"The First International Championships," from 5,000 Years: the History of Surfing in Peru

In 1956 the first international championship took place in Peru. The Peruvian team, led by Eduardo Arena, Guillermo Wiese, Alfredo Granda, Augusto Felipe Wiese, Fernando Arrarte and Federico “Pitty” Block, came in as favorites due to their superior knowledge of the waves. But representing the United States powerhouse was the San Onofre Surf Club from California. While Albert Dowden, the president of the San Onofre club, accumulated the most points in the different disciplines (long distance paddle, speed etc.), once the surfers reached the Kon Tiki break for the final event—big wave surfing—Arena dominated the event completely and became the first Peruvian international champion of big wave surf.

1) Eduardo Arena, 2) Albert Dowden, 3) Piti Block

1956 Peru International Surfing Championships

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