The Annual Costa Rica Surf Tournament Offers Proceeds to a Local Orphanage.

Before they set off to Portugal and those 2008 World Surfing Games, the Costa Rica Surf Federation (FSC) is preparing itself for the annual Torneo Beneficio de Surf, in its sixth year at Boca Barranca, Puntarenas. The contest helps finance programs and basic needs of the orphanage Hogar Monserrat de Niños, located in San Miguel de Barranca. The format of this contest will include the following five categories — Open, Women, Juniors, Longboard and Boogie, and will take place starting today, Sept. 12 to Sept. 14. The Mayor of Puntarenas, Agnes Gomez, will celebrate by taking part in the festivities as it coincides with the 150 year anniversary of the province of Puntarenas.

José Ureña, President of the FSC, announced the selection of the National Costa Rican Surf Team that will compete for Costa Rica at the 2008 International Surf Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG) that will take place October 11 through 19 this year in Costa de Caparica, Portugal.

Next weekend promises to offer a lot of excitement, as the best surfers in the country will participate in the tournament. Local surfers have a chance to show off their surfing skills on one of the most famous breaks in Costa Rica while competing with the national elite. The pioneers of the Costa Rica surfing have a lot to say about the surf conditions in Boca Barranca; a left long opening, it is considered to be one of the best waves in the country for Longboards. It is formed at low tide in the estuary of the Barranca River, and never fails to cause a lot of excitement for surfers who travel from all over to catch it. In the best conditions, the wave can exceed 800 meters.

For the last few years, surfer Luis Vindas, from Jaco Beach, has been unbeatable in Boca Barranca, and took first place in the Open competition since 2003. Vindas will compete in Portugal with the disadvantage of a painful ankle. Boca Barranca will be his last official appearance before the World Tournament takes place.

Surfers have been preparing themselves full time for this event, and Boca Barranca is the last chance they have to show off their skills and to give us a preview of the strength of the Costa Rican presence in Portugal.

Costa Rica has really gained the reputation of being a great surfing destination, with its natural beauty that can only add to the joy of the trip and powerful waves. The best surfing beaches are often located in ideal, off the beaten path locations that are inhabited by parrots, monkeys and a wealth of tropical plant life. Surfing and surfers do little damage to the environment and often display an eco-friendly attitude, making them a very welcome addition to the country. Let’s hope that the National Surf Team can show us a competitive level of surfing that will reflect their chance to shine in Portugal where the best surfers in the world will gather to compete in this famous event.

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Filed under: Surf on September 12th, 2008