Cartagena de Indias, February 6, 2024. The possibilities of a rising sea, as a consequence of a change in meteomarine conditions reported by the authorities, became a special attraction for surf lovers, who decided to take advantage of the natural phenomenon for sport.
A few days after the first neighborhood surf tournament in the country was held, convened by the IDER in the Marbella sector, and given the forecasts of an increase in the waves of the Caribbean Sea, the league of that sport in Bolívar organized the event “Challenge IZZI, chasing the wave”, aimed at professional and amateur surfers and photographers, to reward the largest wave surfed, which pays tribute to the Colombian surfer Isabel Gómez “Izzi”, a giant wave competitor who has participated in world tournaments.
The president of the Colombian Surf Federation, Andrés Porras, explained that this is not a conventional sports competition, but rather a free challenge, without paying registration, in which participants will be able to choose the place and time they want to pursue, surf, and capture the best and most impressive photographs.
The Bolívar Surf League, organizer of the activity, indicated that given the confirmation of the Caribbean Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center (CIOH), attached to the General Maritime Directorate (Dimar), that the change in climatic conditions could affect Due to the increase in waves in the Caribbean Sea, numerous surf lovers from different regions of the country headed towards Cartagena, because those are the conditions conducive to the practice of this exciting discipline.
The event, which has the support of IDER, will take place for four (4) days, starting this Wednesday, February 7, and will reward the surfer who has ridden the largest wave, and the photographer who captures the best image. of the nautical challenge, with $500,000 for each one.
The dynamics of the awards establish that from Saturday, February 10, participants must upload their respective photos to social networks with the #MarDeLeva2024, tagging the Colombian Surf Federation, the Bolívar Surf League and the IDER, the which will be evaluated by federated national judges led by Jorge Pineda, who will announce the names of the winners on the afternoon of Monday, February 11.
Although there will be no specific monitoring of the participants, nor establishment of places or times for the activity, the sports league indicated that among the points likely to find good waves, the sectors of Playa IDER in Marbella, Las Velas in Bocagrande, and at night in Castillogrande.
The CIOH report on the occurrence of the natural phenomenon states that “The interaction is observed between a high pressure system located northeast of the North Atlantic Ocean, with the Darién low pressure system, associated with the Monsoon Trough. Likewise, the presence of a cold front located to the northwest of the Caribbean Sea is observed, which continues its trajectory towards the southeast. “The front is causing a change in the direction of the wind and waves, thus causing rough seas along the Colombian Caribbean coast.”
End of statement No. 194