Our Costa Rica Surfing Report: The Scotiabank Circuito Nacional de Surf presented by kölbi kicked off its 20th year, has come a long way from the 2000-2001 season where surfers Federico Pilurzu (Tamarindo) and Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco) were champions. That contest was presented by the newly formed Costa Rica Federación de Surf.

 

Oscar Urbina, a surfer from Puerto Viejo and a member of Costa Rica’s national junior surf team, won the Open at the premier date of the Scotiabank Circuito Nacional presented by kölbi, which took place last month. The Copa Star Cars took place in Dominical, and the win was pretty impressive considering the talent he beat in the final heat.

 

At 18 years old, Urbina faced serious contenders of Costa Rica surfing and on the international stage, as well,  in a heat that included Carlos Muñoz, Tomas King and Maykol Torres. His victory was his first in this premier category for him.  The final score for Urbina was a total of 12.53 (7.33 and 5.20) against 10.93 of King, 8.00 of Muñoz and 7.34 of Torres. All three of these rivals had already logged victories in the Open division previously.

 

Another upset came in the Women’s category, where the winner, Coral Wiggins Ayara of Avellanas, handily overcame the surfing of Indiana Ferri, Lisbeth Vindas and Paulina Summers.  Vindas herself was a notable entrant, not the least because of her 12 national women’s titles.

 

In Dominical, for this year’s kickoff, 200 competitors registered to compete in front of Tortilla Flats restaurant.  The novelty of 2020 is the fact that there are 15 categories on hand including three new ones: Kids (Under 8) and Adaptive Surfers and the Kahuna division, where surfers older than 45 can compete. Last year, the Masters (older than 35) was added to the main event.

 

“For high performance surfers this year, the Circuito is fundamental because they have the opportunity to fulfill a great Olympic dream. The national team for the World Cup in El Salvador next May will fight for places that lead to the Tokyo Olympic Games, which is why, on behalf of everyone, we expect no less than 100 percent in each of their heats,” said Randall Chaves, President of the Surf Federación.

 

This year the national Costa Rica surfing team at the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador will be composed of three men and three women. Those selected for the team will fight for the remaining one place for women and two in men to represent Costa Rica in  the Olympic Games. Already a pre-selected group of surfers has been over in El Salvador working on their skills with the hope that Coach Jim Hogan picks them for the contest in a few months.

 

Several of those selected for the World Games, could leave the Circuito Nacional as well, to participate in other international events, like the QS.

 

The next date of the Circuit, goes to Cocles Beach of Puerto Viejo, Limón, on February 22 and 23.

Costa Rica surfing final results are as follows:

Open:

1- Oscar Urbina
2- Tomas King
3- Carlos Muñoz
4- Maykol Torres

Open Women’s:
1- Coral Wiggins
2- Indiana Ferri
3- Lisbeth Vindas
4- Paulina Summers

Junior:
1- Aaron Ramírez
2- Darshan Antequera
3- Sam Reidy
4- Kai Gale

Junior Women’s:
1- Rachel Agüero
2- Paulina Summers
3- Auxiela Ryan
4- Indiana Ferri

Boys:
1- Axel Castro
2- Tosh Talbot
3- Abraham Hecler
4- Ethan Hollander

Girls:
1- Indiana Ferri
2- Auxiela Ryan
3- Ericka Berra
4- Rachel Agüero

Grommets:
1- David Monje
2- Ethan Hollander
3- Teo Gale
4- Fabián Rosales

Minigrommets Boys:
1- Kian Ashara
2- Fabián Rosales
3- Gavin Bren
4- Tomas Casafont

Minigrommets Girls:
1- Isabela Goodwin
2- Grace Podratz
3- Mikela Castro
4- Summer Hidalgo
5- Kaya Brisa

SUP Surf:
1- Jefferson Tascon
2- José Ruíz
3- Andrés Casafont
4-  David Sánchez

Master:
1- Diego Naranjo
2- Tomas Lange
3- Edgar Jimenez

Kahuna:
1- Craig Scheiber
2- Jose Ureña
3- Cris Clark
4- Erly Farrier

Adaptive:
1-  Baldir Vallejos
2- Mattew Vanderhoogth
3- Daniel Melendez
4- Johnny Villenas

Kids:
1- Koa Bryant
2- Kian Jiron
3- Jaziel Torres
4- Stokes Lott

 

Costa Rica’s Olympic surf hopeful and the 2019 World Championship Tour (CT) Rookie of the Year, Brisa Hennessy, won her first-ever World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) contest last month at the Corona Open China hosted by Wanning in Riyue Bay. While the 5,000 points are significant, they will not pass over to her CT ranking, but apply to the QS, where she is currently at Number 1!!

 

Reports from the WSL had Hennessy dominating at the break from day 1, where she delivered one of the top performances with a 12.63 heat total. The 20-year-old knew the wave, having made an appearance there 5 years ago, and earning a 17th place finish. Now, since she competes among the world’s best women’s surfers, her skills have improved even more.

 

The final round was set after Round 4 duals in the Bay made her strategies more important in the dropping swell.  That heat she “obliterated” that left point with her backhand attack, earning the day’s best scores and a 15.16 total at the end.  Afterwards, to get to the finals, Hennessy had to first dismantle Japanese contender Hinako Kurokaway, which she did.

 

She continued to display a dominant backhand to overcome France’s Vahine Fierro. After getting a quick start on Fierro in the final, Hennessy built her solid foundation saving her best for the last two waves. Earlier in the heat, the ladies had a big exchange which had Fierro in the lead for a brief moment before Hennessy made her slam dunk.

“I’m so excited to win this event, it’s an incredible feeling to start the year this way,” said Hennessy. “It was so special to share it with Vahine. I feel like she was the most in-form and feel really grateful to have the final with her. I’m really happy to be here with my mom and Molly (Picklum), too which has been hilarious. One thing I really want to focus on this year is committing more to my decisions. I’m really indecisive (laughs). Just trying to stay in the moment. This is a journey and it’s a marathon, not a sprint so I’m just going to enjoy the process.”