- WSL / Rodrigo Farias Moreno

For the ninth consecutive year, the WSL Men's QS 3,000 Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour will be held at the dangerous and highly-respected reefbreak called El Gringo in Arica, Chile. The event will run from May 29 - June 3 and the cold-water barrels on the Chilean coastline will attract an international array of athletes and top names including the young Australian phenom Jack Robinson and former CT surfer Jadson Andre (BRA).

Tomas Tudela - Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour Tomas Tudela - WSL / Rodrigo Farias Moreno

Andre is aiming to bounce back onto the Championship Tour and is hunting for valuable QS ranking points in Chile. It will be the first time Andre will compete in Arica and will be a definite threat on the heaving lefthanders. The veteran Brazilian is currently in 13th place on the 2018 Qualifying Series rankings.

The Margaret River native, Jack Robinson, 20, is known as a tube-hound and participated at the Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour in 2017, finishing with a 9th place result after being eliminated prior to the Quarterfinals.

Tomas Tudela - Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour Tomas Tudela - WSL / Rodrigo Farias Moreno

Last year's winner was Tomas Tudela (PER) who was in complete sync with the barrels at El Gringo. Surfers from Peru have shown excellent form by winning three events in Arica. The first victory was won by Gabriel Villaran in 2009, followed by Alvaro Malpartida in 2013 and Tudela in 2017. The event at El Gringo has also had past winners from South Africa, Portugal and France.

As an added bonus, the City of Arica will be celebrating its 138th anniversary during the waiting period for the event. Being the only QS 3,000 status event during the end of May, it will surely attract a number of highly ranked surfers on the QS led by athletes from Brazil, the USA and Hawaii.

Manuel Selman - Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour Manuel Selman - WSL / Rodrigo Farias Moreno

The highest Chilean on the Qualifying Series is Manuel Selman who currently sits at 105th place in the rankings. The remaining surfers from the host nation will have to remain on the wait list and hope for any last-minute cancellations to enter the event.

The WSL Men's QS 3,000 Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour will be broadcast live at the most dangerous waves on the Pacific Coast of South America. Watch live at: www.worldsurfleague.com and www.mauiandsons.cl

Alvaro Malpartida - Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour Alvaro Malpartida - WSL / Pablo Jimenez
World Surf League
Download it for free on the App store. Download it for free on Google Play.