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COSTA RICA |
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Costa Rica prepares a National Surfing
Circuit
Written by Editor at SurferToday.com
After the success of the World Surfing Games
in Costa Rica this past August, José Ureña,
President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa
Rica proudly announced the kick off of the
Circuito Nacional DayStar 2009-2010,
presented by LimeCoral.
The date of this nationwide surf tournament
will take place December 19 in Jaco Beach
and is the first of seven weekends at
different beaches around the country and
includes a return to the Caribbean after
many years away from that vibrant coast.
In addition to the schedule addomg the
exciting beach of Cocles in Limón in its
third event, competitors will travel to
Esterillos in the second date of the season.
The six first dates will be 4 Star contests,
leaving the Gran Final DayStar in La Curva,
Playa Hermosa, to conclude the Circuito
Nacional with 5 Stars. By doing it this way,
the Circuito will present a tremendous
challenge for the potential new champion: Of
the total of seven dates, the best four of
those will be counted in total points by
competitors towards rankings for the crown.
This way, for this season, the possibilities
of a good final showing will be thrilling
for the athletes—and spectators—offering
more possibilities of overcoming lower
ranking points at the end in Playa Hermosa.
With this year’s Circuito National DayStar
2009-2010 will have a greater number of
surfers in all categories. Strategically,
the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica
programmed the Gran Finals of the Circuito
in the month of June, on the 24, 25 and 26,
to coincide with the vacation period of
schools. According to Ureña, two criteria
were taken into consideration when
scheduling this year’s Circuito. The first
of those was not to interfere with the
school schedule of the competitors.
Secondly, they didn’t want to have much time
pass between each surf competition taking
place.
For the first time, the Circuito Nacional de
Surf, extends for a period beginning in
December and concludes in June. Last year,
in season 2008-2009, the six dates received
1,500 inscribed athletes. For this season,
the Federacion de Surf expects approximately
2,000 surfers, many of whom were inspired by
the Billabong International Surfing
Association (ISA) World Surfing Games Costa
Rica 2009, according to Ureña.
According to surveys, polled by different
mass media in Costa Rica, surf is the sport
that has evolved the most in this country.
The Circuito Nacional de Surf is most
credited for this. The Costa Rica National
Surf Team, which competed in the World
Surfing Games here, were the result of the
Circuito system.
The Circuito Nacional DayStar 2009-2010 will
feature 15 categories this year, including
the new Female (Under 15 years). At the
Latin American level, Costa Rica has been
brilliant with obtaining Championships in
the divisions it has instated.
“This year, the categories with less than 15
years will be very strong in both male and
female, and that’s why the greater possible
things will occur from the surfers. With the
new category, we will affirm the level of
the younger levels, while always aiming for
continuing growth in the international
representations,” commented Ureña
This year, new sponsors have come aboard to
offer their support to the Circuito Nacional,
which is primarily sponsored by the chain of
DayStar hotels and presented by the mark of
LimeCoral clothes.
Also sponsored individual dates of the
Circuito Nacional are Mango, Witch’s Rock,
Quiksilver, Britt Iced and Daystar in Jaco,
Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Nosara and Playa
Hermosa, respectively.
Meanwhile, the current National Surf
Champion—in the Open, Junior and Boys
categories—faces new challenges this year.
Carlos Muñoz, feels that the level of the
surfers with less than 18 years “comes
strongest.” The Esterillos surfer promises
surprises in the Open category, with the
seasoned pros to fight, but also up and
comers such as Anthony Segura (Jaco), among
others, demanding attention. He also faces a
powerful group of contenders in the Juniors
division including Maykol Torres (Esterillos),
Jordan Hernandez (Limon), and Anthony
Fillingim (Malpais).
While Muñoz will work to defend his title,
and he also has a demanding international
calendar for 2010 for a surfer of 16 years
of age. This includes the Association of
Latin Americana Surfing (ALAS) Latin Tour,
the Junior Pro of the Association of Surfing
Professionals (ASP), and some appointments
of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).
“When the dates don’t hit the Circuito, I
will be there,” exclaimed Champion Muñoz.
As the year progresses, there will be more
activity outside of the Circuito Nacional de
Surf to keep competitors honed in their
surfing abilities. In conjunction with the 7
dates of the Circuito, there will be three
dates of the Circuito Metropolitano (for
resident surfers of non-coastal provinces).
In fact, the Gran Finals of the
Metropolitano coincides with the Circuito
Nacional DayStar 2009-2010 Gran Finals in
Playa Hermosa.
Later, after the completion of both the
Circuito and the Metropolitano, there is the
Triple Crown of Winter, which is returning
in July with cash prizes. This way, surfing
competitions will take place in this country
in 13 dates from December to September. The
Costa Rica National Surf Team, selected from
top ranked surfers from these tournaments,
will have 3 international tournaments
outside Costa Rica as well.
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