Costa Rica Surf Circuit Continues this Weekend in Tamarindo

Written by Claire

It’s a good time to visit the beach this weekend in Costa Rica. If you aren’t one of the 30,000 people planning to enjoy the Jaco Music Festival, you may want to check out the 3-star Copa Witch’s Rock surf tournament in Tamarindo. This is the 3rd date of the 2007-2008 Costa Rica National Circuit (CNS) and all the best surfers in Costa Rica will be there.

Costa Rica Surf — Pilurzu returns to compete in familiar waters

The event will take place on Saturday Feb. 2 and Sunday Feb. 3 starting at 7am at the mouth of the estuary, where last year’s circuit saw some of the best waves of the entire season with offshore swells up to five feet high.

The presence of Federico Pilruzu, the most internationally recognized Costa Rican surfer and Tamarindo native, has been confirmed. Pilruzu, who is currently ranked 109 in the World Qualifying Series (WQS), is planning for a busy 2008 with a schedule that includes 28 tournaments all over the world. He said his goal is to be in a constant state of competition.

Pilruzu made his first CNS debut in the last event, the Copa Mango, which took place in Playa Hermosa. After racing back from the first WQS Tournament of the year, Pilruzu fell short in th semifinal heat, with first place being captured by Gilbert Brown. Nino Myrie, who wasn’t able to compete in the Copa Mango, also promises to put up a fight for the lead this weekend. Myrie won the last CNS event that took place in Tamarindo back in Dec. 2006.

Another Tamarindo native, Nataly Bernold, who recently moved with her family to Jaco, will also feel quite at home in this event. Although she has yet to top her mentor Lisbeth Vindas in this tournament, she has maintained the lead in the Women’s Junior category at the past two dates.

Anyone interesting in competing can sign up at the Witch’s Rock Surf Camp on Friday Feb. 1 from 5pm to 7pm, or call the Costa Rican Surf Federation at 235-6400. The price ranges from $10 to $12, and all competitors must also pay the FSC membership fee of $20 if they have not yet done so.

Guests can expect a great show from surfers competing in 13 different categories. The best waves are expected around mid day as the tide reaches its highest point during the competition. Swells from 3 to 5 feet are expected in sets of up to 14 seconds each. This is also the best season for surfing in Tamarindo, with ideal conditions that will allow surfers to show their best moves.

After reports of fecal contamination all along the beach in Tamarindo, the Costa Rican Surf Federation (FSC) hopes that this will give tourists incentive to come to the beach, as well as show them that the danger has since subsided.

“We think that there is no better way to increase tourism in spite of the recent disadvantages that Tamarindo has suffered due to tourism expansion. This continues to be a zone of paradise and what better way to show the use of the oceans that the surfing of the National Circuit?” the President of the FSC said.

Another attraction for tourists will be the third Miss Surf Organic and Natural competition that will take place on Sunday at the end of the surf competition. The winner receives $100 and a chance to compete at the final round in April at the final Copa Terrazas in Jaco where the winner receives $1000. The winner of the final will also be granted a spot at the final casting for Chica Reef when the Latin-American Surf Circuit returns to Costa Rica in November.

The scores from the first three dates of the CNS will be compiled and used by the FSC Board of Directors to make the selections for the National Team that will compete in the 3rd Central American Surf Championship that will take place over Easter weekend in Playa Venao, Panama. The new national team will fight to win their third consecutive championship (to make them the only champions in the existence of the tournament).

This post's rating: