguirre (Chile)
14 place: Ramon Navarro (Chile)
15 place: Edwin del Rio (Chile)
16 place: Sebastian Mella (Chile)
17 place Benjamin Barros (Chile)
18 place: Javier Romero (Chile)
19 place Cristian Tapia (Chile)
20 place: Fabian Farias (Chile)
21 place. Rodrigo Sanchez (Chile)
22 place: Cristobal González (Chile)
23 place: Franco Russo (Chile)
The organizers would like to thank: Corporacion de Arica y Parinacota, Camara de Turismo, Hotel Arica, Casino Arica, Sky Airline, Gobernación Marítima, Inmobiliaria Garate & Niedbalski, Hotelera UKG, Inacap, Artículos de Surf FCS y Xcel.
RELATED LINKS:
CHILE GOES XXL
Chile Surf Map
--
Phil Muller
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