Rip Curl Announces a Return to Puerto Rico for 2013 Pro Surfing Event

Online, October 21, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Rip Curl announced earlier this month that it would be holding the Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico, an ASP 4-star rated event, on February 6-10, 2013, at Jobos Beach in Puerto Rico. The success of the last Rip Curl event that took place in Puerto Rico two years ago played a big role in the surf company's decision to bring a major event back to PR, as did the Caribbean island's notoriously good waves and promising local surf community. Puerto Rico is home to some of the best surf in the Caribbean, and Rincon Puerto Rico - a quaint surf town on the west side of the island - is known as a surf haven among locals and tourists alike. Rincon is a popular surf destination on its own, and is located only 45 minutes from Jobos, where the Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico will be held in 2013.

The last Puerto Rico surfing event sponsored by Rip Curl was in 2010, when Middles Beach in Isabela hosted the Rip Curl Pro Search "Somewhere in Puerto Rico" ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). Locals and tourists gathered at Middles to watch the historic event, where Kelly Slater earned his 10th ASP World Title and Stephanie Gilmore earned her 4th title in the women's event. The 2010 Pro Search brought some of the best surfers in the world to PR, where they showcased their talents on some of the best waves in the Caribbean. Puerto Rican surfer Dylan Graves lost out to surf legend Kelly Slater during the 2010 Pro Search Puerto Rico, but you'd never know it from the pictures of the Rip Curl event, with Graves hoisted on the shoulders of locals proud to be represented out in the water.

"Puerto Rico is home to world class waves and world class surfers," Rip Curl USA VP of Marketing, Dylan Slater, said. "We know this first hand after running a historic event here in 2010. The support from the local government and local surfers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we can't wait to bring an ASP event back to the Caribbean." In addition to bringing pros and surfing icons to try their luck with Puerto Rico's infamous surf breaks, the Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico will also give promising local Puerto Rican surfers an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a noteworthy crowd.

Luis Rivera-Marin, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, commented on the importance of bringing the Rip Curl surfing event back to PR. "For the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, it is very important to support the Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico event, because we know it will maximize our efforts to keep developing the island as an ideal surfing destination. This event will also attract visitors and surfers from all over the world, turning them into the best spokespersons about the quality of our beaches for the future of this sport."

Surfing in Puerto Rico is a one-of-a-kind experience, and that hasn't escaped the recognition of the Rip Curl Pro event sponsor, Rip Curl. As current ASP World Championship Tour surfer and icon Taylor Knox said, "I can't wait to get back to Puerto Rico, it was such an amazing event in 2010. Puerto Rico is absolutely beautiful, and the waves there are world-class. February 2013 can't come fast enough!" And if the 2010 event is any indication of how popular the upcoming Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico will be, Rip Curl and the surfers planning to compete in the ASP 4-star event better start preparing now!

For more information about Rincon Puerto Rico, surfing, activities and PR hotels, RinconVacations.com online guide is the most valuable resource on the island for everything Puerto Rico. Search RinconVacations.com for the best deals on lodging, the inside scoop on Puerto Rico dining and fun, and where to find the best surf in Puerto Rico. Contact the locally-owned and operated Rincon Vacations at 787-632-2889, or visit www.RinconVacations.com, to find out everything you need to know about Puerto Rico lodging, activities and surf!