With another victory last month in Avellanas, Jair Pérez Quirós clinched the 2019 national surf championship title in the Kolbi Circuito Nacional de Surf presented by Junta de Protección Social. No matter what happens in the final two dates of the tournament, Pérez cannot be toppled as the result of his winning 1st place in three contests, 2nd in another and 5th in the last.
This is a Costa Rica surfing record as Pérez nabbed the title without the results of the final two appointments. Previously, in 2011, Luis Vindas became national champion before the last date of the Circuito, as did Anthony Fillingim in 2016. The total ranking points that Pérez, a surfer from Jaco, earned in four contests is 6,705.
The two top followers in the rankings—Gilbert Brown and Olman Morales—have the potential maximum points in the last two contests as 6,583 and 6,515, respectively.
Even without the need to surf in Jaco and the Gran Finals in That is, Pérez plans to be there to compete with the goal of accumulating more points than anyone has every obtained before in the Circuito Nacional.
As to the remaining 13 categories in this national contest, all of the titles are still in play. Next up, Copa Coldwell Banker, June 29 and 30 in Jaco.
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Wave Conditions
On unforgettable wave conditions, in a location that is considered one of the best breaks in the country, Malakai Martinez was crowned the 2019 Guanacaste surf champion at the end of the date in Playa Negra.
At 18, he has become the youngest champion in the history of the 6-year old tournament that brings contests to various beaches in the province including Marbella, Avellanas and Playa Negra. In addition, the Junior title was also his this year.
For Martinez to take the title he had to beat Tiago Carrique (also 18), who was close to him in the rankings, as was Angelo Bonomelli. These three fought hard against each other this year for the crown.
“I’m happy to get this title as it is something I had for my goal, and it finally came to me,” said Martinez. “This year has not been easy, but because of that, we are among the best fighting for several titles.”
Guanacastecan Champions:
In addition, the new Guanacastecan champions in the remaining categories are:
Women’s Open: Coral Wiggins
Masters: Claudio Mazzone
Boys: Axel Castro
Girls: Auxiela Ryan
Boys Under 14: Kalani Abrahao
Groms Under 12: Pado Garroux
Dolphins: Dario Stenberg
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With representatives from various countries, the Adapted Surfing Open finals took place in Costa Rica last month. Hawaii, England, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay joined the Tico team in surfing with disabilities in the contest in Jaco.
Here’s a roundup: Ann Yoshida of Hawaii is the current International Surf Association Adapted world champion, ran waves lying on her board, since she suffers from a spinal cord injury. Darian Bailey Haynes, also from Hawaii, entered the waves paddling with one hand, and could stand on his board with the push of his right arm, since his left arm is totally paralyzed from the shoulder. The Englishwoman Charlotte Banfield, who has an atrophy in her right arm, an internal prosthesis in her right leg as well and a mild case of autism managed to overcome her fear of big waves and strong currents of Jaco to dominate the final heat with the championship in the women’s division of the Adapted Open Surfing Costa Rica 2019.
“I cannot believe it, I’m living the most epic day of my life,” said Banfield.
The Costa Rican national Adapted surfers included Juan Camacho, Mattew Vaderhoogth, Baldir Vallejos and Roy Calderón. Henry Martinez competed as the first blind Tico surfer.
Here are the results of the Adapted Surfing Open:
Category AS-1 (injury, amputation, surfing on the knees)
1- Carter Hess / USA
2- Baldir Vallejos / Costa Rica
3- John Barrantes / Costa Rica
4- Ronald Faerron / Costa Rica
Category AS-4 (surfing lying down)
1- Nicolás Gallegos / Argentina
2- Spike Kane / England
3- Paulo Bottaro / Brazil
4- Zacarías Tapec / Hawaii
– Categoría AS-5 (assisted)
1- Mattew Vanderhoogth / Costa Rica
2- Francisco Arbulú / Perú
3- Ava Heller / Hawaii
4- Isabella Desseno / Uruguay
– Open Women’s (not categorized)
1- Charlotte Banfield / England
2- Darian Bailey / Hawaii
3- Isabella Desseno / Uruguay
4- Ann Yoshida / Hawaii
– Open (not categorized)
1- Nicolás Gallegos / Argentina
2- Spike Kane / England
3- Darian Bailey / Hawaii
4- Natalia Víndas / Costa Rica
– Blind Surfing Challenge
1- Jair Pérez / Jim Hogan
2- Ariel Gutierrez / David Segura
3- Henry Martínez / Maikel Venegas
4- Gilbert Brown / Freddy Camacho
5- Lisbeth Víndas / Erick Cano
