MASTER OF THE OCEAN ELEVATES THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WITH THE MOST EXTREME INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN THE REGION  

Cabarete, September 2nd, 2021

The organizers of Master of the Ocean, the most complete extreme water sports competition held in Cabarete, on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, announced the dates of its 17th edition, during a lively press conference oceanfront, at the luxurious Millennium Resort and Spa Cabarete. This elite race is unique because it includes professionals athletes in surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding). Surf lovers will gather from September 14 to 18 and much action is expected on waves and winds thanks to local and international celebrity riders.

FIERCE BATTLE IN THE OCEAN

The north shore of the island will witness pro riders coming from over 17 countries, such as Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and France. There are high expectations for champion Olympian Manuel Selman, who finished in the top 20 for surfing in Tokyo earlier this year.

Marius Herrmann, a powerful athlete in various sports, will travel from Sylt, Germany. Sylt is a small island in northern Germany that produces, like Cabarete, many tough heroes in the disciplines of surfing and windsurfing.

Women are not left behind. For the first time we will see the Amazonian surf rider from Germany Valeska Scheider; She is a champion many times over and a regular in our country. We will keep our eyes on the Italian veteran Samuela Mulé, who will fly through the air with her power kite. Samuela is a recognized entrepreneur who has made Cabarete her home for 8 years. Spanish Imma Nin Franch is a talented award-winning kitesurfer in the Big Air and Cayu Kite Rac, while Paula Novotna, from the Czech Republic, is bound to be the event's sensation, with her progressive kite riding.

Frenchwoman Audrey Meyer is an eminence not only for having won titles in the Overall division of the Master of the Ocean, but for her leadership and having founded the most prominent water sports event in the Caribbean for women only, the Butterfly Effect.

As for the natives, they all know that this is where the spirit of surfing roars. Cabarete has produced world champions of the highest caliber. We wait for the great local kiters Papito Santana, Joselito del Rosario and Carlos David to put the Dominican flag over the ocean at the highest point.

This year the format of the competition will be in the with teams made up of 4 competitors; each athlete specializes in a discipline: surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and Stand Up Paddle. The sportsmanship will be palpable as we watch the Dominicans share the action with the internationals, in a vivid demonstration of the versatility and dynamism that characterizes this coastal city.

This is due to the conditions of the north shore, which are extraordinary for practicing the extreme sports. Recently, Minister of Tourism David Collado appeared at the Formula Kite race, and intrepidly jumped on a boat, to experience the race, the front row. Minister Collado state that "the Dominican Republic and Cabarete will become the water sports tourism destination worldwide by far."

Master of the Ocean is the competition that brings together in the same setting, Playa Encuentro, Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, four disciplines. The conditions are spectacular even for pro athletes around the world, who come to this place, drawn by the wind, temperature, waves, and the human quality that Dominicans are well known for.

Inscriptions were held at Cabana Restaurant in a lively party with beats by DJ Froggi, with  an unprecedented amount of athletes inscribing, 49 to be exact, from 17 nations around the world. Expectations ran high from the start.

WING FOIL: SPORT OF THE YEAR

For the first time in the island, within the framework of the competition, Master of the Ocean will offer a master kclass in the latest and most popular sport: wing foiling. Wing foil is an innovative and spectacular discipline that combines a kite and windsurf sail, no ropes or harness. Experts already predict that it will be the next sport to make a splash, as with kinting in the 90s.

A SAFER CABARETE

September 16TH will be dedicated to the children of the Cabarete community with a fun-filled day called Safety in the Water. This one-day festival, which is organized by the Happy Dolphins DR Foundation, will focus on raising awareness about safety in and out of the water. Visitors will enjoy talks about ocean conservation by experts, yoga stretching, music, wing foil classes, and lifeguard drills, thanks to the Happy Dolphins lifeguards, the Inspire DR Foundation instructors, and the Kymera DR electric jet boards team.

Inspire DR offers an innovative swim training and lifeguard training program called ATC (Acuatics Training Cabarete) aimed at local children to make them feel safe and comfortable in the water as they learn to swim. Happy Dolphins DR's mission is to elevate the lives of the north coast of the Dominican Republic by creating a deep connection to the ocean by training young men and women for lifeguard training, swimming, and surfing.

This will result in a safer and more attractive destination, while creating new jobs. For more information, please visit www.happydolphinsdr.org.

The event is held outdoors in a large beach area, under the sun and with tropical winds; therefore, the activity is considered Covid-safe. The organizers work hand in hand with the local authorities: Ministries of Defense, Public Health, Tourism Police and Environment, to ensure that the local protocols are followed. The hotel community and numerous national and international brands are joining in to promote the destination, which is already recognized worldwide for its qualities in the practice of sports and adventure. Thanks to the support of American Airlines, the participation of top media and athletes from North America and the Caribbean is secured.

For the first time, Kymera DR electric boards will contribute to water safety with their electric rescue boards and have announced the donation to the Happy Dolphins DR foundation of a jet board for future lifeguard training programs.

Other sponsors are: Viva Wyndham Tangerine, the only all inclusive hotel in the area, strategically located right in the town of Cabarete; the luxurious and renowned Millennium Resort and Spa where the prominent press conference was held; Ultravioleta Boutique Residences, with its minimalist and elegant style; Cabarete Palm Beach Condos with its luxurious and comfortable spaces right oceanfront; and Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel and Spa, with organic architecture and eclectic décor designed promote zen tranquility. Villa Taina offers top of the line service, in the heart of Cabarete, with spa services that captivate the senses and in a charming atmosphere. Condor ensures first-rate air travel for athletes, media and crew from Europe, while Europcar will provide ground transportation with its comfortable and modern rental vehicles. Cable del Norte is the cable partner with livestream of the action online and excellent service on the north shore.

With five days of competition, free-style sessions (expression sessions) and music on the beach, this ocean celebration will take place in the town of Cabarete. The town was originally known as a rural community, and later became the extreme water sports capital of this hemisphere, given its magnificent conditions throughout the year. The festivities culminate on September 18 with the awards ceremony at Coco Pipe at the end of the day (to the right of Playa Encuentro) and then magnificent creole feast at Mesa Taina reserved for the winners, media and crew. The Master of the Ocean was launched in 2003 as the Ironman of water sports, and this year it proposes a Team format. For more details please go to www.masteroftheocean.org.

"THE GREATEST STORMS BRING THE BEST WAVES!"

That's what the founder of the event Marcus Bohm said, who came from Germany 31 years ago and stayed, in love with Cabarete. Today, Bohm is considered an ambassador for water sports in the Dominican Republic: “When I think that the Master of the Ocean was the last event held in the country before the pandemic, today Ifeel blessed and humbled to be part of the rise of this wonderful destination . Cabarete feels more vibrant than ever, focusing more on sports from sunrise to sunset. We will fly high and surf; welcome to the Master of the Ocean! " Marcus promises to keep on putting all the energy to his life mission, which is to elevate the sport

through his 321Takeoff School of Riding Waves and the Master of the Ocean competition.

For more information, please visit www.masteroftheocean.org, and @masteroftheocean social networks on Instagram and Facebook or contact Patricia Hiraldo at patricia.hiraldo@gmail.com.