Santa Catalina (Panama) (EFE).- The delegations of Peru and Canada won this Saturday the gold medals that were distributed in the men’s longboard and Sup Surf finals of the Pan American Surfing Championship, which takes place on the beach of Santa Catalina, in the southern Panamanian province of Veraguas.

Peruvian surfer Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Cemente won the first gold medal in the longboard category for his country. He took advantage of two good waves which earned him 8.33 and 7.13, to seal the victory with a final score of 15.46.

“I am happy to give my country the first gold medal. I dedicate this victory to my wife and to the sponsors,” the former gold medalist at the Lima 2018 Pan American Games told EFE.

Clemente also holds four world longboard titles, the most recent being in 2019 in Biarritz, southern France.

“We had a few injuries today, but we are still in the running. Tomorrow the short board finals will be held, we have competitors in the process, now we have to cheer them on and give them all the energy to get a few more medals for our country,” Clemente clarified.

‘Piccolo’ highlighted the quality of the waves at Santa Catalina beach, where he first surfed, and said he will now travel to Peru to spend time with his family, then compete in El Salvador in May next.

The silver medal went to the representative of Uruguay, William Schweizer, who finished with 15.03. He had his best record in his first wave with 8.53 points.

The podium was completed by Brazilian Carlos Bahía, who was the favorite to win the final and scored 14.73 at the end of the competition, his best record being 7.83.

In the men’s Sup Surf division, there was a battle between the Canadians and the Brazilians.

In the end, Canadian Finn Spencer won the gold medal with work that earned him a score of 15.00.

Spencer tied the gold metal with two waves, one of 8.10 and 6.90 points.

Silver and bronze went to Brazil with Wellington Reis and Luis Diniz.

Reis clocked 13.86 for silver, while Diniz won bronze with a time of 12.20.

The Panamericano de Surf will lower the curtain this Sunday with the women’s and men’s short board finals and the medal ceremony.