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Puerto Rico One Step from Double SUP Race Gold at the PASA Games Guatemala 2025 Surf Festival

With four days left, the Caribbean squad is chasing its first team title at the Pan Am Surf Games — but Peru and Argentina aren’t far behind.

Monterrico, Guatemala — July 9, 2025 — Day 6 confirmed Puerto Rico’s stranglehold on SUP Race: both of the first two rides have gone to Boricua paddlers, Mariecarmen Rivera in the women’s field and Ricardo Ávila in the men’s. One more race remains, this Friday. A second-place finish will lock up individual gold for each; if they slip to third, Argentina’s Juliette Duhaime and Brazil’s David Leao would have to win to force a tie-breaker. Success starts with dedication — the Puerto Ricans arrived in Guatemala back in June to study the course and its tricky currents, an edge that has shown in both heats. “The training paid off,” Rivera said. “I understand the circuit; I’m comfortable, but I never underestimate anyone. Friday I’m going out like it’s Race 1.”

Heads Roll in Men’s Longboard

The men’s repechage claimed a major scalp: Argentina’s Franco Faccin is out, a blow to a team battling Peru and Puerto Rico for overall gold. Every heat felt like sudden death. “We just wanted to stay alive, and we did,” Venezuela’s JosĂ© Antepaz said after advancing behind local Carlos Escobar. Antepaz believes better surfing is ahead: “I’ve shown maybe 20 percent. Round 2 will be the other 80.” Costa Rica’s Sam Reidy—best known for shortboard—surprised by winning his longboard heat. “No pressure like in shortboard. I can show my style here,” he said. Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru, El Salvador, Chile, and Brazil still have both riders in play.

Women’s Shortboard Repechage Trims the Field

Four surfers bowed out today: Ecuador’s Wendy Velásquez, Panama’s Kely Gasparovic, Nicaragua’s Máxima Resano, and Guatemala’s Juana Pos.

Chasing Peru

Peru still tops the team standings after finishing second on home soil last year, but nothing’s sealed. Argentina is close, and Puerto Rico is the surprise package, already owning Luz Grande’s bodyboard gold and aiming for two more via Rivera and Ávila. “We came to compete,” Puerto Rico team manager Rogelio Torres Álvarez said. “We’re here to have fun — competitively. Gold is in play and we plan to make noise.”

PASA Keeps Growing Surf in Guatemala

For a third straight day PASA ran its junior exhibition in El Rosario, giving under-18 surfers from across the Americas a taste of international action. “This showcases young talent and lays groundwork for a Pan Am Junior Surf Games,” PASA president Karín Sierralta said, thanking ASOSURF for nurturing the sport among Guatemalan youth.

Top single-wave score: GĂ©nesis Borja (ECU) — Women’s Shortboard — 6.33
Top heat total: GĂ©nesis Borja (ECU) — Women’s Shortboard — 10.33

Watch the action live at www.pasasurf.org.

About the Event
The PASA Games Guatemala 2025 Surf Festival is produced by ASOSURF, the Confederación Deportiva Autónoma de Guatemala, and the Guatemalan Olympic Committee, with support from the Municipality of Taxisco (Santa Rosa), Naturalmente Santa Rosa, Hoteles Dos Mundos, Hotel Pazífico, Johnny’s Place, El Faro Hotel, Hotel El Delfín, Dulce y Salado Hotel, Mangoya Jungle, Hidravida, Maya Jade, Hawaiian Paradise, Hotel San Gregorio, Maya Internacional Transporte Turístico, Utz Tzava Beach Hotel, Marbella Ecolodge, Hotel Honolulu, and One Pixel.

About PASA — Pan American Surf Association
Founded in 1992, the Pan American Surf Association (PASA) governs and promotes surfing throughout the Americas. Affiliated with the International Surfing Association (ISA) and recognized by Panam Sports, PASA runs Pan Am Games qualifiers, drives surfing’s Olympic pathway, and supports national federations while inspiring the next generation across Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America.