Marco Pacheco with three of his babies--the fins!
Surf Legend goes creative with new fins
If you saw the 1994 film, “Endless Summer II”—no doubt most
of you have--then you will remember Marco Pacheco, the Costa Rican who acted as
surf host for Pat O’Connell and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, as they follow Robert
August around Tamarindo and surrounding areas for some amazing sessions.
It made perfect sense that August would choose Pacheco to
join them, since the Tico was one of a group of men who pioneered surfing in
this country. From 1987 to 1993, he even wrote The Surf Report for Surfer
magazine, recording how it looked out there on Costa Rica’s dual coasts, and
making a prognosis for the upcoming month.
Now, Pacheco, who has been shaping boards for almost 20
years, has created what he believes is a revolutionary surfboard fin. The fin,
which looks like an egg laid on its side, is handmade, cut from fiberglass and
individually shaped. “It comes with saying ‘yes’ to new things,” Pacheco
explained.
The idea first germinated back in 2004, when Pacheco became
enamored with the FCSII fin, which was helping him tremendously with his rides.
The thought occurred to him: “What if the curve was removed?”
“My idea was to make a fin with which water would go around
easier,” Pacheco said. “So I straightened
the rake to a 45° angle and got rid of the heel. That shortened the distance of
the fin in the front. There’s 30% less surface to it.”
According to Pacheco, the result has some advantages to the
more traditional fins we are used to mounting on boards. “With the reduced area at the base, the area
moved towards the back and deep end of the fin giving it more torque out of
turns,” he said.
You may be wondering what qualifies Pacheco to create this
new fin. Experience. For one thing, he has always made his surfboards with
glassed-in fins, from the day in 1997 when he first made one for himself.
Glassed in fins, he explained, only add the most basic elements to your
board—just fiberglass and foam, no deadweight like a box.
“A surfboard is like a musical instrument to a surfer. It
needs to be simple simple simple.”
Always “oceanminded” his whole life, Pacheco’s dad was an
agricultural engineer, so before he was 6 years old, the kid was out in the
countryside and often in the water, mostly fishing. When a visiting surfer gave
him a Styrofoam surfboard, he had already moved to the city, but with friends
now surfing, they started taking him to the ocean in 1978 and joined a bunch of
Vietnam escapees riding the waves.
Later, as a Physical Education teacher in San Jose, he’d work during the
week, then take the bus to Boca Barranca on the weekends. “It worked for me
because of the discipline,” he said.
From the start, Pacheco studied the motions of surfing. He
said it was helpful that he was scared in the presence of the ocean, noting
that “it was unnatural to lay on a board and paddle out and get pummeled. Time
passes and if you are persistent you start understanding concepts and expand
and try different boards.”
"I’m still working it out because each board is different,”
he added about his work with shaping and making fins. “I have to let my
instincts take off.”
So far, Marco’s fins have been getting good feedback, even if
his clients are reluctant to try them a first. One pro bono kid in Puntarenas was very
skeptical, and told him he preferred traditional fins. Yet, after two weeks, he
wrote Pacheco to say “This board rocks, it’s so fast and I got it down.”
Pacheco, who today himself rotates between a short board,
longboard and a SUP, still feels like he is learning about his sport. He is a
philosopher when it comes to surfing, and this ethereal attitude draws in a lot
of clients, both sponsored competitors and paying free riders.
“Surfing is three things: observation, position, execution,
three corners of the triangle,” concluded Pacheco. “But the most important
thing is that you need to learn paddling because if you can’t catch the wave
then there’s nothing.
From Costa Rica to Hawaii and Around the World
Mention Pavones, and you might think of the McGonagle
Dynasty (champions Leilani and Noe Mar). However, another surfer from that
famous left is making news and he’s been around for quite a while now. Meet
Leon Glatzer, who is already a two-time German champion for 2014 when he won
the Open and Junior contests over there. As a young kid, he grew up in Germany,
but when his mom moved to Pavones (“the
best left in the world” ) and married a Tico, he adopted Costa Rica as his
second home and participated in the Circuito Nacional de Surf. After turning up in the quarterfinals last
year at the Lanzarote Teguise 2015 Franito Pro Junior in the Canary Islands, he
realized that the time had come to compete on the World Surf League circuit.
Now, he’s about to embark on his first Qualifying Series (QS),
and although he’ll be surfing for his homeland of Germany, Glatzer has Costa
Rica in his heart, and will join Carlos Muňoz (Esterillos), Noe Mar McGonagle
and Tomas King (Tamarindo) at various dates of international competition. Glatzer
will focus on European dates of the QS.
Prior to his contest later this month at the Pro Zarautz, Spain,
Volcom sent him to the North Shore of Hawaii: “I accomplished getting A+ photos
and coverage which is really hard to do in Pipeline.”
Indeed.
More wins for national champion Jason Torres
The good news continues for the current Costa Rica national surf
champion Jason Torres of Jaco. First, he
claimed his first win at his hometown in eight years on the second date of the
Circuito National de Surf kölbi, presented by Adrenaline Rush.
At the Copa Arenas-Marley, in the final he was challenged not only
by a lot of closed out waves, but by the aforementioned Glatzer, newcomer Durbi
Castle, and the winner of the first date in Cocles, Anthony Fillingim of
Malpais.
Torres’ win came despite his still
recovering from an injury sustained last year, one that doesn’t seem to be
hampering his visits to the winners’ podiums. From Jaco, he flew to Domes Beach
in Rincon, Puerto Rico to participate for the second year in a row at the Corona
Extra Pro Surfing Circuit O’Neill. While this contest is not a QS event, it is
important to Torres as it afforded him the opportunity to compete with other international
surfers for an impressive 3rd place finish.
“I’ve had nice days in this beautiful
country of Puerto Rico. Super happy with the 3rd place even though I
missed one wave to move up in the Open, and I had the highest wave of the heat
and still lost, so that’s always hard. But I’m going to Florida (Ron Jon’s Van
Pro, the QS in Cocoa Beach) with this same motivation and am eager to also make
a good showing. This year my goal
is to be close to the top 50 in the QS. I know it is difficult but not
impossible,” Torres said.
Zulay Martinez made history in Jaco
In yet another stunning upset against the best women’s surfers in
Costa Rica, Tamarindo’s Zulay Martinez took first place over Leilani McGonagle
(an international medalist), Lisbeth Vindas of Jaco (12-time national
champion), and Paula Duarte (making a name for herself as well in this
category) at the Copa Arenas-Marley in Jaco.
This accolade is now added to Martinez’ win at the ALAS date in Jaco,
and the first date of the Circuito Guanacaste de Surf, which took place at her
home beach. In addition, she has made
the podium of every contest she has participated in so far this year. The 15-year-old attributed her elevated surf
level and increase in confidence to the fact that she has been training with 2-time former national
champion surfer Alvaro Solano (Jaco).
"Today is a memorable day for me,” said Martinez after her win. “To
beat all these girls who have such a high level is something amazing that makes
me very happy. Winning the Open is something very different and great for me.”
At the close of the Copa Arenas-Marley, Martinez became the current
Women’s ranking leader. The next date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf will
take place this weekend in Limon.
Copa Arenas-Marley Results
February 20, 21, 2016
Open
1.
Jason Torres (Jaco)
2.
Leon Glatzer (Pavones)
3.
Durby Castillo (Pavones)
4.
Anthony Fillingim (Jaco)
Women’s
1.
Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)
2.
Leilani McGonagle (Pavones)
3.
Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco)
4.
Paula Duarte (Jaco)
Junior
1.
Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo)
2.
Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo)
3.
Samuel Reidy (Dominical)
4.
André Chacón (Jacó)
Junior Women’s
1.
Leilani McGonagle (Pavones)
2.
Paula Duarte (Jaco)
3.
Emily Gussoni (Jaco)
4.
Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)
Boys
1.
Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra)
2.
Oscar Urbina (Puerto Viejo)
3.
Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo)
4.
Kenneth Peralta (Jaco)
Girls
1.
Coral Wiggins (Avellanas)
2.
Serena Nava (Playa Grande)
3.
Lia Díaz (Tamarindo)
4.
Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)
Grommets
1.
Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo)
2.
Samuel Reidy (Dominical)
3.
Kenneth Peralta (Jaco)
4.
Isauro Elizondo (Panamá)
Minigrommets
1.
Kai Gale (Panamá)
2.
Axel Castro (Limón)
3.
Ziggy Mayrie (Jaco)
4.
Isaiah Dawson
Minigrommets Girls
1.
Valentina Resano (Nicaragua)
2.
Lia Díaz (Tamarindo)
3.
Candelaria Resano (Nicaragua)
4.
Máxima Resano (Nicaragua)
Costa Rica’s SUP, Masters and Longboard nationals in Santa Teresa
All the usual suspects headed down to Santa Teresa for
this year’s first date of the Circuito Nacional Master & SUP &
Longboard 2016. This three-stop championship is a favorite among veterans, and
those who ride alternative boards. The winners were Andy Seidensticker (Masters), Eric
Antonson (SUP), Adolfo Gomez (Longboard from Samara), Andrea Diaz (Women’s
Masters from Tamarindo), Jeancarlos Loria (Grandmasters from Jaco) and Craig “Tequila”
Schieber (Grand Kahuna from Puerto Viejo).
Jeancarlos Loria showing what experience means Photo by Brian Bryones
The Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica is planning the
next date for Guiones/Norsara, tentatively April 23 and 24.
Tomas King clinches second date of Circuito Guanacaste de Surf
Tomas King grew up surfing in Guanacaste and its
surrounding beaches. Right now, he’s too busy working on his surfing career to
stop for much of an interview. But that diligence paid off with his first win
in a nationally organized contest: 1st place at the Copa Kina
Surf Shop Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf presented by Otis Eyewear and Freestyle
Watches last week in Santa Teresa. With his positions in Marbella and
Tamarindo, King is now poised at the top of the CGS rankings. He is also surfing on the QS, with his next
date in the Ron Jon’s Van Pro in Cocoa next
week. (Look for a feature on this guy
very soon here on Costa Rica Surfing World).
The next date of the Circuito Guanacaste de Surf is
April 2 and 3 in Avellanas for the Copa Lolas.
He's the King of Santa Teresa Photo courtesy Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica
Results of the Copa Kina
March 5, 6, 2016
Santa Teresa
Open
1. Tomas King
2. Angelo Bonomelli
3. Anthony Fillingim
4. Tiago Carrique
1. Tomas King
2. Angelo Bonomelli
3. Anthony Fillingim
4. Tiago Carrique
Women’s
1. Candalaria Resano
2. Serena Nava
3. Valentina Resano
4. Zulay Martinez
1. Candalaria Resano
2. Serena Nava
3. Valentina Resano
4. Zulay Martinez
Masters
1. Ian Bean
2. Christian Boos
3. Manu Carrique
4. Jeff Allen
1. Ian Bean
2. Christian Boos
3. Manu Carrique
4. Jeff Allen
Juniors
1. Malakai Martinez
2. Dean Vandewalle
3. Tiago Carrique
4. Sean Foerster
1. Malakai Martinez
2. Dean Vandewalle
3. Tiago Carrique
4. Sean Foerster
Boys
1. Malakai Martinez
2. Dean Vandewalle
3. Francisco Coronado
4. Tiago Carrique
1. Malakai Martinez
2. Dean Vandewalle
3. Francisco Coronado
4. Tiago Carrique
Girls
1. Valentina Resano
2. Zulay Martinez
3. Coral Wiggins
4. Ruby Brownell
1. Valentina Resano
2. Zulay Martinez
3. Coral Wiggins
4. Ruby Brownell
Groms
1. Sam Piter
2. Darshan Antequera Badilla
3. Axel Castro
4. Tiago Leão
1. Sam Piter
2. Darshan Antequera Badilla
3. Axel Castro
4. Tiago Leão
Longboard
1. Adolfo Gomez
2. Noldan Zuniga
3. Marcelo Moran
4. Alex Gomez
1. Adolfo Gomez
2. Noldan Zuniga
3. Marcelo Moran
4. Alex Gomez
