PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico – Clay Marzo (Maui, HI), 19, claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 3-Star Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido in impressive fashion when he put fellow finalists Junior Faria (BRA), 22, Angelo Lozano (Puerto Escondido, MEX), 22, and Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, in a combination situation to take out his first ASP WQS victory.

Although the finalists faced inconsistent conditions at Puerto Escondido, Marzo managed to capitalize on the two best waves and displayed a mind-blowing combination of barrel-riding, progressive tail-drifting turns and reverses to take out the victory.

“I was a little worried because it was a little mixed up out there,” Marzo said. “I got that first score and was able to relax enough to get the other one.”

The talented goofy-footer posted an opening score of a solid 8.25 before closing the doors on his competitors when he logged a massive 9.25 (both out of a possible 10) for a committing reverse.

“I saw this section coming and knew I needed to do something big,” Marzo said. “I did a little tack and luckily I did a big throw-tail and came out fins first and was able to spin it around.”

Lozano was the top local finisher and marched to a third-place result in front of his home crowd. The local talent won an ASP WQS 3-Star event last year at his home break of Playa Zicatela and the young ripper was happy to claim a podium finish two years in a row.

“I was just happy to make the Final,” Lozano said. “It was hard to get to. You want to win, but you’ve got to just let things flow. If it happens, that’s great, if not, to make it all that way to the Final is really good as well. I’m really happy to have made the podium at home two years in a row.”

Lozano waited patiently for a barrel that would offer big scoring potential, but was unable to find what he needed to take the win.

“I was waiting for some barrels out there,” Lozano said. “I saw Clay (Marzo) get a good one, so I wanted to wait for a hollow one. I waited and waited and it never came.”

Arrambide, who was a Semifinalist at last year’s ASP WQS event in Puerto Escondido, improved upon his result at this year’s inaugural Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido and finished fourth overall.

“I made the Semifinals here last year, so I’m stoked to have improved on my result and make the Final this year,” Arrambide said.

The defending ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion was in top form throughout the event’s entirety and pulled an impressive aerial flip in his Semifinal heat win to secure his podium finish.

“I’ve been practicing them at home,” Arrambide said. “I’ve been watching Dane (Reynolds) do them and they’re pretty inspiring and I’ve wanted to do one in a contest. Finally I pulled one off, it wasn’t big or anything, but I’m stoked I got it.”

Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido Final:
1- Clay Marzo (HAW) 17.50
2- Junior Faria (BRA) 11.50
3- Angelo Lozano (MEX) 8.20
4- Cory Arrambide (USA) 6.20