Today, waves reached an average height of six to eight feet. The point was insane and heats were heavy as reperchargers and advancing athletes were slugging it out hard to make it to the next round.

I spent the majority of the day with surfers, coaches, and managers wrapping out about strategy, their experience in Ecuador, and life back home in their country. Germany seemed to have the most unique set up as athletes often make the trek to neighboring countries of Spain and France to log a little time in with Mother Ocean. Some groms in the girls division hail from the Canary islands; one of which is the youngest competitor at age 10. Paul Gunther of Munich doesn't even bother traveling, instead he charges hard on the river in his backyard. He's even got a blog on it at www.paulgunther.de.

As for the Venezuelans, they are still duking it out in repercharge heats. They say it is a little hard to compete with other countries due to the lack of sizable swell back home. Most athletes from this Caribbean nation spend their flat days diving and spearing fish for fun in clear warm waters.

Chile's Guillermo Satt was sent to the repercharges today and will be digging hard to make it to the finals. This groms got a ton of talent. When he was only 14 years old, he placed top 10 in the Chilean national circuit. To be able to make it this far is a challenge in itself for any athlete. However, like most groms in this event, he's just amped to surf on an international platform without having to wear his 4/3.

Luke Williams and Icah Wilmot are in charge of the Jamaican team this year. They have a couple kids left trying to make it through the repercharges.

More to come tomorrow as the swell should make it a little more shredable for all divisions.

Only a few more days till finals!

JimJims