A Festival Of Tubes In
Hermosa
As was expected, the
Pacific Ocean in Playa
Hermosa (Puntarenas)
surged to 7-10 foot
waves with favorable
wind giving optimal
conditions to the
first-ever Torneo
Leyendas de Costa Rica.
Gathered together in
this spectacle were
surfers of over 35 years
of age fighting to the
end. in the best
spectacle of tubes seen
in years in this match
organized by the
Federacion de Surf de
Costa Rica (FSC).
The Board of Directors
of the FSC will make a
National Selection from
these winners for the
International Surfing
Association Masters
event next year in Costa
de Caparica, Portugal.
Carried out in front of
Hotel Terrazas del
Pacífico this weekend,
waves were breaking
perfect towards both
sides, the peak surf
came during two
categories - 35 to 40
years of age and 40 to
45 years of age.
Randall "frijol" Chávez,
who won 1st place in the
35 to 40 division,
immediately stole the
show with his long right
tube of at least 7 feet
that drew the emotions
of a grateful public in
this maximum expression
of surf.
The National Costa Rican
Masters Champion,
gleaned from the
Circuito Nacional de
Surf (CNS), Mauro Sergio
Oliveira, made every
effort with an enviable
arsenal to win his
heats.
Nevertheless, the
classic technique and
experience of others in
his category were more
radical and innovative,
and he was relegated to
third place after
Randall and second place
Tommy Bernsdorf.
For surfers division 40
to 45, Alejandro Monge
fulfilled his lifetime
promise and took 1st
place with long hauls
and aggressive
roundhouses in the
amazing tubes. Víctor
Fallas and Christophe
"Kiki" Commarieu, kept
up with him during the
25-minute heat, and
obtained the second and
third positions,
respectively.
In the category 45 to
50, the North American
who lives in Puerto
Viejo near Limon with
the solo name of
"Tequila," grabbed a
glorious tube and with
it 10 points that awed
the panel of judges.
This was a prolonged and
cylindrical right that
he took inside, and
found a small window out
perfectly. It was the
best wave of the event
and it earned Tequila
first place in his
división.
The very good surfer
Brian Michael, who calls
himself, "probably more
of a ripper," earned
second place and Ian
Douglas third. And
finally, in the gold
category -- 50 years or
more, Ian Douglas
bootstrapped himself to
firsst, with Edward
Alexander at second.
With the completion of
this Torneo Leyendas de
Costa Rica, the FSC not
only completed the
contest itself, but also
recognized some of the
surfers who put Costa
Rican surfing on the
map.
Carlos Villalobos, who
was a 10-time National
Champion in the '80s and
'90s, as well as Mario "fuerzas"
Rodríguez, a historic
Tico surf figure, were
both highlighted this
weekend.
"This weekend was very
positive and the legends
gave their all at this
competition," declared
José Ureña, President of
the FSC. "On the other
hand, we are thankful
that they participated
in organizing and
competing so that we
were finally able to
carry out a contest just
for the Masters."
"They certainly showed
us that they are at good
level for the National
Selection that we in
Costa Rica need to
compete
internationally."
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