Raul Noyola sets new ASP record
  
 


BILLABONG USA CENTRAL AMERICAN SERIES 2001
Billabong Pro Costa Rica (Mar 23-25, 2001)
2001 World Qualifying Series



MEXICAN NOYOLA SETS ASP RECORD BY WINNING
THE BILLABONG PRO COSTA RICA

 
 
 Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica (Sunday, March 25, 2001). Just one week after winning the Nations Challenge in the Billabong Pro Panama, Puerto Escondido local Raul Noyola has set an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) record by becoming the first Mexican to win a World Qualifying Series event (WQS). Noyola's dramatic win came in 5-7 foot beach break surf that is similar, though less powerful, to the waves of his home break, the "Mexican Pipeline".

 Waves consistently poured through for the entire event, and the conditions tested the fitness of all competitors, leaving many surfers short of three high scores while losing time in difficult paddle outs. An exception was Julia Christian, of Carlsbad, California. Coached in this event by 7 times Panamanian National champion Gary Saavedra, Christian surfed perfect competitive heats, returning to the shore after each wave and paddling out in the rip current between the sandbanks.

  
   Her strategy paid off in the final, where she emerged a clear winner, ahead of local favorite Lisbeth Vindas. Just last week at the Billabong Pro Panama, 18-year-old Christian was placed 2nd behind World Championship Tour seed Keala Kennelly, and must be seen as the brightest prospect from Southern California. Robyn Davies from the UK took the three largest waves of the final, but unfortunately all closed out, and she was left with low scores and third place.
 Filling fourth place was Costa Rican Andrea Diaz, who also received much crowd support. Fellow countryman Gilbert Brown justified his wildcard slot in the men's event, and was cheered on to a well-deserved fifth place finish. Along with Diego Naranjo, Freddy Camacho and Geancarlo Loria, Brown is one of Costa Rica's hottest locals. Peruvian wildcard Magoo De La Rosa, who free fell into the pit and emerged some seconds later from the barrel of the event, was unlucky not to advance from his quarterfinal.