Junior Gómez Diaz has conquered the "Encuentro Surf Challenge 2011", held on in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. The third stage of the National Surf Circuit of the Dominican Surfing Federation (FedDoSurf), gathered up to 90 surfers from different regions of the country, who battled hard for victory in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
The waves were surfed at Encuentro Beach with many spectators enjoying the surfing performances. Gómez Diaz, from Rio San Juan and one of the best Dominican riders, took the event and was followed by Antonio "Zion" Sosua Balbuena, who was a close second in the finals. In third place was Eduar "Papito" Santana and Roberto Martinez in fourth place, both from Cabarete.
Surfing in the Junior Division, Eduar "Papito" Santana of Cabarete was first place, followed by Matias Espinozam, Jobe Amelignier of Sosua and Arturo Pereyra of Santo Domingo in fourth place.
Brian Cotou was the champ in Mini Junior Surfing and second place was won by Kai Roberts, both from Cabarete. Marco Anderes of Las Terrenas was third followed by Braulio Ortiz Brito of Santo Domingo in fourth place.
In the Women's Open, Julie DeSmet of Cabarete took first place, followed by Carolina Gutierrez from Las Terrenas in second. Audry Meyer of Cabarete finished in third place and Nairobi Rosario of Sosua in fourth. Lea Berrú, a young surfer from Cabarete was the champion in the Female Mini-Junior category.
In the Open Longboard Division, Daniel Alvarez of Macao was crowned champion, followed by Leon Gough of Cabarete, who won second place. Brandon Sanford finished in third place, followed by Rene Gough in fourth, both from Cabarete.
All winners in the Open Bodyboard Division are from the neighboring town of Sosua, with Pascual Silverio in first place, Jose Miguel Henriquez in second, Ángel Miguel Mejía in third and Neo Martinez in fourth.