Costa Rica attracts national spotlight

Country gets first WSL professional QS 

World Surf League QS will reward 3,000 points to the winner

Followers of surfing are well aware of the two international organizations that promote the sport. The International Surf Association (ISA) organizes team competitions for amateurs who get to participate because of their local federation contest results in individual countries. The World Surf League (WSL) is for professionals—the best in the world—and the organization not only produces contests but supports and manages their athletes.

And this month, both the WSL and the ISA announced big news for Costa Rica.

For the first time since the Association of Surf Professionals (ASP) morphed into the larger WSL, Costa Rica will host a Qualifying Series contest.  These qualifying rounds of the prestigious championship tour will take place October 5 to 9 in Esterillos, which is a perfect location because of its vast open beach and proximity to necessary infrastructure. The Costa Rica Pro: A WSL QS3000 Event, featuring men and women’s competition, will be produced by Orange Wave Productions, co-founded by national champions and international surf ambassadors Diego Naranjo and Lisbeth Vindas. Another founder is Walter Brenes, a well-respected Tico environmental lawyer.

During the 5 days of the event, an estimated 46,000 spectators will watch 7 to 10 hours a day of  the best surfers in the world, visit sponsorship tents, listen to concerts and more. Organizers have estimated that the Costa Rica Pro will bring $11 million into the country’s coffers.

Breaking it down further: This event will reward 3,000 points to the winner, adding to their ranking on the QS chart. The Top 10 surfers in the WSL ranking at the end of the year will roll over, and “qualify” to compete on the WSL Championship Tour (CT).  So, you see, the QS is a big deal for Ticos, who have never had a representative on the CT.

Costa Ricans already on the QS include Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones), Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos homeboy), Jason Torres (Jaco), Tomas King (Tamarindo) and Federico Pilurzu (Tamarindo). Of course, we can expect these guys, as well as the QS ladies Emily Gussoni (Jaco) and Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) to paddle out in Esterillos.  "I really want to make it to the CT," Munoz said after participating in an Australian QS. "I've been aiming to make it for almost four years now so this year I'm feeling really good and more knowledgeable than ever."

Last year, Carlos finished #34, while Noe Mar ended at #41.  Pretty amazing to have had two Costa Ricans in the Top 50 of the 2015 QS rankings.

One of the nicest aspects of the upcoming Costa Rica Pro: A WSL QS3000 Event is that there will be trial heats where locals can vie for spots in the main Rounds. What a great opportunity for the pros to see just how good are more of the local talent, those who are only restricted from the other QS dates due to lack of financial support.

Costa Rica’s current #1 ranked surfer on the Circuito Nacional de Surf kolbi is Anthony Fillingim. He is planning to be one of those surfers to participate in trial heats of the Costa Rica Pro. Beforehand, his itinerary will include a handful of international QS dates including the Van’s Pro, which takes place August 22-28 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and maybe another in the States or Europe. “I am competing in (the Costa Rica Pro: A WSL QS3000 Event) because I want to represent the Malpais and Santa Teresa area and I also want to get a good result for the points and ranking.”

World Surfing Championship returns to Costa Rica

Meanwhile, the ISA has cut a deal with the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica to bring the World Surfing Championships back to this country. On August 7 to 14, Costa Rica will hit the water in Jaco to defend its world title, won last year at the championships in Nicaragua.

"This is a proud day for ISA and I hope for the people of Costa Rica, for the government, the private sector and the Federation of Surf. This is the culmination of a process of work of all involved. Costa Rica is home to defend the title they won last year and this is a great moment for the sport, “said Fernando Aguerre, ISA President, via a video at a press conference this month in San Jose.

As I write, the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica is working on preparations to welcome 30 or more country teams. This event is supported by the Ministry of Sport, the Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (ICODER), the Municipality of Garabito and the production company RPMTV.  You may remember the last time the championships took place in Costa Rica; that was July 2009 in Playa Hermosa, and over 100,000 people watched 300 athletes from five continents.  Estimates of $2 million were brought into the Tico economy for that one.

Hosting both the Costa Rica Pro: A WSL QS3000 Event and the ISA World Surfing Championship will be more steps toward the country’s validation as one of the best surfing spots in the world. Already, ICT (Costa Rica Tourism Bureau) estimates that 20% of the tourists who come to Costa Rica, are here for the surf.

Muñoz nominated for Pipeline bomb ride

Last February, Carlos Muñoz head into a Backdoor barrel in Hawaii and after a full eight seconds inside, flew out. Not only was he stoked, but so were the crowd on the beach, who cheered from every house from Off-the-Wall to Ehukai Beach Park. Now that wave, which you can see here http://www.surfline.com/wave-of-the-winter/2015-2016/?page=entries&surfer=Carlos%20Munoz,  joins nine other entries including those from Jamie O’Brien and Mikey O’Shaughnessy in the O’Neill Wave of the Winter contest.

The event celebrates the accomplishments of surfers, 19 and younger, who standout with performances on the North Shore in the time period of November through February. The breakthrough performance winner receives $5,000, while the Overall Performance winner will receive $10,000 for their skill and community activities (another $10,000 will be donated in their name to a non-profit of the winner’s choice).

Muñoz will be judged by Gerry Lopez, Pancho Sullivan, Ross Williams and Shawn Briley.

Bonomelli, Vindas come out in top in Limon 

For the second time in his career, Angelo Bonomelli, the Puerto Viejo native, won a date on the Circuito Nacional kolbi presented by Adrenaline Rush. Last month, in front of about 2,000 people in Playa Cieneguita near Limon, the Italian-Tico won the first-ever date at this beach called the PAPIOLAS Surfing Challenge. The win pushed him up to #2 in the year’s overall Open rankings.

To win a second championship date is always good, but this kid did so by scoring a perfect 10 on a massive air in the finals that definitely challenged him because it included Anthony Fillingim (currently ranked #1 in the Circuito), and the Jefferson brothers Anderson and Tacson.

“I was really surprised by the waves Cieneguita gave us today, which were unbelievable,” Bonomelli said. “I had never gotten a 10 in a final and that makes me very happy because the final was really tough.”

After getting a wakeup call on her home break in the Circuito’s Jaco date when Tamarindo’s Zulay Martinez won the Women’s category there, national Women’s champion Lisbeth Vindas  was able to step up to her familiar 1^st place podium spot at the PAPIOLAS Surfing Challenge.

“I was proud of Zuley because she selected the best waves, and was surfing good, made good maneuvers and was connecting with the ocean. I’m happy to see her improvement and that she was more aggressive,” Vindas said of the Jaco contest. “This year for me I’m more relaxed, just enjoying my heats. I’m not worrying too much about winning, even helping the other girls if I can.  The little girls are surfing pretty good. Now we are up to the point where everybody is doing good, selecting good, and practicing good wave strategy. I’m just relaxing and enjoying myself, if I win I win.”

And she did in Limon.

Part of the reason that Lisbeth is less stressed in the water is the fact that she is spending a lot of time focused on other things in her life. She’s a mom to Yulian, working on the Costa Rica QS, and has been doing a lot of promotional work for her sponsors. In addition, she has filmed a bunch of television commercials including those for Tico businesses Banco Nacional, Aerocasilles and another upcoming advertisement for AM PM stores.

12-times national women's champ back on top in Limon

The next date of the Circuito Nacional kolbi presented by Adrenaline Rush moves to Playa Bejuco on April 16 and 17.

Results of the PAPIOLAS Surfing Challenge:

Open

1. Angelo Bonomelli (Puerto Viejo)

2. Anthony Fillingim (Santa Teresa)

3. Anderson Tascón (Herradura)

4. Jefferson Tascón (Herradura)

Women’s

1. Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco)

2. Coral Wiggins (Avellanas)

3. Emily Gussoni (Jaco)

4. Lady Meek (Dominical)

Junior

1. José Joaquín López (Jaco)

2. Dennis Picado (Jaco)

3. Oscar Urbina (Puerto Viejo)

4. Lorenzo Cordoba (Puerto Viejo)

Junior Women’s

1. Emily Gussoni (Jaco)

2. Candelaria Resano (Nicaragua)

3. Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo)

4. Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)

Boys

1. Oscar Urbina (Puerto Viejo)

2. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo)

3. Axel Castro (Cieneguita)

4. Cedrik McCrakin (Puerto Viejo)

Girls

1. Coral Wiggins (Avellanas)

2. Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo)

3. Valentina Resano (Nicaragua)

4. Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)

Grommet 

1. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo)

2. Samuel Reidy (Dominical)

3. Kenneth Peralta (Jaco)

4. Isauro Elizondo (Panamá)

Minigrommet

1. Axel Castro (Cieneguita)

2. Kalani Abrahao (Tamarindo)

3. Ethan Hollander (Dominical)

4. Ziggy Myrie (Jaco)

5. Zac Barger

Minigrommet Girls

1. Auxiela Ryan (Puerto Viejo)

2. Danielle Guzmán (Jaco)

3. Keislin Pereira (Cieneguita)

4. Valentina Resano (Nicaragua)

Circuito Guanacaste heads into the Final Stretch with King on top

It looks like there’s no stopping Tomas King’s run to become the champion of the Circuito de Guanacaste Surf presented by Otis Eyewear and Freestyle Watches. With ANOTHER 1^st place win, this time a few weeks ago in Avellanas’ COPA Lola’s, King now has a podium visit in each of the four dates this season, 2 at the top spot and a 2^nd and 3^rd place as well. He has 3,545 points, nearly 1,000 more than the omnipresent, Angelo Bonomelli.  Each competitor will add up their 4 best dates, discarding the least impressive score.

“I’m thrilled with my performance on this championship and even more for the good quality of waves that I’ve faced. Now, I’m super focused on the finals next month,” said King.

The finals for the Circuito de Guanacaste Surf will be COPA Hotel Playa Negra May 14 and 15.

Results for COPA Lolas:

 Open
1. Tomas King
2. Anthony Filligam
3. Jason Torres
4. Ramon Tailani

Open Women
1. Valentina Resano
2. Serena Nava
3. Calendaria Resano
4. Emily Gussoni

Masters
1. Trey Brownell
2. Alex Gomez
3. Jeff Allen
4. Fabian Sanchez

Juniors
1. Tiago Carrique
2. Sean Foerster
3. Malakai Martinez
4. Jose Lopez

Boys
1. Tiago Carrique
2. Aldo Chirinos
3. Dean Vandewalle
4. Francisco Coronado

Girls
1. Valentina Resano
2. Serena Nava
3. Zulay Martinez
4. Calendaria Resano

Mixed Groms
1. Kalani Abrahao
2. Axel Castro
3. Candelaria Resano
4. Valentina Resano

Longboard
1. Alex Gomez
2. Dorian Torres
3. Victor Stclair
4. Omar Cruz

Stars visit Costa Rica for its surf 

In the past month, we’ve had a few famous faces hitting the waves here in Costa Rica.  

Out in Avellanas, photographer Jorgelina Agramunt of Avellanas Surf Photos got a nice surprise while her lens scanned the horizon. There was Kassia Meador, champion pro longboarder and the gal the New York Times called the “queen of noseriding.”

Reported Agramunt: “I could spot her, she stood out in the lineup. I can say she was surfing with a smile on her face the whole time, and she was really approachable and nice. I talked to her at the end of her session. She had a videographer with her. She just mentioned that she loved the time she spent here and that she was going to be back.”

In Malpais, model Gisele Bundchen and her football hero hubby Tom Brady surfed the waves out front of their Costa Rica home. The couple are no stranger to our country, as they exchanged vows here years ago on the beach near Florblanca Hotel.  Check out their moves.

Gisele Bundchen not just a supermodel

Costa Rica Surfing Legends Come at All Ages

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 3^rd place finish.

“I’ve had nice days in this beautiful country of Puerto Rico. Super happy with the 3^rd 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: 1^st 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

Women’s
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

Juniors
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

Girls
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

Longboard
1. Adolfo Gomez
2. Noldan Zuniga
3. Marcelo Moran
4. Alex Gomez

Costa Rica Surfing World

Well, here goes! Welcome to the first-ever Costa Rica Surfing World blog post written by me, Ellen Zoe Golden. Perhaps you know me from my 15 years of surf reporting in The Howler magazine, which was located here in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.  The magazine finished publishing this month, and I wanted to continue the coverage of our national surfers.

Or perhaps you’ve read one of my Tico Times news articles about the work of this country’s surfers here and around the world.

Nevertheless, I thought it was time to do my own blog about Costa Rica Surfing. And you’re reading it right now, so I must be doing something right.

Just off the bat, let me tell you that I’m an merely adept at reporting on surfers from Costa Rica, what they are up to, where they are competing, that sort of thing. You won’t find me expounding on the virtues of Kelly Slater or Gabriel Medina, except as it relates to one of our guys (or gals) from this country.

Believe me there’s plenty of news about Tico surfers.  So let’s get started.

Costa Rica’s national champion Federico Pilurzu returns to competition

Back in the ‘90s, when Tico surfers started competing in national contests at home, there were few opportunities to travel, and if one came along, it was as part of an inexperienced Costa Rica national surf team visiting another another Latin American country.  In 1999, when Antonio Pilurzu founded the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC)  and implemented the Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS), surfers like his son Federico Pilurzu, Andrea Diaz, Pedro Cruz, and Alvaro Solano could only dream of surfing the infamous North Shore of Hawaii.  It was a pipe dream, excuse the pun.

Pilurzu eventually made that dream come true for himself.  Funded almost entirely by his father, he was the first Costa Rican to compete on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP, now known as the World Surf League, or WSL) Qualifying Series (QS). In doing so, he reached the Top 100 of the QS rankings, which entitled him a chance to surf in dates of the invitation-only Hawaiian Triple Crown.

Last month, after a five year break, 32-year-old Pilurzu has returned to the QS with a plan.  At his warmup date at SEAT  Pro Netanya, at Kontiki Beach, he passed a couple of heats and was able to get some points on the board for his ranking.  ““ I needed to get started with anything at this low level, and Israel was one of the only options ,” he explained. ““I have a three-year plan that I’ve started now. It’s quite a long process to get points. I’ll do the QS1000s, then move up to the better contests after I accumulate some points.”

Before retiring in 2011, Piluzu was ranked in the Top 100 of the QS.

“Surfing is the thing that I love the most. When I was younger, I did the QS for the wrong reasons. In the last 6 months, I’ve realized why I love it and that it makes me happy to compete, not against someone, just doing my best, connecting with the rhythm and flow. I’m happy and I think I’m performing at the highest level.”

Back home in Tamarindo, last weekend, Pilrzu won the 2^nd date of the Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf, a move that was also accomplished with his training strategy.  “For me, and the other professionals, the CGS is very important for us to be to be able to practice in a safer environment,” he added. “There’s a lot of pressure on the QS. On the CGS, I can push my level and replicate what I would like to do on the professional tour. I have the freedom to try things and see what works and what doesn’t. The more I am comfortable with my game, the better I’ll do when I go out. “

With the 1^st place trophy in Marbella, the plan seems to be working for Pilurzu.

Federico Pilurzu claims the winning prize at the Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf in Marbella Photo: BADFish Photography

Copa Tiki Hut Results of the Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf

February 13-14, 2016

OPEN

1)      Federico Pilurzu

2)      Tomas King

3)      Isaac Vega

4)      Aldo Chrinos

WOMEN

1)      Leilani McGonagle

2)      Emily Gussoni

3)      Lady Meek

4)      Coral Wiggins

JUNIOR

1)      Lorenzo Wickstrom

2)      Malakai Martinez

3)      Jose Lopez

4)      Sam Reidy

BOYS

1)      Kyllian guenn

2)      Aldo Chirinos

3)      Malakai Martinez

4)      Dean Vandevalle

MASTERS

1)      Ian Bean

2)      Trey Brownell

3)      Christian Boos

4)      Mauro

GIRLS

1)      Leilani McGonagle

2)      Zullay Martinez

3)      Serna Nava

4)      Elisa Cazenave

GROMS

1)      Axel Castro

2)      Sam Reidy

3)      Kalani Aberimo

4)      Ruby Brownell

DOLPHINS

1)      Pietro Garroux

2)      Max Babyak

3)      Julien Micheacleux

4)      Marysol Allen

LONGBOARD

1)      Andres Rojas

2)      Noldan Zuniga

3)      Aldolfo Gomez

4)      Alex Gomez

Costa Rica Surfers in Hawaii

Today, Costa Rican surfers have the support of a myriad of sponsors who not only salary them, but finance trips to compete in those all-to-important QS dates.  For the last two years, Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones and Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos were invited to the Hawaiian Triple Crown in December.  The results were marginal but both guys were super happy to have the experience.

McGonagle, the International Surfing Association world champion gold medalist, is back on the 2016 QS thanks to his sponsors.  At the end of January, he did a short stint at the Volcom Pipe Pro on the North Shore of Oahu. He was joined by Carlos Muñoz, arguably our most famous Tico surfer in the international arena.  Even though McGonagle and Muñoz were seeded for Round 3 because of their high rankings on the WSL Open chart last year, they both failed to pass onward. 

Regardless, McGonagle said he was “super excited and the waves were looking good!”

Noe Mar McGonagle in Pipe's Green Room on the North Shore of Hawaii

The positive attitude of McGonagle, was indicative of the Costa Rican drive these two surfers have out on the QS in their third year of the international circuit.  While the results of the Volcom Pipe Pro were not what they had hoped, they were happy to be in Hawaii and surfing the famous—and treacherous spot—for whatever reason.  Leon Glatzer, who along with Muñoz is sponsored by Volcom, was also in Hawaii, but things ended up different for him. Early on, during a free surf, Glatzer wiped out and cut his noggin badly, but he was not deterred: “When you surf the most dangerous wave, there will be consequences! Really happy to be alive and healthy. Thank you God!”

Also in Hawaii to experience the Pipe, and support his brother in his contest run, was Alberto Muñoz.

World Surfing Games Set to Head Back to Costa Rica

Back in Costa Rica, we had some pretty big news coming out of our government. You may remember that the ISA World Surfing Games took place in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica back in 2009.  The event brought in $1.5 to the national economy via tourism related to the contest. Just after Costa Rica received its first team gold medal at the World Surfing Games last year in Nicaragua, the ISA once again approached the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) about the possibility of returning its international championship to this country.  When the FSC submitted its own request to the government here, they told there were insufficient funds in the Costa Rican coffers to present the event.

Following the return of the gold medal team, the surfers were awarded scholarship money from the government. FSC reproached the subject of hosting the World Surfing Games, and this time the government said they’d consider the possibility.   According to information released by the FSC, a gentleman named Enrique Garcia is spearheading this move towards bringing the championship back to Costa Rica. He is best known for his work organizing the national Costa Rica soccer team’s game against Spain back in 2013, as well as other sporting events.

Garcia said that the cost to present the world championship would be around $1 million, and would likely take place somewhere on the Pacific side of Costa Rica around the middle of July.  Two other countries are vying to host this year’s surf event, so he has to move quickly.

"We want a very well organized World Cup, in which we will not only have the best surfers in the world, but also attract families who can enjoy the beach. For this, we need the support of government agencies and private business, “explained Garcia. "We need to have the commitment of the government and sponsors who will realize that they will have worldwide media exposure with an event of this magnitude."

Indeed, Randall Chaves, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica, says we are very close to making this happen.  Already he’s met with Carolina Mauri, the country’s sports minister, to try and work out the details.  Chaves says he already has a contract, which is being reviewed by the FSC legal department and could be signed in before the end of the month.

Top Surfers Honored by Costa Rica’s Olympic Committee

For the 5^th year, Costa Rica’s Olympic Committee and Banco Nacional honored the country’s best athletes in a ceremony as a precursor to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.  Although surfing will not be in the Olympics until 2020 in Japan, the 2015 winners of the Premio Colibri included the medalists from the ISA World Surfing Games in Nicaragua last June among those  for boxing, soccer, bicycling, volleyball, and more.

The recipients of the prestigious hummingbird trophies in San Jose’s Gran Theatre Nacional for surfing were Noe Mar McGonagle, Best Athlete in Surf Male; Leilani McGonagle, Best Athlete in Surf Female; and the National Surf Team from Nicaragua for Excellence in Sports.  Each winning athlete received $1,000.

Two Costa Rica Contests Scheduled for 2016 ALAS Latin Pro

The Asociaion Latinoamerica de Surfistas Profesionales (ALAS) have announced their 2016 dates for their Latin Pro Tour. As was the case last year, Costa Rica will feature two stops on this circuito. The tentative schedule is:

Ecuador, Montañita, April 21 to 24, 3 stars
Colombia, Tayrona, July 7 to 10, 6 stars
Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur, July 15 to 18, 6 stars
Ecuador, Playas,  August 11 to 14, 2 stars
Costa Rica, Bejuco, August 26 to 27, 2 stars
El Salvador, Las Flores, September 8 to 11, 6 stars
República Dominicana, October 6 to 9, 4 stars
Costa Rica, Jaco or Hermosa, November 25 to 27, 2 stars
Perú, Punta Rocas, February 18 to 21, 6 stars

That’s the first report. Hope you liked it. Feel free to email me with any comments or news at EllenZoe@aol.com