Adio Campeonato Day One Action Eliminates El Salvador
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and just one surfer from Panama — 11-time Panamanian National Surf Champion Gary Saavedra — finished the first day to advance to Friday’s Round 2 of the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSCR) and Adio Campeonato Centroamericano De Surf Adrenalina presented by Freestyle, despite extremely challenging weather and surf conditions.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. in front of Hotel Monterrey Del Mar in Playa Esterillos, 109 surfers, who traveled from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama, battled it out to eventually win individual prize money of $10,000 in Open, $2,000 for Women and $1,000 to Juniors, as well as another $1,000 for the best maneuver. Additionally, the top honor of the best country’s surf team in Central America will be awarded.

Although early on the conditions were excellent with 4-6 foot waves, an intermittent mid-day rain and switch to strong onshore winds worsened, challenging the competitors with difficult, closed-out waves and low visibility.

Costa Rica placed 36 competitors in the next Open and Junior Rounds of the Campeonato Centroamericano de Surf Adrenalina 2006; however, they started with the highest number of entrants, as the host country. Luis Castro took 1st place in his primary heat. Upon negotiating the high-level of talent that he was facing, the #2 Nationally ranked Tico surfer explained he was forced to develop an aggressive strategy to add points.

“I have a lot of confidence that I will be able to perform strong enough to score high, thanks to God,” Castro said. “I began in a good way and I hope that for the second day I will have the same luck and pass through to the end.”


The Salvadorans lost out in the Open, in part, since their strongest surfer, Jimmy Rotherham never arrived at the competition. Meanwhile, the team of Nicaragua put three men in the next Round because of outstanding surfing from Gerardo Miranda, Roque Calderón and Augusto Chamarro.

“We have started strong although the waves were very challenging,” recalled Miranda. “I chose very good waves that allowed me to make very showy maneuvers. I am content with the work that our delegation is making.”

Guatemala and Panama also advanced with, Cristian Méndez and Saavedra, respectively. After the contest, Méndez reported: “I had to make a concerted effort because the conditions of the sea were very demanding. I’m happy, however, that it all came out well for me, so that now I aspire to go as far as possible.”

According to this tournament’s head judge Wade Sharp, who is an Association of Surfing Professionals’ judge: “I am seeing good surfing out there. Day 1 eliminated a bunch of guys, and the strongest surfers should now come through until the end.”

Earlier in the week, Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica President and primary organizer of the Campeonato Centroamericano de Surf Adrenalina 2006, Antonio Pilurzu, learned that Magnum Martinez would be able to make it to the contest. Jose Ureña, owner of JASS (Jaco Surf Shop),a board member of the FSCR and an long-time organizer of the Circuito Nacional de Surf, replaced him as Event Director.

Sharp stepped in to take over Martinez’ scheduled mandatory tactical clinic for all of the tournament competitors, which took place Wednesday, July 12, in Playa Hermosa. For 6 hours, Sharp combined this competitive training with his judging clinic—where he “just passed information” to one judge from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama plus the four from Costa Rica, the host country.

Day 2 of the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSCR) and Adio Campeonato Centroamericano De Surf Adrenalina presented by Freestyle, begins tomorrow, July 14, at 7:30 a.m. in front of Hotel Monterrey Del Mar in Playa Esterillos.

This week, sponsors of the FSCR and Adio Campeonato Centroamericano De Surf Adrenalina presented by Freestyle will display their wares at a Surf Expo outside of Hotel Monterrey Del Mar in a grassy area just in front of the beach.

Sponsors are Adrenalina, Adio, Freestyle, Hotel Monterrey Del Mar, Nature Air, Billabong, Maxx Energy Drink, Quiksilver, Arnette, Cobian, Polaris, Surfos, Teletica 7, Bevy Media Corp, Jaco Surf Shop (JASS), Mango Surf & Skate, Barry V Surfboards, 911 La Radio, Banzaii, JB T-Shirts, Cala Luna Hotel & Villas, Wishbone Restaurant, Hotel Rancho Coral, The Backyard Hotel, Shifi Surf Shots, and Hotel Tropical Garden.