Sammy Morretino dominates 2019 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival – SurferToday


Sammy Morretino and Ayaka Suzuki have taken out the 2019 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival, at La Cupula, in Chile.

The event will remain in the memory of many Chileans as the best bodyboarding competition ever run in the country.

The last day got underway with perfect six-to-eight waves peeling across the reef.

In the men’s final, Diego Cabrera opened his account with two good waves and a total combined score of 13.00 points.

Morretino quickly understood that he had to get in the game. He found a small lefthander and landed an invert – 5.75 points.

And, with five minutes on the clock, he found what he needed – a good-sized wave and a huge invert successfully landed on the flats.

“It’s amazing. Words can’t even express how excited and proud I am right now. I want to thank my mom. She passed away when I was 10 years old,” expressed Morretino.

“These two wins are for her and for a friend that also passed away recently. She’s looking down at me, and this is for them. They’re my angels.”

One hour after the men’s prone final, Morretino got back to the water to beat his Hawaiian friend, Mack Crilley. It was Sammy’s day.

“We’re all on this tour to be the best, and we just have to push ourselves. That’s what I did all the time. There’s no way I’m not tired. I came here telling myself I would win both divisions,” added the man of the event.

Ayaka Suzuki: the Japanese claimed her second consecutive win in Antofagasta | Photo: Jimenez/APB

On the women’s competition, Suzuki secured her second consecutive win in Antofagasta in an all Japanese final.

The 2018 APB World Tour champion defeated her fellow countrywoman Sari Ohhara by only 1,35 points.

“This is a very important event for me. I know everybody work so hard to put this on. So I would like to thank the staff,” Suzuki said in tears.

The next stop on the 2019 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival is Arica Bodyboard Culture.

2019 Antofagasta Bodyboard Festival | Finals

Men
1. Sammy Morretino (HAW) 15.00
2. Diego Cabrera (EUK) 13.50

Women
1. Ayaka Suzuki (JAP) 13.00
2. Sari Ohhara (JAP) 11.65

Drop Knee
1. Sammy Morretino (HAW) 16.75
2. Mack Crilley (HAW) 13.65

Pro Junior
1. Jerico Rosero 14.75
2. Rodrigo Silva 13.15
3. Moises Silva 10.60
4. Nahuel Benavides 8.50