Surf Report By Ellen Zoe Golden

Even with a bunch of Costa Rica’s competitive surfers with schedule’s outside the country for the World Surf League’s (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) circuit, for this month, the most important news of this surf report came right here.

The first and second dates of the kölbi Circuito Nacional de Surf, presented by INS JOVEN and Adrenaline Rush, took place last month in incredible waves of Playa Dominical and then Puerto Viejo.

The Copa Pro Medical Team-Energy Law Firm in Dominical resulted in the first nine winners who hopeng to become the national champions of season #18 of this nationwide surf tournament.

The last two finals—Open and Women’s—were intense, but Leon Glatzer of Pavones, and Lisbeth Vindas of Jaco were the respective category winners. Vindas, at 36 years old, now is on the path for a 13^th title of her career.

The Open final included André Chacón of Jacó, Tomás King of Tamarindo, and three-time national champion Gilbert Brown López of Puerto Viejo. These guys presented an exciting aerial and power surfing show.. King drew an 8.50, the best wave of the heat, but Glatzer combo-ed for a 13.87 (7.00 plus 6.87)

“This year I have seven years of running the Circuito Nacional,” Glatzer said. “I have dreamed of a day like today since childhood and the truth is that to achieve it with these waves and against the rivals that were in the category, makes me much more proud.”

With this first victory, Glatzer wasmpoised at #1 on the rankings that will ultimately tally five of the best seven dates of the tournament for the national championship.

The Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica called Sam Reidy, “the revelation of the event.” A local from Dominical, and current Boys national champion, Reidy got, for the first time, to the final of the Juniors at his home beach, and not only did he win, but he overwhelmed the others from the start in that heat with a combination score of 14.50 (8.10 and 6.50). H

Copa Pro Medical Team-Energy Law Firm

Playa Dominical

January 27-28, 2018

Open

León Glatzer (Pavones)
Tomás King (Tamarindo)
Gilbert Brown López (Puerto Viejo)
André Chacón (Jaco)

Women’s

Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco)
Rubiana Brownell (Hazelnuts)
Serena Nava (Big Beach)
Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo)

Junior

Sam Reidy (Dominical)
Sebastián Mora (Santa Teresa)
Aldo Chirinos (Black Beach)
Isauro Elizondo (Panama)

Junior Women’s

Rachel Presti (Florida)
Coral Wiggins (Hazelnuts)
Rubiana Brownell (Hazelnuts)
Olivia Warden (Barbados)

Boys

Aaron Alvarez (Jaco)
Sam Reidy (Dominical)
Isauro Elizondo (Panama)
Kenneth Peralta (Jaco)

Girls

Emily Anderson (Pavones)
Rubiana Brownell (Hazelnuts)
Candelario Resano (Nicaragua)
Serena Nava (Big Beach)

Grommets

Axel Castro (Cieneguita)
Kai Galé (Panama)
Jorge Monge (Jacó)
Leonardo Apreda (Jaco)

MiniGrommets

Leonardo Apreda (Jaco)
Teo Galé (Panama)
Candelaria Resano (Nicaragua)
Tomas Casafont

MiniGrommets Girls

Candelaria Resano (Nicaragua)
Ericka Berra
Máxima Resano (Nicaragua)
Rachel Agüero (Jaco)

Next up, in Puerto Viejo at Playa Cocles, the CNS presented its second contest, Copa IA in front of hundreds of people gathered. Malakai Martinez of Tamarindo had an astounding result, winning both the Open and Juniors categories, and also garnering the two highest waves and combinations of the weekend. He did so by beating the current national champion Jason Torres of Jaco in the final heat, that also included Joseph Mendez of Jaco and Jordan Hernandez, the local of Puerto Viejo.

“It was a very good weekend for me. I have come to this beach twice and because of that I was able to win an event that I fought hard for,” said Martinez.

With these victories, the youngster finds himself among the favorites for the national championship this year.

Coral Wiggins of Avellanas won the Women’s at this event.

For the full results of the Copa IA, go to www.surfingcr.net

Noe Mar McGonagle, in a rare moment in his home country, traveled to Marbella in early February to win the KIA Circuito Guanacasteceo de Surf, presented by Surfing Nation Magazine. He won a finals heat that included Glatzer, Tiago Carrique of Playa Negra, and Leonardo Calvo of Puntarenas, at the second date, called the Copa Tiki Hut, of this province series.

“I’m happy to get this victory,” McGonagle said. “It’s my last date in Costa Rica before I leave for Australia to the QS there, so the practice was very good and it was a more difficult final.”

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan and current Costa Rican national Women’s champion, Valentina Resano, got a double win with both the Women’s and Girl’s Under 16 trophies in a finals heat with Serena Nava, Wiggins and Valeria Ojeda.

The two-days of competition was #2 out of 5 that make up this 5th season of the Circuito Guanacasteco.

The next date of moves Santa Teresa on March 24 and 25.