Shortboard and bodyboard opened the competition in heavy, seven-foot surf, with everything on the line for a spot in Round 2.
Monterrico, Guatemala – 4 July 2025 – No matter how much individual experience a surfer brings, representing one’s country comes with a different kind of pressure—even for the top contenders. That was the prevailing feeling today on the opening day of the Pan American Surf Festival — PASA Games Guatemala 2025.
That pressure was felt even by Bryan Pérez, ALAS Pro Tour champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, who admitted he was “excited and a little nervous” in his heat. Nevertheless, the “Pink Panther” had little trouble leading a stacked heat, advancing alongside Mexico’s Sebastián Williams, the defending Pan American Surf Games champion.
Back on shore, after posting the day’s highest total in his division (13.07), Pérez was greeted with applause from teammates. “It is always an honor to raise my country’s flag as high as possible. Competing for El Salvador is the greatest thing; I do it with all my heart,” he said.
In the challenging conditions, other standouts included Ecuador’s Maximiliano Sáenz, Costa Rica’s Darshan Antequera, Peru’s Raúl Ríos, and Argentines Thiago Passeri and Joaquín Muñoz.
Brazil Unstoppable in Bodyboard
Reigning champion Brazil arrived in Guatemala with the tough mission of defending the gold it won in Peru last year—a task made harder by traveling without a full squad, meaning no men’s shortboarders today.
Even so, Brazil’s dominance in bodyboard was clear, with all four of its athletes winning their heats: Maylla Venturin and Maira Viana in women’s (defending champion and runner-up), and Eder Luciano and Socrates Santana in men’s.
With fast, hollow seven-foot waves, El Rosario beachbreak offered perfect bodyboarding conditions. Spectators were treated to spectacular maneuvers like Panamanian Edwin Núñez’s backflip in the wave’s most critical section. Judges rewarded him with an 8.17—the highest single-wave score of the day.
After finishing fourth at the 2024 Pan American Surf Games in Punta Rocas, Peru, Núñez has one goal: gold. “Winning my heat keeps me strong, positive, and motivated to keep pushing harder. I aimed for an early score so I could wait calmly for the best waves, and it worked. I share the same objective as everyone else: to win gold,” he said.
Guatemala Savors the Thrill of Hosting
Hosting the Pan American Surf Games for the first time marks a huge step forward in Guatemala’s surfing journey. Today, surfing on home turf and in familiar conditions, the hosts showed their potential, advancing four of their seven competitors to Round 2. Highlights included Élder Vega, who topped his men’s shortboard heat and sent Peru’s Gabriel Vargas to the repechage.
On the beach, Guatemalan head coach Ricardo Kaufman emphasized the team’s focus: “I have found a group of young surfers with talent and a strong desire to learn. Having these monsters compete here will do them a lot of good. I told them to lock their emotional backpacks in their rooms; if something’s unresolved, handle it after you surf. Focus on what you need to win. Be here, be now.”
Pan American Surfing Association president Karín Sierralta shared the excitement: “We’ve started on the right foot—great waves, great maneuvers, and above all a fantastic vibe from every team. I want to thank ASOSURF, the Guatemalan Olympic Committee, and the businesses that stepped up to make this event a reality.”
Day 2 Serves Up More of the Same
Tomorrow’s action starts at 07:00 with the same divisions: women’s bodyboard (Repechage 1 and Round 2), men’s bodyboard (Repechage 1 and Round 2), and men’s shortboard (Repechages 1 and 2).
Barring schedule changes, heats run until 14:20. The first eliminations will come from the repechage rounds, while survivors move within striking distance of re-entering the main draw. This year’s format allows athletes who clear both repechage rounds to return to the principal bracket.
Highest single-wave score of the day: Edwin Núñez (PAN) 8.17 — Men’s bodyboard
Highest heat total of the day: Edwin Núñez (PAN) 14.50 — Men’s bodyboard
Follow the competition at www.pasasurf.org.
About the Event
The Pan American Surf Festival — PASA Games Guatemala 2025 is organized by ASOSURF, the Confederación Deportiva Autónoma de Guatemala, and the Guatemalan Olympic Committee. It would not be possible without the support of 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) is the continental body responsible for promoting, regulating, and developing surfing in the Americas. Affiliated with the International Surfing Association (ISA) and recognized by Panam Sports, PASA coordinates qualifying events for the Pan American Games and advocates for surfing’s inclusion in Olympic programs.
Since its inception, PASA has been instrumental in expanding surfing as both a competitive and formative sport, strengthening national federations, promoting surfing as a healthy lifestyle, and supporting new generations of athletes across Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America.