By Ellen Zoe Golden
Tamarindo, Guanacaste COSTA RICA July 31, 2006 - The premier CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic, finished its three-day eco-event this afternoon, and surpassed all expectations to raise community consciousness for a cleaner beach and the local environment, while raising funds to do so in the form of a surf contest.
Nicholas Viale, who organized the event with Laura Sibley of Liquid Solutions, announced before the presentation of trophies and prizes to the surf tournament winners, that the fundraiser had brought in an unprecedented $30,000 in sponsored cash money, $20,000 in donated services and $15,000 in prizes. In addition, the surf contest inscriptions, donations, T-shirt and food sales, raffles and other contest profit centers will be accounted by a CPA, and once production costs are subtracted, a net figure will be released. The money will then be distributed to the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic beneficiaries: Tamarindo's Ecological Blue Flag Program, the Tamarindo Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and the Tamarindo Lifeguards.
Already, with over 500 people visiting the beach for the weekend of the Charity Surf Classic, four new Lifeguard Chairs,constructed by EcoMaderas,were installed on the sand from the money of the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates benefit work.
"I was amazed by everything about this contest," reported Viale at the end of the day. "The money raised, the sponsor support, the surfers. I feel that we had a real community spirit by end of the Charity Surf Classic. I've never, since I've been living in Tamarindo, been as proud to be a member of this community."
As to those surfers, they got going each day at 7:00 a.m. at the Tamarindo river mouth. These included both novice and professional, and in the latter category, athletes from the Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) arrived in town at the behest of Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSCR) President Antonio Pilurzu, in order to draw more attention to the efforts of the organizers and to the beach itself.
Isaac Vega, the current Costa Rican National Surf Champion, who won the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic, lives in Villareal, and surfs Tamarindo regularly.
When asked why now that he makes a living doing contests to improve his professional standing, he would do a contest where the grand prize,though fantastic: a NatureAir Weekend to Bocas del Toro, Panama for 2 persons with 2 nights at PuntaCaracol Aqua Lodge and a Banzaii surfboard, does not raise his surf ranking, the surfer had a simple answer. "I wanted to enter this contest, and do well in it because I want to do something for Tamarindo, since this is my home. Of course I'm happy I won, and in doing that I helped my beach too," Vega said after the Charity Surf Classic.
Triple threat Junior Champ Jason Torres (Pan American Junior Champion, Central American Junior Champion, Costa Rican Junior Champion); Volcom teamrider Nino Myrie, who is also a Costa Rican National Surf Champion/2002-03 CNS; Lupe Gullucio, 2005-06 National Junior Women's Champion; her sister Malia Gullucio, 4 th place Central American Women's Champion; and others including Nataly Bernold, Yorjani Ruiz, Luis Castro, Ronald Reyes, Giovani Perini, Marcel Madura, Lou Maresca and more were also in the contest.
Lou Maresca, the 2005-06 Costa Rican National Masters Champion, is also the head of the Tamarindo Surfrider Foundation. He announced that the money his organization will receive from the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic will go towards water testing kits that will be used in Tamarindo and Langosta on a regular basis to ensure the safest, cleanest ocean possible.
The Tamarindo Blue Flag Committee, headed by Juanita Hayman, will use their funds from this contest to maintain the prestigious ecological award that the beach recovered from the Costa Rican government in 2005. They will continue to maintain the quality necessary for that reward via improvements such as water quality and environmental management. During this weekend's Charity Surf Classic, plants and landscaping were brought in for beautification, and today, a cleanup crew was on hand to make sure that all of the debris of the festivities was removed. Hayman says that Blue Flag will negotiate to use some of the foliage in the renovation and maintenance of Tamarindo's beach accesses.
Under the direction of Viale, real estate companies and area developers banded together with environmental organizations in an Expo tent on site. For the same two days as the surf tournament, companies altered their principle business of earning money from property sales, and looked towards investing in the well-being of the community itself.
Gabriela Salgado, representing sponsor The Oaks, said they came to this event because, like what Viale is trying to accomplish this weekend, The Oaks very eco-oriented, a model of how to work with the environment. Because of that, Salgado added, "we didn't want to put out the message that we were here to sell; we wanted to be here for the community. Our clients are going to be here for a long time so we want to offer them a healthy beach and support the surfers."
Hayman agreed: "I was really surprised to see the community finally come together for a cause that directly benefits everyone. The most valued possession here is not real estate, it's the beach. This is why is people come here, this is why people surf here, and I think today was an example of recognizing the importance of taking care of the beach."
ENGLISH/INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CONTACT: Ellen Zoe Golden EllenZoe@aol.com 800-548-1753 In Costa Rica 867-2197SPANISH MEDIA CONTACT IN COSTA RICA: Milenio/Ignacio Solis isolis@milenio.co.cr 222-3173, 837-1536 or Marta Diez mdiez@milenio.co.cr 391-4663
Winners of the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic
July 29-30, 2006 Playa Tamarindo
OPEN:
1,Isaac Vega CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates
2,Ronald Reyes Secret Spot Surf Shop
3,Gustavo Strasser Matos Films
4,Mauro Sergio Secret Spot Surf Shop
JUNIORS
1,Jason Torres Bevy Media Corp
2,Giovanni Perini High Tide Adventures and Surfshop
3,Matt Chellini
4,Yorjani Ruiz
WOMENS
1,Nataly Bernold
2,Lupe Gallucio
3,Kalani Matos Films
4,Emma Roll
JUNIOR WOMENS
1,Nataly Bernold
2,Lupe Gallucio
3,Debbie Zec
4,Malia Gallucio
GROMMET
1,Leonard Calvo
2,Malakai Martinez Essence Day Spa
3,Soyer Witte
MASTERS
1,William Aguero
2,Steve Petix
3,Mark Price
4,Lou Maresca
LONGBOARD
1,Marcel Madura Banzaii
2,Ronald Reyes Secret Spot Surf Shop
3,Cederic Auffret CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates
4,Nicolas Strasser Matos Films
LONGBOARD WOMENS
1,Shannon Vacca Martinez Essence Day Spa
2,Nadja Kolenoff Banzaii
3,Justine Javalle
4,Rosio Jimenez
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic Sponsors:
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates, The Oaks, CENTURY 21 Costa Rica, Servicio Beko, Costa Rica Real Estate Law, Seabreeze Mountain, Reserva Conchal, Stewart Title, Banco Nacional, Tamarindo Diria, Peninsula, Nibbana, Banex, Tamarindo Heights, Visitor's Guide, Black Stallion, Eco Maderas, Amnet, INS, Mr. Tom's, 91.1 La Radio
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic Prize Donors:
NatureAir, Blue Dolphin Catamaran, Altos de Eros Spa, Off Road Adventures, High Tide Adventures and Surf Shop, Marco Pacheco, Dulce, Witches Rock Surf Camp, Gymnasium Tamarindo, Papaya Con Leche, Efecto Uno, Chica Surf, Cala Luna Hotel and Villas, Kahiki, Essence Day Spa, Matos Films, Blue Trailz, etcetera, Armonia, Banana Surf Shop, Secret Spot Surf Shop, Pedro's, Tamarindo Roasted Chicken, Undercover Bookstore, Supermercado Langosta, RPM Property Management.
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic Donated Services:
Rey Sol, Sabor Criollo, Gigante Verde, Tamarindo Vista Villas, Angelo De Vecchio Architecto, Fertama Tamarindo, Tom Walinski, Jackson Servicios Turisticos, DiDrop.Com, BiDrop Creations, Amo La Vida, Tropical House Imports, Laguna del Cocodrilo, Arco Iris, Sunset Inn, Luna Llena, Sueno Del Mar, Pueblo Dorado, Villa Alegra, Alex Orias, Floristeria Cristal, DJ Philipe, DJ Mauricio Testostoa, Iguana Surf, Super Tamarindo, Grupo Pampa, Panaderia Paris, La Palapa, crsurf.com
Photo of CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic organizer Nicholas Viale (left) and surf contest winner Isaac Vega.
13,000 in Prizes to Win at the
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic
Community Weekend to Clean up Tamarindo
Pre-Register Now at Best Western, High Tide, &CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates
Laura Sibley - Perkysibs@aol.com
CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic
Producer
011 506 810-1493
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