We are excited to announce the RelocateDR Surf Team for the WSL Cabarete Pro event scheduled for March 3-6, 2022. This event will award 1000 points to the first place winner.
Professional Surfers from all over the world and especially from North America will come down to compete and gain as many points as possible for their ranking. As part of surf culture, when events like this come to a surf town, a wild card is awarded to a local athlete to be given the chance to be seeded beyond the 1st round of the competition and have a better chance of advancing.
Carambola Surf House has organized a separate surf competition in order to award this opportunity to the athlete that has beaten all the others. The Cabarete Pro (Wild Card awarding event) is on January 3rd and 4th at Encuentro Beach. Judges will be flying in from the US for the event. The winner will attain a Wildcard seed for the upcoming WSL event on March 3-6 2022.
RelocateDR is committed to giving back to the local Cabarete community in innovative ways that make a big impact. We have seen just how talented Dominican surfers and kite surfers are, however it is apparent these sports have not been given the support necessary to help athletes truly excel. With these competitions, the Cabarete Pro and the WSL Cabarete, RelocateDR would like to support some of the most promising athletes in the area.
Our surf team consists of 3 experienced surfers, all of which have competed in WSL events. All 4 of our surfers grew up surfing in Playa Encuentro, and they are major members of the local community that make positive impacts through their businesses and influence.
Pedro Fernandez Mateo was born in Santo Domingo, he started surfing at 9 years old and has been coming to Cabarete to surf since then. By the age of 17 he left the city behind to surf Cabarete’s many peaks full-time. Pedro is goofy-footed and is a powerful and agile surfer with a unique style. His surfing has brought him traveling all over the world representing the Dominican Republic in many competitions. He is a well known local artist painting huge murals all over the country and is also co-owner of one of our favorite restaurants in Playa Encuentro, Bonsai Poke and practices Jiu Jitsu regularly as Vibez Jiu Jitsu.
Eduar Santana also known as Papito Santana was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Fate brought him away from the city and onto Kite Beach where he’d help tourists pump and launch their kites. At 11 years old not knowing any better, he was standing on a boogie board catching waves, which is very difficult to do. From then on he has worked as a surf instructor on Encuentro beach. Papito has one of the most impressive surf careers in the country and in 2010 was awarded Dominican Athlete of the Year. He is now the owner of Dominican Surf School which offers advanced surf coaching, retreats, and kids programs on and off the beach. Papito is a regular-footed surfer known for being a tough competitor who “does not fall” meaning he always completes his maneuvers.
Max Self Eugene was born in the USA but grew up in Cabarete from a young age. He learned to surf at 8 years old and his talent was apparent even at a young age. Although Max does not look Dominican, his Spanish and culture will tell you otherwise, he will also be representing the Dominican Republic in the coming WSL event. Max is a regular-footed surfer with extremely powerful maneuvers and is known for how he creatively lands aerials. Max has won many local competitions and placed in every competition he’s competed in in the DR. Max and his family own Admiral Sports which makes the gear and apparel worn by many sports teams in the Americas.
RelocateDR is sponsoring Pedro Fernandez, Papito Santana, and Max Self for the WSL event by supporting their training with Heriberto Tinoco, founder of the tried and proven Pro Surf Coaching Method. Heriberto is from Venezuela and was coach of the Venezuelan National Surf Team for many years. Not only is Heriberto the best person on the island to prepare the team for competition, he also knows these waves and these surfers better than anyone else due to living in Cabarete for many years.
For more info on Playa Encuentro check our our community page