Costa Rica Surf Travel

Costa Rica Surf Report

2010-05-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Huge Surf expected for the CNS contest in Nosara this weekend. Carlos Munoz wins $7K in Newport, CA. Summer specials at La Ponderosa - Pavones. http://www.crsurf.com/emailreport.html

Tamarindo Recycling Day is October 10th

2009-10-07T07:31:00.001-07:00

Bring your glass, plastic 1 and 2 and aluminum beverage cans to the parking lot in front of Aqua Discotech on Saturday, October 10 between 9 AM and 12 PM.

Traiga su vidrio, plasticos 1 y 2 y latas de bebida al parqueo en frente de Aqua Dischoteque el Sabado 10 de octubre entre 9 AM y 12 PM.

It All Comes Back To You. Todo Se Devuelve.

TAMARINDO RECYCLES ~ www.tamarindorecycles.blogspot.com

Billabong ISA World Surfing Games Photos

2009-08-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

No Tuna Farms Campaign Launched

2009-05-17T17:48:00.001-07:00

“No Tuna Farms” Campaign Launched

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Guest Shots

2008-12-26T11:25:00.011-08:00

The Windstar Cruiseship, outside of the port of Caldera.

Everyone knows Lola the Pig, from Avellanas. She's always out on the beach, checking out the hot surfers.

SPECIAL REPORTS ~ A few good causes to support…

2008-12-26T11:25:00.009-08:00

Sadly, heavy rain last week lead to widespread flooding and landslides in the south of Costa Rica and Northern Panama - many people have lost everything. Thousands of people have had to leave their homes and there is an estimated $77 million worth of damage to crops, infrastructure and community buildings such as schools and clinics.

Indigenous people have been the worst hit as they rely heavily on small crops to gain a small income and feed themselves and their families - many people are now without crops to feed their families. Please consider helping those affected by the floods by donating money or bringing over some supplies (either yourself or through anyone who you know is coming to Costa Rica over the coming weeks) - this is something very real and something happening right at this very moment. You have a choice and we urge you to help in whatever way you are able to, no matter how small. ~ Tropical Adventures

** CR Surf Travel Co. will match the first $50 for a donation made to help them. After sending them the funds, email us and we'll forward our gift as well.

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Project Green Jungle. (Facebook) Hey everyone, We need your help in order to to see our goals become a reality. Tom, one of our directors, is there now with fellow members of our organization starting the beginning phases of our work with the Bri-Bri of Kacharbri. In order for us to start building our facility, which will supply jobs to the indigenous of the area, we need donations from our supporters. Being that we are a non-profit we cannot do this without you. We now have 317 members on Facebook. If we could all donate just $10 that would help our progress tremendously! All of the money donated will go directly to the progress of the facility. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to message me. Thank you all - Heather Trott, Volunteer Coordinator, Project Green Jungle

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CEPIA will host a Christmas Party December 20th for 350 children from less privileged backgrounds in the community salon of Huacas. Contact Laetitia Deweer if you wish to participate or donate items to the party. To learn more go to www.cepiacostarica.org or call 506-8301-8282 or 2653-8533.

TOP NEWS & EVENTS

2008-12-26T11:25:00.007-08:00

The Second date for the Circuito Nacional surf contest will be in Tamarindo on December 12-14th. This contest is hosted by Witchs Rock Surf Camp.

--> The Surfrider Foundation Tamarindo Chapter will host a Double Beach Cleanup on Saturday December 13th. For Tamarindo neighbors, meet in front of the Iguana Surf parking lot. And for the Langosta residents - meet on the beach in front of the Barcelo - both at 9 a.m. Thanks for participating!! If you're interested in Recycling in Tamarindo, click here.

--> Parties around Tamarindo - Dec. 28th, Espinar Brother’s Infamous Party in Liberia with DJ Bob Sinclair & Soundswell DJ’s. For more info www.publicitycr.com. AND Dec. 31st, New Year’s Eve at Aqua Discotheque with DJ Karlos Elizondo (MEX) & Soundswell DJ’s. BAR ONE will also throw a New Year's bash. Look for details to come.

--> Parties around Jaco - New Years Eve Party featuring Delta Wave (tentative) and the Flying Eyes (tentative) at Hotel Doce Lunas. These two bands bring a combination of influences ranging from Pink Floyd to the Velvet Underground. Also, on 12/13 - Allfest Electric Music Festival (Rave), featuring DJ Sweetbo, DJ Espy and as well as several international Djs.

--> Wind Star 7-Day - Puerto Caldera Roundtrip January 24 & 31; February 28; March 7, 2009. Itinerary: Puerto Caldera, At Sea, San Juan Del Sur, Playas del Coco, Quepos, Bahia Drake, Curu, Tortuga Island, Puerto Caldera. From $1,799 per person. Contact travel@ crsurf.com for details. Visit - www.windstar.com for more Costa Rica cruise options.

--> "Pura Vida Health" , Tamarindo's own unique marketplace of certified organic, organic, homegrown fresh produce and local handmade products and crafts is born! The fair is set to kick off January 8, 9 and 10 and run every two weeks (Thursdays 1pm-4pm, Friday and Saturdays 8:30am-noon). They have graciously been given use of the Vodoo Lounge Art Zentro's back garden bar to host this epic bi-monthly event. (directly behind Vodoo Lounge, next to Plaza Conchal, across from Cabinas Coral Reef) Help them bring a place to be happy and healthy together to our community. More information will come soon about the kick off party on January 8th 2009.

--> The tourism tax of $15 per plane ticket purchased from outside of Costa Rica has passed through the legislature. This replaces a 3.39% tax on hotel rooms. The money raised goes to the ICT, which uses the funds to promote tourism and sustainable practices. The $26 exit tax is still in place. No mention yet on exactly when the additional fee will be added.

SHOP DEALS

2008-12-26T11:25:00.005-08:00

The CRSurf Shop is having a Pre-Holiday sale. Free shipping in the continental U.S., and everything has been discounted from 5-15%. Find boardbags, books, backpacks, maps, and straps - all you need for your next trip.

WOW Surf Shop in Jaco has a Christmas special running right now and if you spend 50000 colones or 90$ [not including boards] in their store you will receive 1 of 100 raffle tickets [only 42 left as of today] for a brand new Channel Islands up to 6’6” from their store stock including the new ROOKIE model which is A1's newest release and should go nuts in beachbreak

HOTEL SPECIALS

2008-12-26T11:25:00.003-08:00

Tamarindo - The oceanfront Tamarindo Diria is offering 35% off rooms until 12/24. Standard rooms from $79, sunset view from $103. Then for January through April save 25%. Contact us for availability.Santa Teresa - Blue Surf Sanctuary has teamed with up Billabong Surf Camps and will be hosting a "Surf with a Pro Camp in 2009" They are also offering 10% off their surf packages, but you need to let them know you heard about it from CRSURF and ask to sign up for their newsletter.

LATEST AIRLINES DEALS

2008-12-26T11:25:00.001-08:00

LAX to LIR $318 Dec 12 - 21 on American Airlines
LGA to LIR $488 Dec 13 - 20 on US Airways
MIA to LIR $400 Feb 18-22 on LACSA
LAX to SJO <$374 any date between 12/2 and 12/10 on American Airlines
MIA to SJO <$229.00 a few dates in mid to late January to early February *
MCO to SJO <$308 a few dates in mid to late January to early February *

* Thanks to our travel partners at Tico Travel, ONE BOARD FLIES FOR FREE on American Airlines flights from Miami or Orlando to San Jose! Seats are filling up fast so do not delay - contact us today.

--> Fight Airline Surfboard Charges Sick of paying airline surcharges for your board? Join the Surfboard Airline Petition to speak out against airline carriers that have banned surfboards.

Environmental Group Spotlight

2008-12-26T11:23:00.003-08:00

Tropical Adventures provides volunteer tour packages for individuals, families and groups interested in exploring the culture, language and natural beauty of Costa Rica. Their local volunteer projects offer the adventure of a lifetime for those willing to share their love, skills and time with those less fortunate.

Current Conservation and Wildlife Projects

* Monte Alto Natural Reserve
* Camaronal Sea Turtle Project
* Wildlife Rescue Center

Their goals are to:

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Support the inherent value of the individual
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Reduce poverty and injustice
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Help communities achieve sustainable growth
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Create safe environments
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Promote international learning and cooperation
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Foster personal and worldwide Peace

Every community around the world faces the fundamental challenge to create social and economic systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. They meet this challenge by supporting and encouraging initiatives by those living and working closest to where the problems are located.

They promote collaboration among diverse individuals, nonprofit, government and businesses from the local area and around the world, as well as from every level of society. Their experience shows such activities help build common understanding, bring forward and reinforce the inherent value of the individual, strengthen a sense of local and worldwide community, and ultimately enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.

To contact Tropical Adventures, call 1-800-832-9419 or +011-506-2574-4412.

Rainforest Aid 2009

2008-12-26T11:23:00.001-08:00

A group of musicians, conservation organizations, eco-lodges, promoters and volunteers have gotten together in support of a Global Fundraiser called RainforestAid09 in Costa Rica. Through music, dance, art, and education we can raise enough money for a new Osa landfill, water systems, Corcovado /Sirena station improvements, monies for the hospitals and high schools as well as for programs that protect endangered species and help stop habitat loss. RainforestAid09 could raise millions of dollars for conservation and will potentially generate $1- $2 million in tourism revenue during the rainy season in June 2009. RainforestAid09 will educate & empower people to make sustainable & responsible lifestyle choices that benefit our planet. The festival will be near La Palma and will focus on better choices regarding energy, air, health, climate & transportation.

Everybody Wins with RainforestAid09.....from the jaguars, dolphin, turtles, and Mono Titis to local communities, rural school, businesses, lodges, rental car companies, local tour operators, buses, airlines, and most importantly the conservation groups that are already here on the Osa and doing the work. With your help, RainforestAid09 can be as beneficial as FarmAid was 20+ years ago. Since then musicians such as Sting, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Billie Joel, Nora Jones and Sheryl Crow have all gotten together in support of the rainforest and have helped raise millions of dollars. There is one key ingredient needed to pull off this festival…your input and support! Join us at RainforestAid June 19-21st 2009 / Summer Solstice next year www.rainforestaid09.com

Do you know of any upcoming events that you would like featured? Contact us at info@ crsurf.com

Costa Rican Congress Shoots Down Proposals To Rezone and Develop Leatherback Sea Turtle National Marine Park

2008-12-26T11:22:00.004-08:00

(November 18, 2008 San José, Costa Rica)

Last November 13, The Environmental Commission of the Costa Rican Congress voted 7-1 to table three proposed law changes that sought to rezone Las Baulas Marine National Park and strip protection of critically endangered leatherback sea turtle nesting habitat. The Commission's response to conserve the Eastern Tropical Pacific's most important leatherback nesting beaches (Playa Grande and Playa Langosta), and maintain protection for the Park's surrounding hillsides, sends a powerful message to developers. Protecting the Park's current boundaries is a priority and of the upmost importance to the Environmental Commission.

"The massive support of the Costa Rica people and of the international community definitely helped the Environmental Commission take this wise decision", said Randall Arauz, President of the Costa Rican organization Pretoma. "Developers were trying to convince the Commission that protecting this critical nesting habitat from development wasn't necessary, but they were just defending their own private interests", added Arauz.

The Commission's ruling halts three proposals (16.915, 16.916, and 16.417) to amend the Law that created the National Park, which mandates the strict protection of a 125 meter strip of land above the high tide line. Congressmen José Luis Vásquez and Jorge Eduardo Sánchez, who proposed the amendments, paradoxically claim their intent was to protect leatherback nesting habitat by removing this beachfront protection, which would have facilitated beach front developments. Efforts to amend the Law, finally ground to a halt last November 13 after the Commission also voted to reject over ten additional motions submitted by the two representatives in a last desperate move.

While the stalwart decision is a step in the right direction towards effective protection of Las Baulas National Park, there exist other burgeoning threats. As the proposed changes were being tabled, Congresswoman Grettel Ortiz read a letter from the Environment Ministry (Minaet) Vice Minister Jorge Rodriguez, expressing a rekindled interest in submitting a new proposal to protect the interests of "the turtles and the owners of the properties alike".

"We must celebrate this victory with caution", warned Clara Padilla, of the Leatherback Trust, a Costa Rican NGO dedicated to restoring the populations and habitats of these animals. "We will study any new proposals carefully, keep the public informed, and study our legal options in case of further attempts to destroy Las Baulas National Park for the sake of development interests".

"What can we expect from a government that declares Peace With Nature, but then turns around and condones the deforestation of over 300 hectares of tropical forest for the sake of a gold strip mine"?, asked Juan Figuerola, of the Costa Rican organization Bosques Nuestros. "For this government, Las Baulas National Park is nothing more but a lure to attract their investor friends, disregarding the fate of the leatherback sea turtles and of the people".

Las Baulas National Park was declared by Decree in 1991 and by Law in 1995, to preserve critically endangered leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches from the destructive effects of poachers and urban development projects.

For more information:

PRETOMA
Tel (506) 2241 5227
Fax (506) 2236 6017
Email: info@pretoma.org
Website: www.pretoma.org

PRETOMA is a Costa Rican Civil Association of Public Interest (Decreto Ejecutivo 34150-J), and is an active member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN and the World Society for the Protection of Animals WSPA.

Panama Surfers Protest at 'Dumpers' in Bocas del Toro

2008-12-26T11:22:00.003-08:00

One of the best surf breaks in the Caribbean is on a popular island off the coast of Panama called Bocas del Toro. And one of the most amazing facts about the island is that it has been allowed to create a massive When I visited Panama last spring, there was about a thirty foot space separating the garbage from the water's edge: apparently, according to the local newspaper, now garbage is filling in right to the edge of the beach. It is gross and disgusting. I tried writing a letter to Panamanian authorities and received no response. I can tell you what my response is going to be now: make sure that as many people as possible know about this tragedy of the commons.Here is what the local newspaper had to say:
"Surfers do not surf Dumpers anymore. They haven’t for almost six months. The few who dared left the water with skin, eye and ear infections and coughs lasting for weeks. The "black" garbage that has been oozing from the dump is now a small creek which flows into the ocean, right into Outer Dumpers. When it rains, the flow is much bigger, and the current slowly but surely takes everything south, affecting other surf spots down the coast. On Sept. 29, a large group of us surfers marched through town with our surfboards, banners and posters, asking that someone give us an explanation and an agreeable solution. We went unanswered. More than a month has passed since the few surfers who cared about their waves marched … and nothing is different. The only change is that now the trash is burning along the entire stretch at Dumpers, in an area three times larger than it was last month. Trees were cut down to accommodate the ever-growing hills of trash, and daily more garbage falls into the sea. The surf spot known as Dumpers is no more. Recently, surfers at another good surf spot farther down the coast began complaining of ear, eye and skin irritations. They shed their rash guards only to reveal ugly red rashes … caused by the water. Paunch."

Here are my photos from last spring.

Threat of Tuna Farms in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, IS BACK

2008-12-26T11:22:00.001-08:00

(November 11, 2008 - San José, Costa Rica)

Last November 5, the Technical Secretariat of the Environment of Costa Rica (Setena) issued a resolution calling for the operation of Tuna Farms of Golfito to continue with its execution. The project, which consists of the installation of 10 cages that will fatten up to 120 tons of tuna per cycle, was suspended by order of the Constitutional Court on May 9 of 2007, due to the serious inconsistencies found regarding the threat of polluting the delicate ecosystem of the Golfo Dulce, and the impact on sea turtles. Setena had declared that the project was environmentally viable since August 19, 2005.

In order to elucidate the inconsistencies that the Constitutional Court pointed out, Setena requested the technical criteria of the Center for Marine and Limnological Research of the University of Costa Rica (Cimar). In the report, submitted last September 30, Cimar underlines that to predict the possible destiny of wastes and served waters with more certainty, a much more comprehensive study regarding ocean currents is needed than the one that was submitted in the Environmental Impact Study. Furthermore, it points out the need for a Plan of Action to deal with the sea turtles and whales that use these waters.

According to the Costa Rican NGO Pretoma, which filed the Constitutional Law Suit to stop the installation of Tuna Farms together with the Association of Neighbors of Punta Banco, Setena granted the environmental viability without having elucidated the inconsistency described by the Constitutional Court regarding the ecological impact that the Tuna Farms may have on the Golfo Dulce. To make matters worst, Setena doesn't even acknowledge that sea turtles nest in the area, in spite of the fact that for the last 11 years Pretoma has been doing sea turtle conservation projects in the community of Punta Banco, an olive ridley sea turtle nesting site located directly in front the area that the proposed Tuna Farms will occupy.

"The Constitutional Court had already expressed that Setena was in the obligation of ordering the performance of studies to previously guarantee, and with an acceptable degree of certainty, that the metabolic wastes produced would not affect the environment nor the delicate ecosystem of the Golfo Dulce", informed Randall Arauz, President of Pretoma, "The requested studies still haven't been performed, nor have the contaminant issue been elucidated, because of which the recommendation to continue with the execution of the Tuna Farms is contrary to the order of the Constitutional Court", explained Arauz.

According to Miguel Gómez, Pretoma's Campaigns Coordinator, sea turtles are under serious threat, as the structures with the cages would attract the sea turtles that visit the beaches of Punta Banco, Estrechura, and Río Coco to nest, and would interrupt the hatchlings on their way to the open sea. "We still don't see a serious plan to mitigate the impact of the Tuna Farms on sea turtles, but if Setena won't even acknowledge that sea turtles nest on these beaches, what can we expect?," said a disappointed Gómez.

On November 11 of 2008, Pretoma filed suit to revoke Setena's resolution, as well as an appeal to the Ministry of Environment.

For more information:

PRETOMA
Tel (506) 2241 5227
Fax (506) 2236 6017
Email: info@pretoma.org
Website: www.pretoma.org

PRETOMA is a Costa Rican Civil Association of Public Interest (Decreto Ejecutivo 34150-J), and is an active member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN and the World Society for the Protection of Animals WSPA.

Costa Rica and China Begin Joint Venture On Refinery

2008-12-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

11/19 from - www.insidecostarica.com

China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has signed an agreement with Costa Rica's Refinadora Costarricense de Petroleo (Recope) on a joint venture to upgrade a Costa Rica's oil refinery.

The details of the deal were made public on Tuesday after it was signed on Monday in San Jose, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit.

According to the 25-year deal, the joint venture would help modernize and expand the Moin refinery, increasing its annual oil refining capability to 3 million tonnes from the current 1.2 million tonnes.

Improvements would also raise product quality and reduce pollution. It gave no further details on investments and timeline.

The two sides also agreed to launch feasibility studies on a new refinery with a proposed annual crude processing capability of 10 million tonnes.

Firman acuerdos ambientales y sociales en Osa - La lucha del pueblo da resultados

2008-12-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

From: .:: Diario Digital Nuestro Pais ::.

Redacción, (elpais.cr) - Ambientalistas, representantes de la comunidad, organizaciones no gubernamentales, sector privado y del Gobierno se comprometieron a buscar soluciones para los problemas de desarrollo sostenible en el cantón de Osa, Pacifico sur de Costa Rica.Los acuerdos fueron firmados el fin de semana, en el marco del "Encuentro Pro Desarrollo Sostenible de Osa" organizado por la Iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza y el Tribunal Ambiental. Tras un inicio tenso que incluyó un bloqueo en la Costanera Sur, y producto del diálogo propiciado dentro del "Encuentro Pro Desarrollo Sostenible de Osa y la Zona Sur", los pobladores de Osa fueron testigos de la firma de un acuerdo entre la Municipalidad, el Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (MINAET), y la Iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza que buscará proponer soluciones para los problemas de desarrollo sostenible de Osa.La problemática ambiental y social de Osa se han discutido ampliamente en los últimos meses a raíz de las barridas ambientales, realizadas por el Tribunal Ambiental y otras dependencias del MINAET, que pusieron en alerta a la población respecto a la necesidad de proteger los recursos naturales únicos con que cuenta esta región al tiempo que se genera empleo y prosperidad para los oseños, dijo un comunicado de la Iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza (IPN).Cerca de 500 personas acudieron al Salón Comunal de Bahía, en Uvita, para participar en este encuentro convocado por el el Tribunal Ambiental y la Iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza.Aparte de ser testigos de los compromisos acordados por la Municipalidad de Osa y el MINAET, las personas hicieron propuestas y comentarios sobre los problemas ambientales y sociales que les afectan.ComisiónComo parte del acuerdo, se conformó una Comisión Interinstitucional que se encargará de identificar los principales problemas ambientales de Osa, hacer un diagnóstico de los proyectos inmobiliarios de la zona y proponer soluciones a corto plazo."Estamos hablando el mismo idioma, todos queremos el desarrollo sostenible con sensibilidad humana, pero respetando siempre la ley" expresó el Viceministro del Ambiente, Jorge Rodríguez al inaugurar el encuentro. Le acompañaron en la mesa principal el Alcalde de Osa, representantes de los pescadores y desarrolladores, diputados de la zona y el Defensor Adjunto de los Habitantes, quien se encargará de fiscalizar el acuerdo firmado.Otro de los acuerdos obtenidos durante el Encuentro Pro Desarrollo Sostenible de Osa, fue el firmado por el MINAET, el Tribunal Ambiental y la Cámara de Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios de Osa con el fin de poner a derecho a los proyectos que están siendo procesados en el Tribunal.En el sector, decenas de proyectos inmobiliarios han afectado el ambiente, ya que se han irrespetado áreas de recarga acuífera, zonas de protección y no cuentan con los permisos de ley, como de construcción y estudios de impacto ambiental, entre otros.El principal resultado dentro de este acuerdo es dotar al Tribunal Ambiental de cinco funcionarios que se encargarán de hacer las inspecciones en estos y otros proyectos de Osa, con el fin de agilizar la resolución de los casos que corresponda sin comprometer la legalidad que el Tribunal está obligado a hacer cumplir."Somos una nueva cámara de desarrolladores que apuesta por el desarrollo sostenible; tenemos claro que hay que ajustarse a la ley pues estamos en un Estado de derecho", indicó Víctor Solís, presidente de la Cámara de Desarrolladores de Osa recién conformada."El acuerdo implica que el Tribunal Ambiental contará con más personal para conocer y analizar los casos de Osa, pero eso no significa comprometer los términos de legalidad inamovibles de este Tribunal, cuya obligación es tutelar el cumplimiento de la legislación ambiental no solo en Osa sino en todo el territorio nacional", advirtió José Lino Chaves, presidente del Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo (TAA).Pescadores El MINAET también firmó otro acuerdo paralelo con las asociaciones de pescadores y piangüeros de Dominicalito y de Puerto Cortés, a los cuales el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de conservación (SINAC), les renovará el permiso de extracción por un año, lo cual facilitará que el Instituto Costarricense de Pesca (INCOPESCA), les extienda las licencias de pesca que están vencidas.Igualmente, se agilizará el establecimiento de un Centro de Acopio para pescado y mariscos en una zona de la costa apta para ello."En este encuentro hemos salido ganando todos pues se han establecido acuerdos que lo que buscan es disminuir los problemas ambientales y sociales de Osa, y ese era el objetivo de la Iniciativa Paz con la Naturaleza, del MINAET y del Tribunal Ambiental cuando propusimos el Encuentro", indicó el Juez Jorge Bonilla, Vicepresidente del Tribunal Ambiental.

surfteam

2008-11-27T23:35:00.005-08:00

COSTA RICA SURF TEAM

Contest Results from Contest #2 - Playa Dominical - October 19-20, 2001
Category Place Name
Open 1 Gilbert Brown (P.V.)
2 William Johnson (Jaco)
3 Jose Montoya (Dom.)

Wahines 1 Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco)
2 Andria Diaz (Jaco)
3 Jenny Hinds (Dom.)

CNSC Calendario (The Costa Rica National Surf Circuit)

Playa Negra - November 17th-18th

Tamarindo - December 15th-16th

Salsa Brava - January 19th - 20th

Quepos (Playitas) - February 16th - 17th

Marbella - March 9th - 10th

Hermosa - April 20th - 21st

Email: info@surfdaynite.com for more details...

Categories:

OPEN ~ JUNIORS (under 18) ~ BOYS (under 16) ~ GROMMETS (under 14) ~ MINI-GROM (Under 12) ~ LONGBOARD ~ BODYBOARD ~ WOMEN

Fpilurzo

2008-11-27T23:34:00.004-08:00

Torneo de la ASP arrancó hoy en Hawaii, Listos rivales de Federico Pilurzu en la Triple Corona

Vecino de Playa Langosta de Tamarindo se presentará ante surfistas de Islas Canarias, Hawai y Brasil
http://www.surfspot.com/media/reef/reef.html - to see live coverage.

San José, Costa Rica (12 de noviembre del 2007). El representante de Costa Rica en la Triple Corona de Hawai, Federico Pilurzu, empezará a “correr” olas a partir de mañana cuando tenga que enfrentarse ante un tablista local, otro de las Islas Canarias y un tercer hombre de Brasil.

El Reef Hawaiian Pro se inició hoy en Haleiwa donde la Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) organizó un evento de seis estrellas que congrega a los mejores tablistas del mundo.

La participación de Pilurzu –actual bicampeón open de Centroamérica- en la Triple Corona se concretó luego de que compitiera en el O?Neill ColdWater Clasicc en Santa Cruz (California), en el Maresia Surf Internacional en Santa Catarina y en el Obongo Pro Surfing en Sao Paulo -ambos en Brasil- en octubre pasado.

En la actualidad tras la actualización de las posiciones en esos eventos Federico se ubica en la casilla 99 del ranking mundial en la que ostenta 5713 puntos validos para ingresar en la serie de tres eventos.

La segunda prueba de la Triple Corona tendrá lugar en Sunset Beach, en Oahu (Hawai) a partir del 25 de noviembre según establece la página web oficial de la ASP.

Primera salida

Esa fuente digital indica que mañana, aproximadamente a las 3 p. m. (hora de Costa Rica¡), Pilurzu tendría que competir ante Jonathan González de las Islas Canarias, Fabio Gouveia (Brasil) y el hawaino Chad Chidester.

“La verdad me siento tranquilo para comenzar a luchar por un campo a la siguiente ronda, espero lograrlo para dejar en alto el nombre del surfing de Costa Rica”, indicó Pilurzu en un correo electrónico.

Además de la corona del Istmo el vecino del cantón de Santa Cruz (Guanacaste) ingresará en los registros históricos del deporte nacional de las olas porque a partir de mañana se convertirá en el único surfista que ha representado a Costa Rica en la Triple Corona.

“Todos sabemos que acá están figuras cuyos nombre es legendario en el mundo del surf como Sunny García, Nataniel Curran o Kekoa Bacalso; es decir que se trata de gente con un nivel muy alto que me obligará a ofrecer el máximo de rendimiento para avanzar en cada heat ”, resaltó el monarca de Centroamérica.

En caso de que logre terminar en alguno de los primeros dos lugares en la prueba de mañana Federico pasará de la ronda de 128 tablistas a la serie de 64 hombres.

Acerca de Federico Pilurzu

El surfeador, Federico Pilurzu, es el único representante de Costa Rica -y Centroamérica- que participa constantemente en la serie de torneos del WQS de la ASP. En la actualidad ostenta el título de bicampeón centroamericano de la división open cetros que ganó durante las finales realizadas en Costa Rica (2006) y Guatemala (2007); además, en el año 2001 logró el campeonato nacional de Costa Rica.

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FEDERICO PILURZU DEFEATS WORLD-CLASS U.S. OPEN CHAMPION ROB MACHADO AT SOORUZ LACANAU PRO TO ADVANCE AT FRANCE'S 6-STAR CONTEST

TWO WEEKS TRAINING SESSION IN ZARAUTZ, SPAIN HELPED WQS- #143 RANKED COSTA RICAN SURFER RECOVER FROM ANKLE INJURY

by - Ellen Zoe Golden EllenZoe@aol.com 800-548-1753 In Costa Rica 011-506-867-21-97

San Jose, Costa Rica August 17, 2006 - In 4-foot waves that finally arrived after two flat days delayed his Round 2 heat , Costa Rican surfer Federico Pilurzu showed enough radical and controlled moves to take 1 st place over the renowned waterman Rob Machado at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France.

Considered the French Pro of surfing, this was Pilurzu's first European 6-star World Qualifying (WQS) event of the year, and the defeat over Machado,who won the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing in July,advances him to Round 3 of the tournament which features other WQS surfers such as France's Jeremy Flores, and two dozen pros from the World Championship Tour (WCT) in a fight that continues today through August 20 at Grand Plage, Lacanau, Gironde, and offers $125,000 in prize money.

"Federico's victory over Rob Machado is not only great for him, but for all of Costa Rica," said Antonio Pilurzu, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica, immediately after the heat. "The kids here can now see that they too can do something more with their skills. They can watch Federico compete and win in these international contests, and have proof that just as they have results in Costa Rica, they too can go up against good surfers and be confident. It's not impossible. They just have to go and do it."

Meanwhile, Federico is still competing on the WQS while wearing a splint on the ankle that has been injured for month, and limited his mobility a few weeks ago at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) WQS Rip Curl Board Masters in Newquay, United Kingdom.

However, after a short break from a rigorous competitive schedule,including winning the Central American Championships in Costa Rica in July, then placing #19 at the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing two weeks later, then Newquay,Pilurzu regrouped at the northern beach break of Zarautz, Spain. There he met friend and local Aritz Aranburu, a fellow WQS competitor (currently ranked #81), who this past March 2006, visited Pilurzu in Costa Rica, where he participated and won, the Costa Rican Circuito Nacional de Surf tournament. In Zarautz, Pilurzu did physical training with Aritz's coach and rested the ankle in preparation for the Sooruz Lacanau Pro.

The strategy paid off. Reported Pilurzu after these two successful Sooruz Lacanau Pro heats: "I've got pain on the first wave, but it goes away after that. The conditions are okay, the event is underway and I made it through so everything's going the best way for me so far!"

"When you compete against such good surfers, the mind takes more than 80 percent of the work, " Federico explains. "Everybody rips, and the guy that has the most clear and confident mind somehow wins. The waves come to you, and you make no mistakes. I've just been trying to have a good time, be relaxed and focused during the event. Just thinking positive, and giving my best each time!"

Pilurzu's is already looking ahead. He is currently wait-listed for the August 21 to 27 Super Series, Rip Curl Pro in Hossegor/Seignosse, Landes-France ($150,000 in prizes), and is confirmed to compete in the 5-star Buondi Billabong Pro in Ericeira, Portugal between August 29 and September 3, which pays $100,000 in awards.

Now ranked #143 out of 800 surfers on the WQS chart, and his goal is to become one of the top 100 surfers in the world to compete in the two 6-star contests in Hawaii at the end of November and December.

Federico sube 62 peldaños en el escalafón mundial

Surfo de Tamarindo competirá en Inglaterra

Luego de que el sábado pasado terminara la presentación en el US Open de surf en Huntington Beach, California, el tablista de Playa Tamarindo, Federico Pilurzu, avanzó 62 posiciones en el ranking mundial de la Asocciation of Surfing Professionals (ASP) organización que elabora el escalafón denominado World Qualifying Series (WQS).

Según establece la página web oficial de la ASP antes de que arrancara el torneo en Estados Unidos el competidor, de 23 años de edad, se encontraba situado en la casilla 197 del mundo.

Pero luego, tras haber llegado a la ronda donde únicamente participaron los 24 mejores competidores en el US Open , el vecino del cantón de Santa Cruz logró un enorme salto para subir al lugar 135.

De acuerdo con el site de la ASP, Federico ahora suma un total de 2449 puntos. En el primer lugar del WQS se encuentra el australiano Dayan Neve (7594) quien en la actual temporada acumula premios por $22 400 (¢ 11,5 millones).

“Una de las metas que tengo en este momento consiste en avanzar la mayor cantidad de heats en cada una de la fechas de la temporada y una vez que finalice el calendario de la ASP 2006 terminar por lo menos entre los primeros 100 surfos del mundo”, explicó Federico mediante un correo electrónico.

Las reglas de la ASP indican que una vez concluidas las jornadas de esa entidad creada en 1976 avanzarán al World Championship Tournament (WCT) los primeros 15 mejor situados en el ranking quienes competirán entre sí para determinar al campeón del mundo, cetro que en la actualidad le pertenece al siete veces monarca, Kelly Slater.

“Este es un circuito donde llega lo mejor del planeta, todos los que se inscriben en los torneos son nombres muy sonados en el mundo de las tablas; por eso, estar en este tipo de competencias significa un fogueo de primera clase para quien desee mejorar el rendimiento”, añadió Federico en el email .

Tras el final del US Open en el segundo lugar del WQS se encuentra el estadounidense Gabel Kling (7467), quien ha ganado una bolsa de $19 400 (¢ 9,9 millones) en este año.

El tercer peldaño en el puntaje acumulado le pertenece a Ricky Basnett (Sudáfrica: 7326) quien durante el 2006 lleva sumados $19 750 (¢10,1 millones) en premios.

La próxima competencia de Pilurzu se iniciará mañana cuando se lance al agua en Newquay, Inglaterra, donde se realizará una nueva prueba del WQS esta vez en el Viejo Continente.

Este torneo está calificado con seis estrellas máximo grado de dificultad debido a las condiciones del oleaje, las mareas y el viento.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, tel. (506) 3639921.

Debbie Zec

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cnsteam

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These photos are of the Circuito Nacional de Surf team of Costa Rica. They were taken over a five year span, including surf contests in Dominical, Hermosa, Tamarindo, Playa Grande, and Puerto Viejo.

Move your mouse over the pics to see who, where, and when.

CRSURF News - December 2006

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Free shipping!

New Google Surf Map
Click for Reggae Music

CRSURF News - December 2006

Although it seemed like there were more surfers than ever visiting Costa Rica in 2006, tourism actually dropped by almost 50 percent. One of the major causes was the increase in airfare to and from Central America. In 2007, the airfare only drops a little, $380 from Miami and $465 from Orlando if you travel on Martin Air. Martin Air is also a great choice for surfers since you can reserve your boards to fly them for free. Carriers like Lacsa charge $25 per board and many U.S. airlines charge $80 each way to bring boards.
Keep your eyes open for specials by local travel agencies – Surf Express and Worldwide Adventures can get bulk rates and know the cheapest times to fly. Another trusted agency is Tico Travel in Fort Lauderdale – www.ticotravel.com.

When you’re in Costa Rica, you may get a chance to see the best local surfers compete for a chance to be on the National Surf Team. In 2006, the team competed in Huntington Beach, California are returned 8th in the world, 2nd in Latin America only to Brazil. The Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) has already hosted two contests and the third is scheduled for January 6th and 7th in Jaco. It’s amazing to see the number of grommets competing, girls and boys, enough that the CNS is putting on separate contests for the Juniors divisions. Go to www.crsurf.com to see the entire schedule for some contests are open to foreign competitors and offer some hefty cash prizes.

Most all of the surfers competing on the CNS tour do not have any sponsors. It’s expensive from them to travel to all six contests – food, lodging, entry fees, and transportation make it almost impossible to succeed. So I have been asked to help find sponsors for these surfers. If someone has a business that they wish to promote in Costa Rica – a great way to do that is to sponsor a local surfer. You’ll be recognized on many surfing websites as well as have your logo displayed on the board ridden by the competitor you choose. For a list of surfers to sponsor, send an email to info@crsurf.com
If your passion is to help save lives on the beaches of Costa Rica, I am working with the lifeguard program in Dominical to raise funds for salaries and equipment. If we can find enough sponsors, we hope to expand the program to other beaches on both coasts.

CR Surf Report for November 2007

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Sewage in Tamarindo – The latest water quality test done at various spots along the beach in Tamarindo revealed a fecal coliform count up to 79 times higher than the safe level for swimming. The Minister of Health and Minister of the Environment both came out to investigate the issue and another round of tests are expected next week. Last year Tamarindo was awarded the title of a “Blue Flag” beach, which entails having high water quality standards.

Federico Pilurzo is going to the Triple Crown – The first ever representative from Costa Rica will be competing in two of the three most prestigious surf contests in the world, in Haleiwa and Sunset Beach. At the latest contest in Brazil, Pilurzo earned enough points to crack the top 100 on the World Qualifying Series, another first for Costa Rica. Federico lives in Playa Langosta and his family, who own the Cala Luna Hotel, has played a big role in promoting surfing around the country.

Save the Date to Save the Earth - On Sunday April 20, 2008, the 4th Annual Osa Peninsula Earth Day Festival is again expected to attract hundreds of participants from communities throughout the Peninsula, providing an opportunity to network and celebrate together the abundance of Nature. In 2004, the Osa joined with other communities around the world kicking off a festival in downtown Puerto Jimenez with a great showing of community support and involvement. For the past four years, we have continued to build on this success by offering a free event which celebrates the environment and reflects the growing diversity of our community. The Festival hosts numerous environmental exhibits with a wide variety of interactive educational opportunities for children and adults, as well as exciting and diverse live entertainment, musical line-ups, contests and speakers all in a family-fun atmosphere. The theme for this year is Living in Peace with Nature, presenting a variety of practical applications for ecological stewardship. The Osa Earth Day Festival maintains free admission and when possible, free transportation to draw the largest cross-section from rural communities so that we can celebrate this internationally recognized event in the most inclusive manner. The Festival's success depends on financial support from businesses and organizations such as yours. If you would like to get more information, contact Tricia at womenoftheosa@gmail.com.

Heavy Rains Flood Caribbean and Pacific coasts – If you are planning a trip over the next few weeks, and plan to go off the beaten track, make sure you get a vehicle with good clearance. The secondary roads will have a lot of potholes, if there is a road at all. Many have been flooded out, or mudslides and fallen trees have blocked them. The main highways will be clear, but expect delays. Luckily the rainy season is coming to an end soon, so as the country dries out the repairs can begin.

Top Flights Out – How about a Thanksgiving trip from November 19th to the 24th? Only $324 on Spirit Air leaving from Fort Lauderdale. Or a trip leaving April 12th, 2008 and returning on the 23rd costs only $278.00 right now. If you want to fly Martin Air since boards fly for free, there room on the jet from the 13th to the 23rd of April next year for $298, leaving Miami. Just for reference, Martin Air flies out of Miami on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. They have flights from Orlando on Monday, Thursday, and Friday only. Go to www.martinair.com to check out the best rates.

TOP NEWS from CRSURF.com - November 2006

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Contests

The Costa Rican National Team just made it home from the International Surfing Games in Huntington Beach California. They placed 7th out of 33 teams, and were 2nd for Latin America – beating out teams from Tahiti, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina. The team was made up of Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo), Nino Myrie (Puerto Viejo), Luis Vindas (Jaco), Diejo Naranjo (Jaco), Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco), Nataly Bernold (Tamarindo), Ivan Castillo (Quepos), and Walter Gatgens (Quepos). For pictures and updated National Team news, check out www.surfingcr.net.

Manuel Antonio Surf School and TULE shapes are the proud organizers of a surf contest to be held the weekend of the 4th and 5th of November at Playitas in Manuel Antonio. Grand prize for 1st place in categories Junior and Open is a custom board made by TULE Shapes with MASS logo and an awesome trophy. The inscription has a cost of c5000 ($8) with the chance to participate in the categories: Boogie board, Junior or Open. Call 506-777-4282 to sign up or email info@masurfschool.com .

The organizers of the Reef Classic Latin Pro Costa Rica confirmed that the event is going to take place from November 10 until the 12 at Playa Hermosa, Jacó. It will be a six star event delivering $15,000 in cash prizes. After being postponed for several issues, the event is confirmed as part of the year end leg of the ALAS Latin and Caribbean Tour 2006 that will have five attractive contests to be held at Barbados, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Also in November is the 5th Annual 2006 COSTA RICA SURF & SPIKE at the JACO BEACH BEST WESTERN HOTEL. The Surfing competition will be Thursday 11/23 to Saturday 11/25/06 (3 days of competition) Also will be the Beach Volleyball Pro/Am competition: Fri. 11/24 – Sat. 11/25/06 (2 day competition) And the Sinjin Smith & Randy Stoklos Beach Volleyball Camp: Thurs. 11/23/06 (1 day camp)

Contact info@crsurf.com to get your trip package reservations. Family Surf Vacations. Lessons can be custom built for your experience and budget.

Environment

The fight to save Pavones from a giant Tuna Farm approved to be built near it is not over. Check the CRSURF website for updates as well as www.tortugamarina.org Letters from concerned scientists, tourists and residents will help convince the government that it’s a bad idea to raise thousands of tuna to be sold out of the country in such a delicate, diverse ecosystem.

If you want to be eco-conscious in choosing a place to stay when visiting Costa Rica, check to see if the hotel has a certificate for Sustainable Tourism Practices. Visit the website http://www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr/EN/home.shtml to learn more.

The Rich Coast – Costa Rica – 3 Points of View (November 2008)

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I finally am living out my dream. Twenty years of hard work and saving pennies, and now here it is in front of my eyes. It’s beautiful, a four story condominium with me in the penthouse suite. Pool, Jacuzzi, and lots of living space inside. Rather than flatten some more forest for custom homes, I think that this gives me more security, and the second floor up gets a world class white water view. My friends in the U.S. could come down with their families and have a perfect place to stay. Then they could rent it out the other weeks of the year, so their income would just keep rolling in. What an investment for their retirement, and for mine. The local community loves me since I’ll hire them for security, lawn maintenance, plumbing, cable installation, and road repair. And the big resort nearby just opened a bilingual school, so when I bring my kids down they can learn to mix in. Then it’s off to the golf course, or maybe I’ll head to the docks for some fishing. Pura vida!
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I am shocked to see the billboards blocking the road scarred landscape – exclaiming “Live the dream!” in English with a retiree reeling in sailfish or nailing a putt. Condos and high-rise hotels are going up before the permits get passed in more than just Jaco and Tamarindo. How can they build it so close to the river, or so close to the beach with only a septic tank? My vacation lineup now is some development’s leech field. Damn ear infections and stomach viruses kept me out of the water for two days on my last surf trip. How can they cut down rainforest and mangroves for an ocean view or their driveway? People need to realize that Costa Rica holds 5% of the WORLD’s BIODIVERSITY in a country the size of West Virginia. The trees and mangroves not only prevent erosion, but filter out pollutants and provide habitat for rare birds and beasts, including lynx and jaguars. If when the runoff goes straight out the estuary, all of the pollutants go with it. And the oceans hold humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, and the fish which feed the nation and its tourists. These greedy gringos wouldn’t do it back in their home country, the government wouldn’t let them. But here there is little to no enforcement, and if you get caught a little ‘multa’ and mitigation gets you off the hook.
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I am on the critically endangered species list, after losing 90% of my population in only the last 20 years. About 33,000 of us are left on the planet. We are gentle creatures, eating just jellyfish and sea grass, and on this diet some of us live past 100 years. The only time we come to land is for our mothers to lay their eggs on a sandy beach or dune. About two months later we hatch from our fragile shells, and only a few in every thousand survive. But we have survived for over 110 million years, through many ice ages, global warming and cooling, even before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Now humans are our biggest threat in our maturity. We suffer when you catch us in drift nets, eat our eggs thinking it is an aphrodisiac, and pollute our waters with poisons and plastic bags. When you build your tall buildings, your lights blaring near the beach discourage our mothers from nesting and disorient our babies as they search nearly blind for the ocean. If nothing is done, my species will soon go extinct.
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Do we continue to believe
that our happiness supersedes
the survival of the leatherback turtle?

CR Surf Report for October 2007

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This is the month for rains and flooding, café con leche lineups, and rainbows. The southern swells are fewer, but more powerful. It can be waist high in Tamarindo and overhead in Dominical. The locals are happy with the scene, and here’s some happenings for the next month.

Thousands of Costa Ricans are supporting Las Baulas National Marine Park, which is home to the endangered leatherback turtle nesting grounds. Environmentalists demand lawful expropriations of beachfront properties located in the park, stretching from Playa Grande and the other by the Tamarindo rivermouth. Homeowners are demanding just compensation for their property, which at market prices make it hard for the Costa Rica government to purchase. Many private charities have already pledged to match the cost, but it has to be approved by the Legislature. For information about the sea turtles and the (which is really an estuary) www.Pretoma.org

Projecto Ninos in Nosara raises money for school supplies by selling rooms and tours donated by local businesses. They have house rentals and surf lessons for sale on Ebay, where the proceeds go right into the local school system. Their goal is to improve the quality of education in Costa Rica by developing strong educational programs that promote literacy, the arts, sciences and personal well being.To learn more, go to www.projectoninos.com

Roxy Costa Rica Surf Safaris is hosting a welcome home party for the Special Olympics athletes returning from their competition in China. The dates are set for October 26th and 27th. The athletes will be given accommodations at Cabinas Las Olas in Playa Hermosa and enjoy a dinner celebration at Caliche’s Wishbone Restaurant in Jaco on Saturday evening. For more information, contact Mitzam Fontiveros at mitzam@wavescr.com.

The Montezuma International Film Festival will be held on November 1st to the 5th in Montezuma. It will showcase 100 films from across the world with live music, street parties, beach parties, special dinners, discussion panels and much more. All events are free and everyone in the world is invited to this first annual celebration of independent film. Go to www.montezumafilmfestival.com for more information and to see a list of movies.

Finally, Frederico Pilurzo, the only surfer from Costa Rica competing frequently in the WQS, is in 105th place and competing in October for a spot in the Top 100. Why is this level so important? Because those who make it get invited to surf in the Triple Crown surf contests in Hawaii, which would be a first for any Costa Rican.

The Green Season - October 2006

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October is a hit or miss month for Costa Rica. The southern Pacific swells become less frequent and the northern swells have not kicked in yet. It's also the rainiest month of year, with showers that can last up to 18 hours straight. The rivers flow out into the break the color of cafe con leche, bringing with it a sure case of an ear or stomach infection. So if you're headed down during this month, here are some tips.

First, the farther north you go, the less rainy it is. Yes, it will still rain most every day, but the showers do not last as long and there are less storms in the morning hours. Conversely, the morning showers in the southern zone (from Quepos south) mess with the early offshore breezes, taking away the dawn patrol glass sessions. What's more important are the tides, beachbreaks often work best at midtide going towards high tide.

Second, prepare to walk around in the rain by bringing things that dry quickly and take ziploc bags for your electronics and medicines. One trick I learned is to make a 50-50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar and pour a little bit in your ears after each surf session to lessen the chance of ear infections. Make sure your footwear has good traction in muddy conditions. Break out the repellent at dawn and dusk when the mosquitos are at their worst. And during the midday hours, apply the sunblock. Even if it's cloudy, you're still only 9 degrees north of the equator, and who likes being burned to a crisp on their vacation.

Third, think vehicle safety. When you get your rental, check the tire tread, the defrost, the spare tire and jack, and the window washer fluid. (On one trip to Pavones, the rental was missing the jack and I didn't know it unitl 10 p.m. when I tried to fix a flat tire) Drive slower since many rain puddles hide deep potholes. Many streams that are passable in the dry season also morph into raging currents during a heavy shower. And don't get lax on leaving your things in the vehicle so they won't get wet bringing them to your room. There are thefts from vehicles ALL year round.

These tips make it sound like going to Costa Rica in October is not a good idea. That is what the majority of tourists think, and therefore it's a great time to go - to avoid the crowds! A lot of hotels and surf camps have rainy season specials to fill rooms, so ask for them when inquiring about rates. While you're down there, check out Carnival on the Caribbean Coast, with lots of dancing, parades, drinking, and reggae / soca / calypso music. And the local Boruca tribe celebrates el Festival de los Diablos at the end of October, a tradition going back hundreds of years to when the tribesmen made masks to disguise the leader when the Spaniards first came as conquistadors.

CR Surf Happenings for September 2008

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TRAVEL - American Airlines is offering trips to Costa Rica for $229 RT from Miami and Fort Lauderdale on select dates in September and October. The BIG NEWS is that our partners at Tico Travel have an exclusive deal to bring one board for FREE round trip! Contact us now at travel@crsurf.com to lock these rates in and avoid paying too much for boards and baggage.
If you need some Dakine luggage to get your boards and baggies securely to San Jose, check your local surf shop, and if it’s not in stock, then go online to www.crsurfshop.com. Find boardbags, books, backpacks, and straps- all you need for your next trip. And free shipping, too, anywhere in the continental U.S.
If you have not been to the CRSURF website lately, drop in to check out some of the new features. New artwork is being sent in every week, and the photographers keep showcasing the waves that we dream of. We also have created a Radio widget that plays commercial free Reggae Music 24/7 through Last.fm. And the new Costa Rica Google Surf Map has break descriptions for over 70 spots. It’s the place to go when you’re researching your next surf trip.
COMMUNITY - Thanks to a big donation from a visiting surfer, Tamarindo’s Luis Castro will have enough money to pay for his knee surgery. Castro has represented the Witchs Rock Surf Camp team for years in professional contests, and they have helped him raise funds so he can keep on doing what he loves to do for a career.
In Playa Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula and near Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast, there are now opportunities to volunteer and teach English to kids through the program at Tropical Adventures. Don't think you could teach English? Have no fear. They have a fool-proof system where they send you your material before you arrive and you'll pick up where the volunteer before you left off. The instructions are simple and they are there to support you. If teaching is not your forte, then you can choose from wildlife conservation to community service programs as well. They also have opportunities for children to get involved. For more info, go to www.tropicaladventures.com.
The Caribbean Coast has been festive all month with its celebration of Carnival. There have been parades in the streets of Limon, lots of live bands, dancing, food, drink, and partiers. It wrapped up with a beauty pageant for the “Queen of the Carnival” and a big concert in the central park on Limon.
CONTESTS - The weekend of the 29th – 31st is the Costa Rica Federacion de Surf’s (FCS) Legend’s Contest, held behind the Terraza del Pacifico Hotel in Playa Hermosa. Attending will be some of the former Costa Rica champs, and others crucial to building the foundations of surfing in Costa Rica. On Friday the 29th there will be a luau celebrating the contestents which will be followed by a night surfing contest, open to all ages.
The BIG news is that in 2009 the ISA World Surfing Games will be hosted by Costa Rica. From July 31st to August 8, teams from over 40 countries will converge on the beach in Playa Hermosa to see which country is producing the top talents. Next year should be huge since many countries in Latin America have not been able to attend in year’s past due to lack of resources, so this opportunity so close to home will draw out the best in Central and South American surfers. CRSURF has set up a ‘hotel map’ of the area so anyone can preview the rooms and reserve spaces. Go to – www.crsurf.com/ISA09-hotels.html.
ENVIRONMENT – The ComunicArt Festival was celebrated on the afternoon of August 8 in the community of Punta Banco, Southern Zone. It was the culmination of a development project by artists and educators in conjunction with PRETOMA, or the Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas. The artists worked to involve the community's children and adults during a month to carry artistic activities and raise community awareness about the need for the conservation of sea turtles and marine resources in general.

Utilizing recycled materials, community members designed costumes and jewelry for example elegant and fun earrings made from glass bottle tops. Clever puppets, made to represent the challenges that sea turtles face and how people can amend their actions to aid in their conservation, were also constructed. Also, Punta Banco's community school was decorated with murals and paintings that depicting sea turtles, their life cycles, and the most pressing challenges they face.

"The community's willingness to collaborate has been these events secret to success. It's surprising how much even the youngest members of the community know about sea turtles", said Ashlie Gaos, ComuniArt's program coordinator.

The festival also served to inaugurate the community's organic farm which will be cared for and cultivated by school children who are in charge of collecting the town's organic garbage to use as fertilizer. Proceeds from the jewelry pieces sold during the festival will go towards starting up Punta Banco's recycling program. To learn more about PRETOMA, visit – www.tortugamarina.org.

CR Surf Report for September 2007

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This month is great for surfing empty lineups. The south swells are a little farther apart, but more powerful. Waves double overhead plus file in from the South Pacific and the rains can make for a nice glass off session. And it WILL rain a lot, since the peak of the wet season is only a month away. Here’s a couple of emails I’ve received from visitors searching for their vacation waves –

“Are there any good mellow longboard points in the Jaco area and can you name me a few good hotels to stay at that would be close to a good longbaord spot?” – David

Hola David,

Near Jaco, there are two good longboard spots. One is 40 minutes north, Boca Barranca, a left that breaks over 500 yards when it's on. The all inclusive spot is the Fiesta Resort - http://www.fiestaresort.com/. There are some other smaller, simple cabinas there, but you'll have to drive there to make reservations as they don't really advertise (no website)

The other spot is 15 minutes south of Jaco, called Esterillos. It can get big, but break way far out in deep water, making the drops less agro and providing a long ride before it mushes out. Hotel La Dolce Vita is a comfortable spot to stay, right on the beach. - http://www.resortladolcevita.com/

Hope this helps. Be sure to print out tide charts from the CRSURF site before you go. Have a fun trip!!

And from another traveler –

“Hi there, I'm planning on going on vacation to Costa Rica and I want to SURF. However, my girlfriend wants to lay on the beach and SWIM, and, if possible, snorkel a bit. My hope to make this work is that I'm not a very good surfer, yet my girlfriend is a strong swimmer. From what I've read, the The NW is perfect for surfing, however, I wasn't so sure if swimming will work. Alternatively, the SE doesn't sound like it's worth going for surfing at all, yet there seems to be good swimming and snorkeling options. So - the least thing I want is a crisis with my GF and no surf, and I was wondering if you can help me out with some advice! Thanks a bunch,” - Philipp

Hola Philipp -

I just did an around the country trip with my wife, same scenario. The problem lies in the fact that if there's surf, the water is not clear enough for snorkeling.

You will have to break up the trip. Stay in a spot close to both swimming and surfing beaches. For snorkeling, the Caribbean beach Manzanillo has great snorkeling right off the beach. Stay at Hotel Totem in Cocles and it's a 15 minute drive south to there. And the beach right out back has good surfing if there's waves, and good swimming if not. You can also drive north to Cahuita (20 min) to find snorkeling options.

On the SW Pacific Coast I highly recommend Costa Paraiso for a romantic time - http://www.costa-paraiso.com/ It's next a secluded beach to walk down to find smaller waves, and you can do some great snorkeling tours through Southern Expeditions - http://www.southernexpeditionscr.com/ (The owner won't take people out if the conditions aren't good for seeing lots of marine life) And for swimming, the best is to take her to the Whale's Tail in Uvita, where at low tide you can walk out on a 1/4 mile sandbar and swim in calm water, looking back on the mountains.

On the NW Pacific, the Catalina Islands have great snorkeling. Check out - http://www.govisitcostarica.com/listings/listingDetails.asp?coid=1017 for a complete description. For surf and tides, just check CRSURF.com the week before your trip to print out the tide chart and check the forecast.

CR Surf Happenings for August 2008

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COMMUNITY - The Tamarindo Lifeguard Program so far is a success. The three guards are in the tower six days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last month they rescued 20 people from the currents and assisted in numerous surf-related injuries. In addition there was a Tamarindo Scavenger Hunt which took place at Hotel Pasatiempo that raised $1,300 for them. And the Surf Club Sports Bar in Langosta added another $780 by hosting Lifeguard Bingo.
Dominicals' lifeguard program also is expanding and restructuring. The current captain Matt Haley from New Jersey is taking a leave of absence, and in his place will be Andrew Webster from Encinitas, California. He will have some big shoes to fill, as Matt and his crew handled dozens of rescues every year. Both programs need support, so if you can offer assistance, contact info@crsurf.com.
CONTESTS - The next Puerto Viejo Open Pro surf tournament is set for Aug. 9 at 8 a.m. at the beach break in Playa Cocles. Mark it on your calendars, as these tournaments are always lots of fun. For entry information, contact Beto at 8885-9688, or email reservations@cashewhilllodge.co.cr.
In June and July, the Christian Surfers group from Daytona Florida joined with local non profits to help out in Dominical and Jaco. Titled the Costa Rica Eternal Crown, the contests were open to the entire community as a way to promote surfing and clean living. The visiting surfers brought down trophies and tshirts for the participants, as well as helped out on community service projects like beach cleanups, building, cleaning, and painting. They hope it continues to grow each year in order to attract more surfers from around the globe.
Also in June was the Solstice Open. The annual event was held June 21st-23rd in front of Cabinas Las Olas in Playa Hermosa. In this, the event’s fourth year, it raised $3,000 that will go toward Playa Hermosa’s recycling program, improvements to the local elementary school, efforts to promote the ecological Blue Flag designation, and the Punta Mala-Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge. They also held a beach cleanup at Playa Guacalillo, one of the most littered beaches on the Gulf of Nicoya.
Frederico Pilurzo, a former Costa Rica National Champion, is now on the WQS, and doing very well on the tour. Recently he competed in the Honda US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, where he had made it through his early heats. Keep an eye out for him at future WQS contest venues blowing fins out the back as the only high flier from Central America.
ENVIRONMENT – There is a new video out made by CAVU that demonstrates the problem that communities have all over Costa Rica - the loss of water quality and quantity. Copy this link and watch the video to learn about the dilemma that Uvita currently faces - http://www.cavusite.org/assets/view/190/. For more than a decade CAVU's founders have been conducting low-level aerial surveys documenting environmental and social health issues in the United States and throughout Central America. Passengers on these flights have included conservationists, geographers, members of the media, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, policy makers and government officials. In Central America, having viewed nearly the entire isthmus from a thousand feet, as well as having gained an intimate familiarity with many of the issues people face on the ground, CAVU's founders felt uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the preservation and restoration of the region's biological corridors.
** Waves Costa Rica, a well known surf school associated with Quiksilver /Roxy launched a conservationist campaign called “Por Siempre Hermosa” (Forever Beautiful) The campaign consists on several stages. It uses different resources such as beach cleaning, reforestation, awareness talks, and environmental education for the people to raise a conscience of Playa Hermosa being a Pacific treasure calling the attention of thousand and tourists and locals, looking for Waves, nature rivers, and a cosy environment provided by small hotels and restaurants personally attended by their owners.
“We are giving out free stickers and Quiksilver’s “Blue Book” to all the people interested in disseminating our message by sticking it to their surfboards, cars, or anywhere they could be seen,” said Andrea Diaz, Waves Costa Rica Director. The campaigns’ slogan goes “It is on our hands to preserve it”, there are stickers in English and Spanish. Along with Quiksilver’s’ “Blue Book” which talks about 10 things you can do to protect your beach. Those willing to acquire them can go Waves Costa Rica Surf School located in Playa Jaco, or visit the website www.wavescr.com
TRAVEL - American Airlines offering trips to Costa Rica for $240 RT from Miami and Fort Lauderdale on select dates in August. Lacsa and Spirit Air have flights that low in October. Contact us now at travel@crsurf.com to lock these rates in and avoid paying too much for boards and baggage.
And if you can’t find Dakine travel gear in your local surf shop, the next place to look is online at www.crsurfshop.com. Find boardbags, books, backpacks, and straps- all you need for your next trip. And free shipping, too, anywhere in the continental U.S. Looking for some summer reading?? We have all the latest travel and surf guides to Costa Rica. And for the kids there is the colorful illustrated book All the Way to the Ocean, that presents two young friends learning about pollution and why it’s bad, with a foreward by Laird Hamilton.

CRSURF news for August 2007

2008-11-27T23:29:00.005-08:00

It’s bad when a surf forecaster goes down to Costa Rica hoping for waves and there are none. That’s what happened to me on my last trip, from Monday, July 16th to the 23rd. There was a Southwest swell expected to arrive that Thursday, and so the plan was to hole up in Jaco and make the dawn patrol run to Hermosa until the waves picked up. Then we could explore options like Boca Barranca and Escondida, both within an hour’s drive. But nothing showed!

The first couple of days we got what we expected, waist high surf with a chest high set coming through every fifteen agonizing minutes. We would drive to the Tree, Corners, Tulin, and back to Corners – all pretty much flat. But the mantra was always – “It’s better than Florida!” We even surfed during the peak high tides in Jaco Beach, when the other beachbreaks would mush up on the sand. Our consolation was a few extra beers and Tsunami Sushi, followed by an obligatory ice cream Trit.

By Wednesday we had enough boat wake and our trio made the call to drive down to Dominical. There at hightide it was still mushing out, but at low tide it showed more promise. There the waves were chest high, and a few sets could be called head high – at least right when you dropped in. What made it fun was the company I was with and the friendly locals we hung out with pre and post surf.

Friday we hoped the swell would show (it didn’t) and so after the morning sesh, drove back up the washboard highway to Quepos and from there the ultrasmooth coastal highway to Jaco. Checked in back at the same spot, Apartamentos el Sol, and went for a surf. Still small, and now there were lightning storms each afternoon, turning winds howling onshore and making time in the water muy sketchy.

Two days left, and after bloodshot eyes scanned wave model after wave model, now no swell was coming until at least Monday – the day we were leaving. The vote was made to cancel the hotel reservation the night before near San Jose, and to dawn patrol it before a mad dash to the airport. We needed surf badly and we knew that only Hermosa would produce it.

Saturday I had thought the swell was there, and for a $40 boat trip to Escondida I was proved wrong. The boat pulled up, and we didn’t even see one wave break on that pristine stretch of coast. Could have been the tide, could have been my bad luck. All I knew is that I was giving up on guessing when and where the waves were. My friends gave me faith, and we were rewarded with an empty lineup and chest to head high surf all day Sunday. Six hours of water time to make up for six days of waiting.

The last session was best, as it should have been. We caught a spot between Corners and the Tree where the sets filed in a foot overhead, with a defined shoulder to whack and an inside section hollow enough to tuck into. We were on it by 5:15 a.m., and had two hours of indulgence before the trek back, which went flawlessly. What a difference that last session made.

Which brings me to a conundrum that every surfer traveling to Costa Rica faces. Do you bring your own boards or rent them when you get there? We rented this time and it paid off. Chuck at Walking on Water Surf Shop in Jaco has over 75 boards to rent – short and long, guns and fishes, from 5.7 to 11.6. They cost $120 a week, about the same if we had brought our boards with us on Spirit Air (which charges $50 each way) But we didn’t have to worry about the airlines losing our boards or damaging them, and we could trade in our boards for other ones that fit the conditions. That was key on this trip, where on the first two days we could have ridden longboards and the last couple of days traded down in size. No worries about buying travel boardbags, either. Just something to think about when you’re planning your next weeklong trip to the Rich Coast and the swell is looking fickle.

CR Surf Travel News - August 2006

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July was a great month for surf contests. The Adio Central American Championships were held July 14th and 15th in Esterillos and had surfers from Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica participating. Conditions early were great, offshores and well overhead on the sets. Afternoons were challeging, with choppy closed out surf, which made wave selection crucial. In the end, Frederico Pilurzo from Tamarindo and Lisbeth Vindas from Jaco placed first in the Open and Women's divisions respectively.

The second contest was held in Tamarindo on the 29th and 30th, hosted by Century 21 and the local business council. The money raised is going to be used to help pay for the lifeguard program and also help a Surfrider group started up by Lou Maresca, a Vero Beach semi-expat. Hopefully the event brings lot of sponsors and competitors and can grow next year. The results will be posted in next month's news.

Waves were consistent for July, headhigh to overhead almost every day, but no grinding Southwest swells appeared. There were three or four days out of the month where it was double overhead, and another three when it was only chest high in Playa Hermosa.

Speaking of Playa Hermosa, a lot of traveling surfers often give it a bad rap. Dumping closeouts, boards broken, red tide, crowds from Florida and California, theivery, the list goes on. I am wondering if these stories are being circulated just to keep even more people from filling the lineup. All the stories are true, I've witnessed all of them at one time or another. But the good side cannot be forgotten either. Dawn patrols with no one out, rocks that make the wave break early if you know where to check and at what tide to surf, long stretches of empty beaches to the south, comfortable and affordable lodging right off the beach, and only 90 minutes from San Jose airport. It's not too bad after all, and I'll take it anyday over the June doldrums in Florida or the cold waters off California.

In order to help plan your next surf trip, I've added a section where you can write in a question and I'll answer it. Send your question to info @crsurf.com with "The Resident Question" in the subject line. This month's question -

"I am visiting Costa Rica for the first time this summer to study Spanish. I'll be in the North Pacific coastal area, near Tamarindo, for about a month. I have a couple of surfing related questions that I hope you can answer. 1. Should I bring my own longboard or skip it and rent one in Tamarindo for a month? How much are rentals in Tamarindo? 2. Are there any Surf-Guide Services in Tamarindo you might recommend? 3. Where are the best longboarder friendly waves?"

And the answer - I would rent a longboard or buy one, then resell it when your done. Rentals go for an average of $15 per day. My friend Diana can help find you great spots to surf and gives lessons too. Her shop is Pura Mar Surf Shop (www.puramar.com) and her email is puramartamarindo@yahoo.com . The best place to surf is right there in Tamarindo, around midtide coming in. Ollie's Point is another great spot, with a long right breaking wave, but you'll need to take a boat from Playa de Coco. Check www.costaricasurftrips.com for prices.

CR Surf Travel Co. delivers donated books to Costa Rican kids

2008-11-27T23:29:00.001-08:00

All the Way to the Ocean, written by Joel Harper, teaches kids not to pollute the ocean.

July 5th, 2008 – On a recent surf trip in Costa Rica, Greg Gordon, the owner of CR Surf Travel Co. – www.crsurf.com – delivered 10 new copies of the book, All the Way to the Ocean, donated by the author Joel Harper. The goal was to help raise awareness about why it is bad to litter and how to teach young kids not to do it. The book tells the story of two skateboarding friends who talk about littering while playing in their neighborhood. The colorful illustrations drawn by Mark Spusta were meant to show kids the effects of pollution on marine life.

The funds used to translate the book into Spanish came from the Save our Seas Foundation. Their mission is – “To want to make the planet a healthier place by helping to preserve the oceans that we love and respect. Its purpose is to implement and support diverse programs of education, protection, and conservation all around the world.”

Mr. Gordon gave the books to the Playa Dominical elementary school’s first grade class and then read the book aloud while the students shared copies to read. Afterwards he discussed with the group about which types of fish and animals lived off their coastline and what they could do to protect them. Already the school leads a monthly beach cleanup, helps with a sea turtle egg hatchery, and holds an environmental festival each year.

Laird Hamilton wrote in the foreword for the book – “We have a great responsibility to protect the ocean and the wonderful creatures that live there. If we all do just a little, together we can give a lot.”

If you want to help get more copies of the book translated into Spanish and donated to schools in Costa Rica, then contact info@crsurf.com. Copies in English can be purchased on the CR Surf Shop at www.crsurfshop.com. For more information about the book, check www.allthewaytotheocean.com and to learn more about the Save Our Seas Foundation, go to www.saveourseas.com.

CRSURF News and Happenings - June 2008

2008-11-27T23:28:00.005-08:00

As school lets out and summer vacation begins, the waves in Costa Rica are expected to be more crowded this month. Luckily there are still some spots that are not that well traveled and if you ask around and are willing to drive a little off the pavement, you can still score empty surf. The key is to watch the tides, get up early, and surf until the wind switches on shore.
If you want to compete in a surf contest there are two chances this month. First is on June 21st and 22nd with the opening round of the Corona Triple Crown, taking place in Dominical. A big group from Christian Surfers in Daytona is expected to compete, as well as the best local and national surfers. Also starting that weekend is the Soulstice Open in Playa Hermosa behind Cabinas Las Olas (June 21-24). This contest is to raise money for local charities around Jaco. Entry fees are $40 and you can find more info on their Myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/soulsticeopen. (Of course this means that while all the locals are in the contest, other breaks will be less crowded!)
On the environmental front, a new bill introduced in the Costa Rican Assembly would wipe out the ruling that homeowners would have to give up 75 meters of their property inside the Las Baulas National Park in Playa Grande. To summarize the issue, the government had ruled the properties were inside the park and were supposed to buy out the owners. But the owners valued the property much higher than what the government could afford so the matter was tabled for the last few years. Now the government is backtracking on its position. The big losers are the leatherback turtles, with the number of their nests decreasing 90% in ten years and Playa Grande being one of the three most important nesting spots in the world.
On a lighter note, there’s a new book for teens that talks about saving turtles in Tamarindo. Turtle Feet, Surfer Beat is the story of Penelope who moves to Tamarindo with her parents for a month and learns about the peril of the leatherback turtle. The 86-page book written by Marina Kuperman is printed on recycled paper and has a journal in the back for a girl's own eco-adventure. Read more at - www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com.
If you are ready to book your eco-adventure with friends or family, there are some great specials on flights, rentals, and hotels. I’ve found flights on Lacsa from Miami from $191 RT. There are Rav4’s for rent for $380 a week, with taxes and insurance included. Chuck from Walking on Water Surf Shop in Jaco said to mention CRSURF if you want a great deal on board rentals. And a few choice hotels are offering a “stay 4 nights, get the fifth free” special. CR Surf Travel Co. can help get you there, as we are partners with Tico Travel and licensed under Dugan’s Travels. Just email travel@crsurf.com with your questions.

For the most recent surf news, photos, reports, forecasts, and travel specials, check out www.crsurf.com.

Playa Hermosa Paradise at Marea Brava Beachfront Suites and Villas - May 2008

2008-11-27T23:28:00.003-08:00

The crash of the surf woke me up just after sunrise. Was I dreaming last night that I had arrived in paradise?
It was a bumpy ride from Dominical to Quepos, and another hour north to Playa Hermosa. I was arriving late, and hoped that someone was still up and knew I had a reservation. I pulled in and the night watchman was very friendly, contacting the night manager and then helping me with my bags and surfboard. When I entered the room, all I remember was thinking how big everything looked and how good a hot shower with good water pressure felt, and how comfy the mattress was. I slept with the angelitos that night, dreaming of long rides in the morning.

Another set boomed out back, and I knew that to beat the tide and get good offshore winds, I would have to get up. I stepped out on to the back balcony and soaked up the scenery. A few surfers were already out catching overhead waves right behind my room so I popped my fins in my 6'6" and paddled out. It was cool looking back towards the beach and thinking, "That's where I'm staying." Behind the hotel is a jungle covered hill with a few houses perched along the ridge.

After a couple of hours in the water I was getting thirsty and hungry so I took one in. The sand was a lot hotter on my feet than earlier and I was stoked that the hotel was right there. I used the outdoor shower to rinse off and then took a quick dip in the pool, which was just the right temperature. After drying off using the pool towels provided by the courteous staff, it was time to get some breakfast.

In the room where I stayed there was a complete kitchen setup with an oven, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, blender, full fridge and freezer, plenty of dishes, glasses, cookware, and even an outdoor barbeque grill. It was perfect for a group of six to load up with food and beverages at the local supermercado and then enjoy cooking fresh seafood right on the spacious front patio. But all I needed was some coffee and a filling breakfast. Luckily, only a couple of hundred meters up the road is one of the tastiest restaurants on the Pacific Coast, the Jungle Cafe. It is known primarily for its big breakfast omelets and unique dinner creations using the freshest fish and poultry.

What happens after going surfing at dawn for two hours and then spending the rest of the morning enjoying breakfast while reading the local newspaper, the Tico Times? It was time to find some shade for a little siesta. The Marea Brava has some great places for just lounging around. There's a shaded tent with lounge chairs right on the beach, and another palm frond palapa set back by the pool. There is actually two pools, a shallow one for the little ninos and another for the big kids, with floaties and boogie boards for guests to use along with a swim up bar serving tropical libations. If you want to get uber-relaxed, try out their professional messages which they do in a private cabana right off the sand. I ended up in one of their many double hammocks, shaded by the palms all around me. The hammocks were not the typical threaded ones, but had a soft cotton weave that made it nearly impossible to get up from.

When you are staying at the Marea Brava, there is always a tough choice to make. To try out some of their great adventure activities or just relax by the pool and on the beach. Marea Brava offers kayaking, white water rafting, jetski rentals, ATV tours, horseback riding, and zipline tours. They can arrange a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, located only an hour's drive away. They can customize the activities for one day or for the whole trip. And they pick you up right from the front office, so you don't even need transportation.

For this trip, surfing was my primary purpose. In Playa Hermosa you can catch good waves in the morning or late afternoon when the wind dies. It is better at midtide coming in, and the best months for overhead waves are from March to October. While waiting for the tide to fill in, I took a walk around the hotel and met a nice family visiting from California. It was their first time in Costa Rica and they were enjoying their trip immensely. The really liked the rooms and how peaceful the place felt, there were no sounds of construction or obnoxious guests. Just the surf, the wind through the palms, the occasional call of a toucan, the scrape of an iguana on the rooftop, or thud from a falling mango.

The clouds gathered quickly in the afternoon and when the first few big drops of rain fell, I retreated back indoors. Early in the rainy season, Playa Hermosa usually gets a daily deluge that lasts only an hour, and maybe gets a second shower in the evening. While waiting for the clouds to clear, you can enjoy the 42" flat panel TV with satellite cable and a DVD player or just listen to tunes on the stereo. There is another TV in the master bedroom, while the second room fits another double bed and two extra wide single beds. The living room is furnished with a wrap around leather sofa and ottoman, and in the dining area there is a table set up for six.

I guessed that all the rooms could not be this lavish, so I asked the front desk if I could see some of the other accommodations. First they took me to a regular room, which was still enormous and from the second floor had a nice ocean view. Those had minifridges and a microwave, with a queen sized bed. The next larger room was a suite which would fit a four person family quite nicely. It had a double bed in one bedroom and a bunk bed in the other room. There was also a small sitting room that included a microwave and refrigerator. And then the last one floored me. It was the penthouse, a third floor ocean view to dream of with all the features of their other two bedroom villas - the huge kitchen, entertainment centers, back and front patios, and enough beds for six guests. And every room had its own A/C unit, so those who need it cool can it keep it cool without freezing the rest of the family.

Then I asked, "What about the surfer who is traveling solo and just needs a bed and a safe place for their gear?" Well, Marea Brava accomodates this type of traveler as well. They have a 12 person air-conditioned ranchero with six sets of bunk beds. There are three full private bathrooms to share among the guests in those quarters and a safe in the front office to keep valuables and passports. So everyone is taken care of at this hotel, and you can stay in the ranchero for as little as $35 a night.

The other rooms are still quite affordable. l/s = low season and h/s = high season. For the two person room ($107 l/s, $133 h/s). The four person suite ($133.00 l/s, $158 h/s). The two bedroom villas that fit six ($158 l/s, $210 h/s). And the penthouse two bedroom villas ($185 l/s, $266 h/s). Remember to add the 16.39% room taxes and double check the dates you want to reserve since certain times of the year the cost of the rooms will be higher. You can get all the details and make a reservation by going to their website - www.mareabravacostarica.com or calling them toll free - 1.866.727-2577.

The sun poked back out around four and the wind died off, leaving me another glassy surf session before dark. The sunsets at Playa Hermosa are always amazing, and I used up the batteries on my digital camera snapping shots as the clouds turned pink, then orange, then purple as the sun disappeared beyond the Pacific. This was a perfect last day in Costa Rica at the perfect location in Playa Hermosa. I was already planning my next trip back.

CRSURF News and Happenings - April 2008

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April showers have started earlier than usual, due partly to La Nina, and with them have come the first big Southwest swells. The surf looks perfect from the beach, and the temptation to paddle right out is overwhelming. Stop – think safety first.

First, getting to the break. Repeat after me – “Just because it is a rental, it does not mean I have to drive like a madman.(or woman)” The speed limit is in KILOMETERS per hour, not miles. I say this because I was guilty in the past. One $1100 hit to the credit card deposit puts a damper on any vacation. And what if you accidentally killed someone, or became a new hood ornament for a bus? They don’t call part of the Pan-American Highway the “Cerro del Muerte” (the Ridge of Death) for nothing. If you’re guilty of speeding, you are probably guilty of running full speed through river gullies and trying to drive the beach at low tide, too. It is not worth the risk to life and Rav4.

So you made it to the beach. Jump out, grab the stick or log, wax it up, and race to the shore. Wait a sec – Safety Check. At a few popular breaks, thieves wait for unsuspecting surfers. Make sure you left everything of value back in your room, in a safe if possible. Before locking up, check the weather. Even if it’s cloudy the sun is strong, so lather up with some sunscreen or you’ll be a poster child for the World Skin Cancer Foundation. If the ocean looks more like a YooHoo drink, putting in some earplugs would be worth not getting an ear infection. And if there’s lightning around, just wait it out. No sense in becoming a statistic for the nearest hospital, which is most likely over an hour away.

Check your leash, and check the lineup. Where are the heavy rips? Where are the rocks? What’s your exit strategy and who is your paddle buddy? A buddy should be there to witness the waves you made, the wipeouts, and if you are in trouble. The local surfers in Costa Rica are friendly if you don’t invade the break, and can help you spot the easiest place to paddle out, and the safest take off zone. Remember that on the Pacific there can be 12 foot tidal surges, so it can from smooth seas to sketchy reefs and rocks in an hour. That’s where having a CRSURF surf tide chart always helps.

Dominical, Playa Cocles, Jaco, and Tamarindo are safer since the towns currently support a lifeguard program. They make as many as 40 saves a year, but there are still lots of empty beaches. This is because the funding for the program is limited, so lifeguards don’t have the full resources they need. That’s where you, the surf traveler, can help. CRSurf has donated $100 to the Dominical lifeguard program for the last five years. You can support those businesses that fund the lifeguards. And if you have a little extra to give, in money or time to train other lifeguards, send me a note at info@crsurf.com.

For the most recent surf news, reports, and forecasts, check out www.crsurf.com.

CRSURF NEWS for April 2007

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Professional surfing in Costa Rica has reached a new level of success in March as Frederico Pilurzo made it to the finals of the $25000 Vans Pier Classic, a WQS event held in Huntington Beach, California that featured the best surfers in the world. Pilurzo earned second place, with Micah Byrne winning the event, and Eric Geiselman and Michael Hoisington coming in third and fourth place, respectively. This is the highest result of a Costa Rican surfer in a WQS event, and currently Frederico is 198th in the world on this year’s standings.

The second edition of the Central American Championship of Surf takes place from March 30th to April 1st at Playa Los Pinos in Guatemala. Teams from the host country Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica will be competing for bragging rights at $4600 in prizes.

For the April travelers, be prepared for the Semana Santa crowds. During the week of Easter, many thousands of Ticos travel out to the beach for their vacation. There will be lots of ‘bailes’ (dances) and guaro (a local liquor made from sugar cane) so you may have to travel a little farther to find a quiet beach. What is nice is that after April 15th the crowds disperse as quickly as they come, and as the high season ends so do the higher prices.

CRSURF News and Happenings - March 2008

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March is one of the best months to take a trip to Costa Rica. It’s deep into the dry season, so that means longer mornings with offshore winds. The south swells start to pump up from New Zealand and Chile. And the Caribbean Coast is still firing from north-eastern swells sweeping south from the states. It’s almost a sure shot that you’re going to get waves and the roads to get there easily passable.

Spring Break and Semana Santa weeks will be the busiest, but the sunsets are just as scenic and there is usually a quiet spot to surf right down the beach from the masses. The locals from San Jose often make pilgrimages to Matapalo and Witchs/Ollies so expect these spots to get mobbed, but for all the right reasons. These places go off, especially when it’s too big everywhere else. A lot of the popular beachbreaks start to close out in anything bigger than four feet overhead, the evidence is the surfboard graveyard that covers the ceiling of San Clemente Restaurant in Dominical.

So where do you go when it’s too big? I like Esterillos, Pavones, Boca Barranca, Matapalo, and Ollies Point. The reason is the length of each wave and how it can handle the size. Sure, the ginormous sets that loom up to pound the inexperienced on the inside will always appear. But Ollie’s throws barrels for hundreds of meters, Matapalo has peaks taller than the trees. Esterillos can break up to a quarter mile out, Barranca breaks a quarter mile into the Gulf of Nicoya. And Pavones offers a chance for a minute-plus ride and a dollar beer to drink while walking back to the rivermouth (soda for the grommets).

There are some mysto left point breaks and righthand reef breaks that I could also mention, but those gems you’ll just have to discover for yourself. If you are a beginner, Tamarindo offers the largest number of surf camps and instructors per square mile in the world. The bay is well suited for blocking swell at the south end of it. Manuel Antonio and Dominicalito also are great spots to get surf lessons since those beaches are protected by a few islands. There’s a more complete list of breaks on the CRSURF website.

If you any questions about where and when to go, just send a note to info@crsurf.com And of course check www.crsurf.com for the latest surf report, wave forecast, and local news to help you on your travels.

Next contests on the Circuito Nacional de Surf:
Playa Carmen on March 15-16
Dominical on April 5-6.

CR Surf Travel News for March 2007

2008-11-27T23:26:00.005-08:00

March is one of the best months to visit Costa Rica . Not only is the Caribbean coast the most consistent for big surf, but the first Southern swells arrive on the Pacific. Also, it’s still the dry season, so offshores and sunny skies are on tap for most of the month. The only drawback is that it’s high season, and that means a high number of surfers in the lineup, and a higher cost of travel. To help those on a tight budget, but dying to catch some tropical juice, listed below are a few of my favorite hostels.

San Jose – You need a place to camp out in the city, if you get in late or have to leave early the next day. One of my favorite joints is The Backpackers Hostel – www.costaricabackpackers.com For $10 per person it has a swimming pool, tropical gardens, hammocks, sunbathing decks, BBQ night, bar-restaurant, cheap phone calls, cable tv, movie theater room and ALL FREE, internet, coffee, storage, parking, kitchen use. What more do you need? They also can get you a shuttle to the airport for $14.

Tamarindo – The Botella de Leche hostel – www.labotelladeleche.com – Dorms with A/C are as cheap as $10 per person ($12 pp for a double) and the house has a huge living area, all access kitchen, outdoor pool, and is within a five minute walk to the beach in Tamarindo. With most hotels charging $60 and up per night, this is a great option for staying in town. They also offer free coffee and tea, lockers, free bicycle use, surf lessons, surfboard rental, and ding repairs.

Santa Teresa - Just north of Mal Pais is the Cuesta Arriba Hostel, located 100 meters from the ‘La Lora’ surf break. For $10 per night per person ($12 in the high season), you get a fully equipped kitchen, free breakfast, TV lounge, and a free bicycle. It’s six to a huge shared coed room - sounds like fun! There’s also a laundry service and it’s open 24hrs. Go to www.santateresahostels.com for more information.

Jaco - I always stay at Chuck’s Cabinas Rutan, only $7.50 per night per person (up to 3 people per room) They have secure accommodations and are only two blocks from the beach in Jaco. This is a true surfer’s cabina, with surfboard storage, outdoor (and indoor) showers, and onsite board repair. Check out www.surfoutfitters.com for more info.

In Dominical I recommend Cabinas Antorchas - www.campingantorchas.net . Besides having safe campsites and lockers available on the property, they have shared rooms for $6 pp per night ($8 from Nov. to April). The best thing about this place is that it’s only 50 yards to the one of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica .

CR Surf Travel Report - February 2008

2008-11-27T23:26:00.003-08:00

As I am packing my bags for a flight down to Costa Rica for another ‘business’ trip, I thought I would make it a little easier for those travelers wondering which airlines are the most surfer friendly. Here’s what I found….

From the MARTIN AIR website, they allow three pieces of luggage including one carryon. Passengers may carry maximum 2 surfboards, in the same bag, as one piece of luggage as long as the bag does not exceed 70lbs in weight and is no longer than 10 feet.

On SPIRIT AIRLINES the charge for surfboards is $50 one-way and may only be paid at the airport. Also, I was surprised to see that starting February 20th, the fee for transporting any luggage is $10.00 per bag if payment is made online in advance. When paying at the airport fees will increase to $20.00 per item. Also, Spirit Airlines can only guarantee the transportation of one item as checked luggage per fare-paying customer at the airport. Additional bags are accepted only when reserved in advance online. If not reserved, Spirit cannot guarantee that there will be space for additional bags and will not be held responsible for any additional items brought to the airport by the customer.

If you want to fly TACA, they allow up to 2 surfboards in one bag permitted per passenger and there is a $50 charge each way. BUT, there is no charg between Miami and San Jose for first 2 surfboards per passenger.

For DELTA AIRLINES, if it's 62–80 inches, the total of length plus width plus height of your bag, it’s $100 each bag each way. No more than two bags total, or you pay another $75 fee. If it's over 80 inches, total of length plus width plus height, it's not permitted.

On AMERICAN AIRLINES, one surfboard will cost you $80 to fly it. And if the bag is in excess of the two pieces you’re allowed, excess baggage charges apply in addition to the $80 special items fee.
So how about CONTINENTAL? Continental Airlines will accept one surfboard or one surfboard bag containing up to four boards per customer as checked baggage, with the following charges each way: 1 surfboard $95.00, 1 surfboard bag containing up to two boards $95.00, 1 surfboard bag containing up to three boards $380.00, 1 surfboard bag containing up to four boards $665.00. This service charge is in addition to any excess baggage charges that may apply. Also, the skeg/fin must be removed or well padded. And it can’t be over 70 pounds or 115 inches (length + width + height) What’s interesting is also they have embargos on oversized luggage during the peak season, BUT this doesn’t include flights to Costa Rica. (nice)
On COPA AIRLINES, which flies indirectly to Costa Rica, surfboards cost $50. There’s no mention if it’s one-way or round trip.

UNITED AIRLINES charges $100.00 for anything over 62 inches in length. They recommend that you contact your travel agent before making a reservation.

Which brings up a great point. Why not use a travel agent? If you think you are saving money trying to set up a trip by yourself, you are missing the chance to work with someone who knows the industry, where to find the best deals, a safe hotel, a reliable car rental. You’re not saving a dime if you show up at the airport and your boards cost you $200 to fly them roundtrip, or if you have to leave them at the airport. So send me a note, info@crsurf.com, and I can help you save on your next Costa Rica trip. I can even help you plan your trip for where and when the waves will be best.

Greg Gordon, owner
CR Surf Travel Company

CRSURF News and Happenings - January 2008

2008-11-27T23:26:00.001-08:00

Feliz dos mil ocho – Happy 2008! This year my resolution was to spend more time in Costa Rica. There is so much happening there and I feel that when I’m not at the 9 degree latitude line, I am missing waves, concerts, and waterfalls. So of course I’ve got my ticket to go by the end of the month.

The ticket I found online through the Martin Air website. Martin Air won’t be flying from Orlando anymore, but they have great deals from Miami and they fly up to two boards free. A little closer to central Florida is Spirit Air with $8 flights each way, but don’t forget about the $60 in taxes and $50 in board fees and their problem of losing boards in transit. Another option with free boards service from Miami is TACA. Of American, Continental, and US Airways all fly to San Jose and Liberia, but it ain’t too cheap and you might as well pack body parts in your boardbag because it costs an arm and a leg to fly boards down.
So what is there to do in January? Plenty. The Mal Pais Manifesto Gathering is from Jan. 18th to the 23rd. Go to www.manifestogathering.com for more information about this fun musical event in the southern Nicoya Peninsula. Also, the Costa-Bazooka festival - 7 Days of Music in Costa Rica. Two days with eight bands in San Jose on the 7th and 8th. Then five more days in Quepos on the 9th – 12th. Then the big finale at Rancho Allegre Saturday Jan. 12, 2008. The cost is $15 and you can go to www.costa-bazooka.com for more info.
For surf contests, on January 12th and 13th is the OP Pro behind the Backyard Bar in Playa Hermosa. This is the second stop of Costa Rica’s national surf circuit, which is producing some WQS contenders like Frederico Pilurzo of Tamarindo (see photo) and hundreds of local surf groms who get better with each contest. They compete again in Tamarindo behind Witchs Rock Surf Camp on February 2nd and 3rd.
And if you’re up in Tamarindo, why not check out the local Surfrider chapter meeting? They gather the last Thursday of each month at Surf Club Sports Bar in Playa Hermosa. So often we take back good times and memories from each visit, and so few times we give back. Costa Rica is having some major water quality and beach access problems, and that is what Surfrider is trying to help solve locally. It would terrible to return to a favorite beach, only to find it inaccessible or too polluted to surf.

This worst case scenario is happening right now on the Caribbean Coast. Developers want to put a marina in Puerto Viejo, right next to the Salsa Brava reef break. Not only may that destroy the wave, but the runoff could cause irreparable harm to the live reefs just a few kilometers north and south. Back on the Pacific, did you know that Costa Rica is the sole place in the world where the two populations of humpback whales, those from the northern and the southern hemispheres, coincide to mate and give birth to their calves? If you want to help Surfrider or need help planning your next trip, contact me at info@crsurf.com.

From the Science Blogs

2008-11-27T23:25:00.021-08:00

From the Science Blogs

Leatherback turtles: going where few air-breathers dare

Playa Grande neighbors go to court for damage to leatherback turtles

On July 1, an appeal for protection was filed before the Constitutional Court by the Playa Grande Neighbors Association, arguing serious damage is being caused to the leatherback turtles that come to nest on the Guanacaste beaches of Playa Grande and Playa Ventanas.

Julio Saenz, a member of the community group, said he was going “to present proof that scientific research led by the organization The Leatherback Trust (President Jim Spotila), has made it so that these endangered turtles are not coming back to nest on these beaches, which are part of the Las Baulas Marine National Park.”

The experiment being questioned was conducted for scientific reasons. However, the Playa Grande Neighbors Association has indicated that none of the turtles fitted with the radio transmitters returned to their nesting site. That’s the main reason for the appeal for protection (recurso de amparo) that they filed with the Constitutional Court, and which is now being reviewed by its magistrates.
Of the 27 turtles that were outfitted with the devices in the 2003-2004 season, none returned to their nesting site, despite the fact that leatherbacks return to their nests, on average, 3.7 years after the time they migrated.

This information was presented in the reports issued by researchers with The Leatherback Trust, and which the Playa Grande neighbors have copies of. Meanwhile, 40 other turtles that were not given a transmitter, also on the 2003-2004 season, did return to their nests the following season.

In this sense, the appeal for protection accuses The Leatherback Trust of violating a series of international agreements ratified by Costa Rica for the protection of flora and fauna, according to article 7 of the country’s Constitution. The complainants are asking the Constitutional Court to ban experiments done with the turtles, as they could generate “an irreversible effect against the environment, according to the appeal presented against SINAC, the Tempisque Conservation Area, and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE).

Bryan Wallace, In response to Pedro Vargas:

First, our project has a 20 year history of research efforts that have contributed to conservation of leatherbacks in Costa Rica, including the formation of the National Park, and the ELIMINATION of egg poaching, which was one of the main drivers in the population decline of these animals. Thus, our reputation for important, reliable scientific research and consistent, dedicated conservation efforts speaks for itself -in Costa Rica and around the world.

Second, as conservation scientists working with endangered species, we have a responsibility to maximize the conservation applications of our research while minimizing the impacts of that research on our study animals. The very nature of field research is such that it is impossible NOT to have some impact -however small- on one's study subjects. Despite this unavoidable fact, we used the most widely accepted, proven technique available to us at the time of the study to attach transmitters to leatherbacks (the harness) to study their movements and the environmental influences of those movements throughout the Pacific Ocean. No tracking study had ever been conducted on this population on the scale of this one, and no tracking study had ever obtained so much crucial information to be used for conservation of leatherbacks in Costa Rican waters, and international waters as well.

Third, speaking of conservation importance, through high-level analyses of these high-quality data, we were able to outline clear, pertinent recommendations for conservation of leatherbacks in their marine habitats. In addition to egg poaching, incidental capture of leatherbacks in fishing gear also has been implicated as a major driver of this population's decline. Thus, mitigating the interactions between leatherbacks and fishing gear is now the most important conservation issue facing us and the leatherbacks we are trying to save from extinction. The information we obtained in this study has allowed us, for the first time, to describe in great detail where leatherbacks go, why they go there, when they go there, and what can be done to keep them out of fishing gear.

Fourth, as a technical point, contrary to the claim in his post, there are currently no data clearly demonstrating adverse impacts of the harnesses on leatherbacks. The only studies that have explored this possibility have arrived at tentative, suggestive conclusions that harnesses might result in slightly slower travel rates or might be related to earlier start of migration. What is needed is a rigorous test of various techniques to figure out what the impacts actually might be.

Fifth, we have identified almost 2000 individual leatherbacks over the past 15 years of monitoring, but have seen fewer than 500 return to the beach after being counted for the first time. Thus, we have an unfortunately, but consistently, low rate of return of our turtles (about 25%). In fact, during the years that we put harnesses on turtles, we counted 417 individual turtles, of which only 18% have returned so far. The turtles that we put harnesses on (46 total) are in the proportion that haven't returned yet, but still might. Leatherbacks take between 2 and 7 years to return to the beach to nest, and in some cases, we've recorded turtles returning after intervals of more than 10 years! Everyone can rest assured that when these turtles come back, our patient field biologists will be waiting to count them.

The take-home message is this: we care about saving these turtles more than almost anyone, and we always try to do the best job we can to find out what we need to know to save them, and to take the actions necessary to save them. We hope that others will join us in saving the leatherbacks in the Eastern Pacific!

Thanks for reading,
bw

Posted by: Bryan Wallace | August 8, 2008 2:45 PM

Threat of Tuna Farms in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, IS BACK

2008-11-27T23:25:00.019-08:00

Threat of Tuna Farms in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, IS BACK

(November 11, 2008 - San José, Costa Rica)

Last November 5, the Technical Secretariat of the Environment of Costa Rica (Setena) issued a resolution calling for the operation of Tuna Farms of Golfito to continue with its execution. The project, which consists of the installation of 10 cages that will fatten up to 120 tons of tuna per cycle, was suspended by order of the Constitutional Court on May 9 of 2007, due to the serious inconsistencies found regarding the threat of polluting the delicate ecosystem of the Golfo Dulce, and the impact on sea turtles. Setena had declared that the project was environmentally viable since August 19, 2005.

In order to elucidate the inconsistencies that the Constitutional Court pointed out, Setena requested the technical criteria of the Center for Marine and Limnological Research of the University of Costa Rica (Cimar). In the report, submitted last September 30, Cimar underlines that to predict the possible destiny of wastes and served waters with more certainty, a much more comprehensive study regarding ocean currents is needed than the one that was submitted in the Environmental Impact Study. Furthermore, it points out the need for a Plan of Action to deal with the sea turtles and whales that use these waters.

According to the Costa Rican NGO Pretoma, which filed the Constitutional Law Suit to stop the installation of Tuna Farms together with the Association of Neighbors of Punta Banco, Setena granted the environmental viability without having elucidated the inconsistency described by the Constitutional Court regarding the ecological impact that the Tuna Farms may have on the Golfo Dulce. To make matters worst, Setena doesn't even acknowledge that sea turtles nest in the area, in spite of the fact that for the last 11 years Pretoma has been doing sea turtle conservation projects in the community of Punta Banco, an olive ridley sea turtle nesting site located directly in front the area that the proposed Tuna Farms will occupy.

"The Constitutional Court had already expressed that Setena was in the obligation of ordering the performance of studies to previously guarantee, and with an acceptable degree of certainty, that the metabolic wastes produced would not affect the environment nor the delicate ecosystem of the Golfo Dulce", informed Randall Arauz, President of Pretoma, "The requested studies still haven't been performed, nor have the contaminant issue been elucidated, because of which the recommendation to continue with the execution of the Tuna Farms is contrary to the order of the Constitutional Court", explained Arauz.

According to Miguel Gómez, Pretoma's Campaigns Coordinator, sea turtles are under serious threat, as the structures with the cages would attract the sea turtles that visit the beaches of Punta Banco, Estrechura, and Río Coco to nest, and would interrupt the hatchlings on their way to the open sea. "We still don't see a serious plan to mitigate the impact of the Tuna Farms on sea turtles, but if Setena won't even acknowledge that sea turtles nest on these beaches, what can we expect?," said a disappointed Gómez.

On November 11 of 2008, Pretoma filed suit to revoke Setena's resolution, as well as an appeal to the Ministry of Environment.

For more information:

PRETOMA
Tel (506) 2241 5227
Fax (506) 2236 6017
Email: info@pretoma.org
Website: www.pretoma.org

PRETOMA is a Costa Rican Civil Association of Public Interest (Decreto Ejecutivo 34150-J), and is an active member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN and the World Society for the Protection of Animals WSPA.

For an interesting read on "How to Grow a Giant Tuna?"

Court Suspends Execution of Tuna Farms in Costa Rica

2008-11-27T23:25:00.017-08:00

Court Suspends Execution of Tuna Farms in Costa Rica
(San José, Costa Rica – May 15, 2007)

Last May 9th, the Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of execution of the project to install tuna farms (Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A.) in Costa Rica's South Pacific region, until the Technical Secretariat of the Environment (SETENA, a branch of the Ministry of Environment in charge of approving EIAs) can previously guarantee, and with reasonable certainty, that the metabolic wastes produced by the fattening of tunas will not contaminate the environment, particularly the Golfo Dulce (voto 06315-07). SETENA must perform the technical studies to determine the direction and movement of the currents and the effect of the metabolic wastes on the Golfo Dulce, due to the contradictions in the technical information provided by the company itself. The main doubt is, do the currents have a dispersing effect over the metabolic wastes because they are swift and they move away from the Golfo Dulce, as claimed by officers of the company under oath, or are the currents slow and do they move towards the Golfo Dulce, dragging the metabolic wastes with them, as affirmed by the company's Environmental Impact Assessment?

“We are satisfied, especially with the application of the precautionary principle”, expressed Peter Aspinal, of the Tiskita Foundation. “Just as we have been warning, the risk posed by the massive generation of metabolic wastes and other contaminants, product of the industrial fattening of tunas, is too high to be taken lightly, and the contradictions show that that is precisely what the authorities did when they approved this project”, explained Aspinal.

The order is the result of the Constitutional Lawsuit (06-008255-0007-CO) filed by PRETOMA and the Association of Neighbors of Punta Banco, against the Director of the Department of Waters of the Ministry of Environment MINAE, the Executive President of INCOPESCA and the SETENA, for approving the project without a previous popular consultation and without considering the precautionary principle. An amalgam of organizations of the civil society joined in opposition to the project, including Foundation Vida Marina, Tiskita Foundation, the Association of Guaymi Indigenous Representatives, the Association of Fishermen of Pavones, the Association of Fishermen of Zancudo, the Municipality of Golfito, and numerous neighbors of Pavones, Puerto Jiménez and Golfito. The area's economy is based on low impact ecotourism, and there is a generalized concern that the operation of the tuna farms would not only threaten its scenic beauty, but its ecological integrity as well.

According to Denise Echeverría, of the Foundation Vida Marina, the decision of the Court sets an extremely important precedent in light of the accelerated development currently occurring in Costa Rica's South Pacific region. “There are other coastal development threats that could have equally devastating effects, or worse”, warned Echeverría. “Due to the Golfo Dulce's condition as tropical fjord, its delicate ecosystem and the marine biodiversity it hosts are extremely susceptible to environmental alterations produced by coastal infrastructure, such as tuna farms, piers, wave breakers, marinas, hotels and condominiums, because of which they must be carefully controlled under a precautionary regime”.

Other that the impact on the coastal environment, the sea turtles and the cetaceans, concerns exist stemming from the impact of the tuna farms on wild populations of yellow fin tuna, currently depleted by over fishing. “¿How is it that tuna farms are a solution to over fishing, if the proposal is to catch wild individuals to fatten them?”, asked Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA. “To restore the valuable populations of yellow fin tuna in our Exclusive Economic Zone, the State should promote the reduction of fishing effort by international flag tuna vessels, and promote a national sustainable tuna fishery”, stressed Arauz.

Another Constitutional Lawsuit is still pending, filed by Vida Marina Foundation and the lawyer Alvaro Sagot, against Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.a. and SETENA, for failure to provide a transparent process during the process of community participatory consultation.

CR Surf News

2008-11-27T23:25:00.015-08:00

Yellow fin Tuna Project Threatens Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica

The Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica is one of three tropical fjords in the Pacific Ocean . This unique aquatic habitat is home to a great diversity of marine life including dolphins, sea turtles, tropical
fish including marlin, parrotfish, dorado, red snapper, over 87 species of stomatopods and decapods, and is an important place for humpback whales and whale sharks to both breed and give birth. The
beaches surrounding the Golfo Dulce also serve as a nesting ground for hawksbill, Olive Ridley and leatherback ocean turtles.

The topography of the Golfo Dulce is such that the mouth of the gulf has a depth of 50 m, while the interior region of the gulf reaches depth of over 200 m. These inner regions of great depth are highly saline and anoxic. Anaerobic sulfur-reducing bacteria, whose metabolism produces highly toxic by-products, thrive in these regions, while nitrates also become concentrated at these depths. It is therefore crucial that currents from the open ocean dilute these toxic compounds such that the gulf does not become uninhabitable.

The abundance of wildlife in the Golfo Dulce is thought to be attributed to its unique topography, which makes it a sanctuary for marine life. The shallow mouth of the gulf is subject to open ocean
currents and circulate more rapidly than the inner regions of greater depth, the latter having an estuary-like pattern of water circulation. This inner region of estuary-like water circulation and great depth provides an ideal breeding ground for both mollusks and large animals such as the humpback whale as they are protected from the dangers of the open ocean.

The mouth of the Golfo Dulce is therefore crucial both for the circulation of the purifying currents entering the gulf and for the passage of marine life that uses the gulf at various times throughout
the year. The company Granjas Atuneras S.A. has proposed to the Costa Rica government to place over 100 cages to farm yellow fin tuna in the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. These cages are circular and 50 m in diameter with a depth of 22 m, and will be placed in the coastal current entering the gulf. These cages will therefore interfere with the current that cleanses the Golfo Dulce, while becoming a lethal barrier to the wildlife entering the gulf and the turtles that use the adjacent beaches as their nesting grounds.

A no-fishing zone will be placed around the cages, prohibiting local fisherman from being able to fish in their most fruitful waters. The proposed project will be directly off the coast of the Guaymi Indian Reservation. There as been no consultation with the Guaymies regarding the project and the impact it will have on their way of life and their ability to fish their waters.

Marine life in the area will be attracted to the cages as there is a concentrated source of food in the form of the uneaten sardines used to feed the tuna. Fish, turtles, whales, sharks and dolphins
constantly get caught in the cages to which they are attracted. This will also have a large adverse affect on local fish populations as they will be concentrated in a no-fishing zone before being
accidentally killed.

The proposed project also includes importing the large volumes of sardines needed to feed the tuna from Peru . This creates a tremendous risk of introducing novel diseases to the area. Caged fish are under a great deal of stress and immune compromised. Together, these two factors create a prefect setting for an epidemic which could compromise the entire marine ecosystem of the Golfo Dulce. If their plans change to take fish from the local area to feed the tuna, the food chain will be disrupted locally and again the Golfo Dulce will be compromised.

The Environmental Impact Study submitted by Granjas Atuneras S.A. (which was approved by a corrupt series of government officials) failed to properly assess the project in many aspects. The Golfo Dulce is a very dynamic ecosystem with tremendous seasonal fluctuations. There is no data on the changes that occur with the currents in the region throughout the year, and this will directly affect the dispersal and removal of wastes from the tuna farm. It as well makes no provisions for any sort of environmental monitoring of the farm, nor any remedial actions for the negative impacts it will have on local fishing or otherwise.

Over 1000 local fishermen rely on the gulf for their livelihood. The Corcovado National Park , which has been described by National geographic as the most biologically intense place on earth has a large area of sensitive mangrove along the coast of the Golfo Dulce. As well, thousands of tourists enjoy this region annually through visits to the various ecolodges. The world-famous surf destination of Pavones is also downstream of the ocean current where the tuna cages will be placed, such that this largely popular area could become laden with the waste from this farm. All these industries, which are acting in a sustainable fashion, will be adversely affected by these proposed large-scale tuna operations. This is only the second yellow fin tuna farming project to have been proposed (the first of which failed in Panama ), and there is no scientific data having studied the environmental impact or success of such an operation.

This tuna is not destined for domestic consumption, rather is to be transported to Japan and the United States for sushi. There will be no added social benefits to the area as a minimum people will be employed to operate the tuna farm.

Local community organizations are working on this issue, the municipality of Golfito , the municipality of Puerto Jimenez, the Chamber of Tourism of Golfito and many small NGO´s are trying to raise awareness. Unfortunately, many of these places do not even have a phone and our efforts to co-ordinate have been very difficult. We are trying to raise awareness internationally to pressure the government based on their green image for tourism to be true to their word. There are currently no international organizations working to help us with public awareness.

So far a law suit we presented has managed to halt the project for the time being, while the courts review the facts of the proposal. It is during this time that we believe pressure should be applied to the
appeals court with a letter writing campaign from the international community expressing concerns over this proposal. This project has already been approved by the Costa Rican government without any public consultation as is required by law. Despite this deplorable display of corruption and lack of consideration for environmental sustainability, for which Costa Rica prides itself, this tuna project has been temporarily halted as it is being re-evaluated by an appeals court.
nput from the international community will be extremely valuable during this appeals court process. The court is evaluating information it receives, and letters expressing your opinion can influence this
process. As a member of the international community, tourism is the industry that is most affected by your opinion. For this reason, we request that you write a letter to both the President Oscar Arias and the Costa Rican tourism board ICT. The addresses are written below.

Please emphasize your concerns for the environment and the impact this will have on your potential to support Costa Rica by choosing it as a travel destination.

Here you can find helpful pointers on how to write an effective letter: http://globalresponse.org/letterwritingtips.php

Please visit PRETOMA (http://www.tortugamarina.org/) for updates on
this fight.

If you have any further questions or concerns please do not hesitate
to contact me. We sincerely appreciate your help by voicing your opinion.

Addresses for letters:

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
San José
Costa Rica
Fax (506) 220-3555

His Excellency
Oscar Arias Sanchez
The President of Costa Rica
Casa Presidencial
San Jose, Costa Rica

--

Thx. Have a nice day !

--
Yves Van den Meerssche
ASTV eBay Shop / ASTV Media
+27(0)72 289 58 07
actionsport@gmail.com
www.actionsport.tv

From A.M. Costa Rica's Newsite - http://www.amcostarica.com/wednesday.htm

Facts wanting on disease implications
Salmon have deadly lice, but what of farmed tuna?
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Critics of an undersea tuna farm in southwestern Costa Rica have not stressed the disease issue, but such farms could be the source of deadly viruses that could ravage Costa Rica's diverse fish and animal populations.

Although not a disease, a report from the University of Alberta Tuesday said that salmon farms were causing the death of up to to 95 per cent of migrating wild juvenile salmon that pass by.

The caged salmon are a source of a natural parasite called a salmon louse. These are small crustaceans (Lepeopshtheirus salmonis). The primary sea lice hosts are adult salmon. Under natural conditions, according to a university release, the adults are far offshore when the juveniles are migrating out to sea. Fish farms put adult salmon in net pens along the migration routes, and the result is a cloud of sea lice through which the juveniles must migrate, said the release.

"It takes only one or two sea lice to kill a juvenile pink or chum salmon," said Martin Krkosek. "The juveniles are so vulnerable because they are so small — only one to two inches long." He is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta's Centre for Mathematical Biology.

The study, done in coastal British Columbia, is being heralded as the first to provide confirmation that sea lice from fish farms kill wild salmon and to what extent. However, the problem is well-known enough to have been featured on a 2005 segment of the television series "Boston Legal," starring William Shatner and James Spader.

Not so for possible diseases promoted by tuna farms.

Krkosek said in an e-mail exchange Tuesday with A.M. Costa Rica: "I would guess that the possibility of disease problems due to tuna ranching have been completely unstudied."

The researcher did cite a report that a herpes virus showed up in Australian waters in 1995, killing many of the small fish there. Sardines imported to feed nearby fish-farmed tuna got the blame.

"The virus whipped across the ocean like a brushfire front, moving at 30 kms. a day and leaving behind it a sea of dead fish," said Rex Dalton, the U.S. West Coast correspondent for the magazine Nature in a Sept. 29, 2004, online report. "Eventually, it was estimated that 75 percent of pilchards in the region died. Seabirds, from Australasian gannets to penguins, starved in the wake of the disaster. In 1998, another virus attack knocked out many of the remaining

pilchards." Pilchards are herring-like food fish important to the birds.

In addition to Australia, tuna farms are operating in the Mediterranean and along Mexico's Baja Peninsula.

Dalton credits biologist Dr. John Volpe of the University of Victoria, who happens to be a co-author with Krkosek of the sea lice study, with being one of the first scientists to issue warnings about potential environmental damage from salmon pens off British Columbia in the mid-1990s. "The opportunity for large-scale environmental disasters is enormous," Volpe has said of plans to install fish farms off the U.S. coast.

In Costa Rica two scientists told lawmakers last week that the environmental impact study provided by Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A. for the Golfo Dulce project was lacking. Gerardo Umaña Villalobos, a biologist at the Universidad de Costa Rica, told the legislative Comisión de Ambiente that the study has deficiencies. For example, the impacts on turtles, dolphin and sharks were not considered, he said.

Ricardo Jimenez of Universidad Nacional agreed that there were flaws in the study, particularly relating to contaminants.

The tuna farm project has received a green light by governmental agencies, but the approvals are being appealed to the Sala IV constitutional court. Environmentalists are joined by residents of the area and tourism officials in opposing the plan.

The size of the project is staggering. The tuna firm wants to construct underwater holding cages 7.4 kms. (4.6 miles) long and 2.1 kms. (1.3 miles) wide. The cages would be down 22 meters into the water, some 70 feet. The tuna farm would be about a kilometer (six-tenths of a mile) off the coast.

The farm would be stocked by young yellowfin tuna purchased from local fishermen. Most of the existing tuna farms fatten the bluefin tuna that is much in demand in Japan for sushi.

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We need to pressure the government to stop this, we need to make more people aware of what is going on, all the permits were obtained very quietly. We need everyone´s help to stop this. Letters to President Oscar Arias, ICT, Minister of Tourism, letters to your embassy, letters to the Tico Times letters@ticotimes.net and $$$ to fight. There is big $$ and politics involved, so we have a hard fight. Any and all your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks Chichi ....

HELP US SAVE THE GOLFO DULCE

Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A. has been given the necessary permits to start a yellow fin tuna farm project just past Punta Banco, Pavones. These permits were obtained violating national law, under questionable methods, that are presently under investigation.

Local fishermen, sport fishing operators, tourism groups, conservation organizations and local community leaders were all kept uninformed about the project and out of the process. Tourism and traditional fishing are two of the most important industries in the Golfo Dulce.

The project's first stage is to establish no less than 10 cages (interior dimensions of 50mt diameter x 20 mt. depth each) enclosed in a mesh structure of 1200 mts. x 500 mts. Several more such groups would follow down the coast to Punta Burica. Each cage is weighted down by ten anchors weighing 1.3 tones each, for a total of 130 metric tons in reduced area. The company would be provided with live tuna (30 to 80 kgs.) by tuna clippers fishing up to 250 nm out to sea. These live tuna would then be slowly towed in a cage for 15 to 45 days to the project's site.

Tuna, along with certain other marine life school under dolphins and follow them around in search of food. The tuna clippers use helicopters to spot large pods of dolphins breathing on the surface, knowing tuna will be beneath them. They then use dynamite and speed boats to corral the dolphins into an easily netted mass. They circle the dolphins with a huge net to catch all the tuna beneath. Millions of dolphins are killed world wide by tuna clippers every year using this method. This tuna is traditionally used for canning. There is no such thing “dolphin safe tuna” from tuna clippers; some fishing practices just kill fewer dolphins than others.

In the waters where these tuna clippers will be operating there are many different dolphin species among which we find spinner, spotted, bottlenose, common and Risso's.

Slowing towing a mesh cage 15 to 45 days from the open ocean to the coast will cause hundreds of marine life to get entangled and die a useless death. Endangered sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and even some to the tuna within the cage will all die and rot on their way in. Sharks will be attracted to this cage and follow it in to the coastal waters. They will then check out what else is available on the second longest left point break in the world.

The tuna that manages to survive will then be put into the cages and fed frozen, imported sardines. Though the sardines are frozen this does not eliminate the possibility of introducing a virus or other sickness that would cause a disaster on the local fish population. There is a well documented case of exactly this happening in Australia.

The amount of sardines to feed all this tuna is astronomical, and even though it will be imported, the impact on the sardine fishery in another country will be high. Tuna is migratory and comes from the South; Costa Rica will be helping to deplete the tuna stocks of the world.

The cages will be lit for navigational safety. Each light will be visible for a radius of 5 miles. This in an area where over 200 turtles come to nest every year. It is well documented that turtles use the natural light over the water to orientate themselves. The females, heavy with eggs, will be guided towards these cages and can easily get stuck and die. A few may make it in to lay their eggs. Once the babies hatch, the few that survive other obstacle and make it to the water, will be attracted by the light and swim straight into the jaws of the hungry tuna.

In Costa Rica the Olive Ridley turtle has only being registered nesting in Punta Banco and a beach in Guanacaste, it is very rare. The Hawksbill turtle also nests in Punta Banco.

Spotted and bottlenose dolphins live in the pristine Golfo Dulce. It is established that the main cause of dolphin deaths is entanglement in nets. Both the Southern and Northern Humpback whales use the gulf to feed and give birth to their young during their annual migrations. Placing these cages as a net wall in the entrance of the gulf is a sure death sentence.

The organic waste produced by the marine life that entangles in the nets, plus the tuna feces will not only attract sharks to the area, it will also cause red tides and pollute the beaches all along the coast line. The red tides could destroy all the marine environment of the gulf. The smell from all this organic matter will scare all the tourists away and the income all the communities depend on.

The fish guts, bones, skin, and other wasted (approximately 360 metric tons every harvest) will be “frozen and stored” on the factory ship for later proper disposal.

The Golfo Dulce is one of only three tropical fjords in the whole world. Its marine environment is not only very special, it's very fragile. The mangroves within the gulf are a crucial nursery for corvina, shrimp and other marine life. The coral reefs are already threatened by sedimentation from logging. The fecal matter and other organic waste would surely destroy what is left. The proposed project represents a threat to the biodiversity of the entire Gulf, and the livelihoods of all who depend on it.

The delicate ecology and unique status as a tropical fjord of the Golfo Dulce is the last place on earth where we should be developing an experiment like this (no other yellow fin tuna farm exists in the world).

The communities of the whole area do not want this project to go forward, where it is proposed or anywhere else on Costa Rica's environmentally friendly coast line. We need your help to pay for lawyers and ads to pressure the government to stop it. Every penny counts, and if you can't help us economically, please write a letter. We will collect all letters sent and get them to the President of Costa Rica.

Thank you for your help.

Checks can be made out to FUNDACION TISKITA and mailed to us.

FUNDACION TISKITA

Apdo. 74-8250

Ciudad Neilly

Costa Rica

Donations can be deposited Fundacion Tiskita's accounts in Banco Nacional

Dollars #200 02 087 000281 0

Colones # 0000146241 5

Please e mail us the deposit number and amount so we can verify and send you a receipt, all donations are tax deductible in Costa Rica. fundtiskita@yahoo.com

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Those who opposed an undersea tuna farm in the Golfo Dulce plan a surf championship Saturday near the community of Pavones in southwest Costa Rica.

The environmental groups sponsoring the event oppose the project proposed by Granja Atunera de Golfito S.A. and have appealed permits to the Sala IV constitutional court.

The opponents object to the mess that would be created by raising yellowfin tuna in two-kilometer-long cages beneath the pristine gulf.

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Opponents of an underwater tuna farm in southwest Costa Rica brought their arguments to the Asamblea Legislativa Thursday for a hearing of the Comisión Especial de Ambiente.

Opponents have filed a Sala IV constitutional court appeal to stop the project. They argue that the environmental studies were incomplete.

That is the same argument that Denise Echeverría of Vida Marina gave the committee Thursday.

Noah Anderson of the Asociación Protectora de Tortugas Marinas said that his group also has filed a complaint with the Tribunal Ambiental y Secretaría Técnica Ambiental of the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía, the environmental ministry.

A man identified as Guillermo Baltodano of Punto Bravo said that the residents of the area were never notified of the project and that publication of legal notices in the official La Gaceta was not sufficient.

A representative of the Cámera de Turismo also said that this group opposes the project. The firm Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A. plans on having underwater cages of some 2 kilometers long below the ocean surface to feed captive yellowfin tuna.

Opponents argue that the tuna will generate waste and scrap food, attract predators and generally degrade the pristine Gulfo Dulce.

Committee members said they would call in government environmental workers to add more information. The committee has the option of creating legislation related to such projects.

9/24/06

Tuna firm spokesman defends project as taking advantage of nation's potential
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A representative of the firm that wants to put a tuna farm underwater in southwestern Costa Rica said Thursday that the country should take advantage of its undersea resources.

The representative is Eduardo Velarde Silva, and he spoke to the Asamblea Legislativa's Comisión Especial de Ambiente. China has 174,000 square kilometers of territorial waters and it is the No. 1 aquaculture producer, he said, noting that Costa Rica has 600,000 square kilometers and great potential.

The commission heard a series of environmentalists speak
against the project last week. As news of the project by Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A. spread, a firestorm erupted among tourism officials and nature lovers.

The project would put two-kilometer long cages beneath the sea to raise yellow fin tuna.

Opponents say the project will litter the Golfo Dulce with dead sardines used to feed the tuna and cause a host of other problems.

Velarde said that the project would be run in an environmentally conscious manner and that if the ocean were degraded, so would be the tuna business.

Beach Tower Plans Criticized

2008-11-27T23:25:00.013-08:00

Beach Tower Plans Criticized
By Dave Sherwood
Tico Times Staff | dsherwood@ticotimes.net

PLAYA HERMOSA, Puntarenas – Legendary surf roared beneath an inky, star-speckled sky as area residents, angered by the proposed development of two 14-story towers nearby, took turns speaking in the dimly lit, open-air bar beside Cabinas Las Olas.

“Why can't they do this in a respectful manner,” said Andrea Díaz, owner of nearby Waves Costa Rica surf school and tours, sweat beading from her brow and dripping past her nose. “I live off tourism. People are here because they can see turtles, iguanas, macaws, not to be in the shade of a 14-story building.”

The heat, even at night, is as much a reality as impending development along the sultry central Pacific coastline around Jacó, and as residents pulled sticky, sweat-soaked shirts from their bodies, the discussion kept pace with the temperature.

Advertising Luxury: A large billboard promotes the planned beach towers at the site, Playa Hermosa on the central Pacific coast. by Dave Sherwood | Tico Times

The project, known as the Diamond Beach Towers, would cover 11 acres and offer complete on-site amenities, including 159 units, 24-hour security and concierge, two full-size lighted tennis courts, beachfront golf-practice facilities, a restaurant, a modern health spa and fitness center, a game room, movie theater and party hall, according to a recent advertisement in The Tico Times.

Units in the towers would start at $575,000 and rise to $2.5 million for 10,000-square-foot penthouses with private elevator access in the upper levels.

Residents are concerned such towers – which would rank as two of the tallest buildings on the west coast between the port town of Puntarenas and Panama – might impede the arrival of endangered olive ridley turtles in the adjacent Playa Hermosa Turtle Refuge, water birds in nearby wetlands, and, just as importantly, they say, tourists and surfers to their “quiet” beach.

“It's David versus Goliath,” said Esteban Mora, owner of The Backyard hotel, located nearby, and a leader of the newly formed community association. “It won't be easy, and we will have to work together to fight this.”

Playa Hermosa, unlike Jacó to the north, has changed relatively little over the years – most of the construction is along a short stretch of coconut palm-lined beach on the picturesque north end, where small one- and two-story hotels and cabins are tucked neatly in the shady over-story, lights kept dim at night to avoid disturbing the nesting turtles, which last year numbered over 2,000 in the nearby refuge, according to park guard Marco García.

Here, constant surf churns humid salt air that envelops the rich volcanic beach in a hazy, tropical mist – creating a perfect setting that has long made it one of the most popular surf destinations in the country, Díaz said.

The twin towers development, while ambitious, is not unique to Costa Rica, and is one of many proposed developments at Hermosa. Construction is booming along the Pacific coast provinces – the number of square meters built rose 137% in the province of Puntarenas in 2006 compared to the year before (TT Jan. 25).

By the Books

Tranquil Beach: Surfers and other sun-seekers frequent the quiet Playa Hermosa. Above, the north end of the beach.
Dave Sherwood | Tico Times

In a meeting at the Diamond Beach Towers modern office off Paseo Colón, in downtown San José, Plácido Benito, sales and marketing manager for the project, set the air-conditioning to “cool” and told The Tico Times that such controversy is hardly surprising.

“Everyone has a right to make their points. But if we followed only the beliefs of people who didn't want to develop, a lot of hotels wouldn't exist in Costa Rica,” said Benito, a native Costa Rican who said he worked for years as a national park guide. “We are 100% in favor of protecting the environment.”

Such a development, he said, would help to create jobs and attract more tourists to the region, who would in turn spend money at locally owned shops and restaurants.

“Think about how many surfboards the people at Playa Hermosa would rent if this goes through,” agreed managing director Murad Karimi, son of developer Ramzan Karimi, of Atlanta, in the U.S. state of Georgia. “I know I would rent from them.”

Company lawyer Leonardo Salazar, who also met with The Tico Times, said the project has yet to receive any permits, but has begun the process required by the Technical Secretariat of the Environment Ministry (SETENA).

“We are very comfortable with the fact that we are following all legal requirements,” he said. “This is all subject to environmental review. If someone has a problem with it, they are welcome to put it forward.”

Salazar and Benito brushed off allegations from Playa Hermosa residents that a bulldozer on the property has already excavated a beachfront sand dune and constructed roads on the property without appropriate permits.

“Everything we have done there is strictly a part of the environmental-impact study process,” Salazar said.

According to Salazar, the development company, Mosaic International, is a charter member of the “For a Better Jacó” campaign, which seeks to improve the “security and beauty” of the region.

“We want to make the beach more beautiful, and safe. If it's not that way, our clients won't want to buy from us,” he said.

Billboards and ads – in The Tico Times, at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela west of San José, and at the proposed site at Hermosa – describe the development as “Modern Refinement… Naturally.”

They also offer “Pre-construction special” deals to prospective clients – though construction permits, according to Garabito Municipality official Vanesa González, have yet to be issued.

Benito points out such specials are common practice in the real estate industry – a necessary method for securing loans for high-price investments. Such actions, however, enrage some Hermosa residents, who believe such a development would be in violation of Costa Rican law.

According to Diáz and others, the proposed construction site is widely recognized as an humedal, or wetland, and floods over completely during the rainy season.

SETENA inspector Francisco Fernández, who visited the property Feb. 8, told The Tico Times that Costa Rican law protects wetlands from development, though he would not comment on whether or not the property is a wetland zone.

Developers, however, insist it is not.

Unanswered Questions

At the Playa Hermosa community meeting last week, hotel owners wondered if the town's already stressed water supply would be adequate for such a massive development. Surfers worried that re-routing a wetland and its associated stream, which flows into the Pacific, could change the dynamics of the surf break – a near perfect blend of slope, sand and surf that attracts the International Quicksilver Surf Championships each August.

Others questioned the proximity of the towers – 14-stories and encased in sprawling picture windows – to the turtle refuge. Wouldn't the turtles become disoriented by the lights, or, even worse, stop visiting the beach all together, as they have at other more developed beaches along the coast?

According to Gerardo Chavarría, administrator of the adjacent refuge, the proposed towers would likely pose a serious threat.

“We are very concerned, first because it is a wetland, and there shouldn't be construction there. But also because we feel the development must be more moderate, limited to two stories, or eight meters. Buildings and lights that tall would be the end of the arrival of the turtles,” he said.

In a note he sent to SETENA last week, Chavarría asked that he and the park authority be consulted in any further development plans along the beach, to ensure the well-being of the turtles.

According to municipality building official González, Hermosa's plan regulador, or zoning plan – which restricts the height of buildings and the type of development allowed – applies only to the very northern end of the beach, where small, one- and two-story hotels are largely hidden from view by beach-front palms. The rest of the beach, she said, is not governed by any type of zoning plan.

Regardless, SETENA inspector Fernández told The Tico Times that the SETENA review process – a seven-part, comprehensive look at every environmental aspect of a project in consultation with various government agencies, is far from over.

“We're still in the very early stages,” he said, citing the fact that the final approval – or disapproval – could take six months or more.

Meanwhile, Benito and the developers, confident in the legality and environmental sensitivity of the project, launched a Web site this week, www.diamondbeachtowers.com, including a promise to open a live “construction cam” to allow prospective buyers to watch the towers rise.

“ Costa Rica is a country of laws, and we as Costa Ricans, must respect these laws. It is not the people – for or against it – who decide whether this project will pass, it is our laws,” Benito said.

Locals Make Waves At Foundation Fundraiser

2008-11-27T23:25:00.011-08:00

Locals Make Waves At Foundation Fundraiser

from The Beach Times
By Britton Jacob-Schram

Tamarindo's chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, the international non-profit organization dedicated to water quality and ocean preservation, say their latest fundraiser was a success, despite receiving flak from a local group of surfers.

Claims alleging the non-profit group is implicitly partisan toward Tamarindo development are wholly unfounded, say representatives from the chapter.

Money taken in by the fundraiser — a night of live music which took place at Tamarindo's Voodoo Lounge, Saturday night — will be used to fund more water quality testing kits and improve Tamarindo's main beach access, says the chapter's co-chair, Brian Bratton, who's lived in Tamarindo for the past three years, and started surfing more than 20 years ago on the east coast of the United States.

About 250 people showed up to Saturday's event, he said, adding entrance cover fees and a percentage of the bar tab helped the benefit bring in about $1800 to $2000.

However, it was the 2000 colones-cover fee (about $4), which upset a group of locals.

“The cover was nothing — it was a couple thousand-colones, but some of us had no money,” said Christian Arce who, with his group of ten or 15 Costa Rican friends, was initially denied entrance into the event.

“One of my friends had absolutely no money,” says Mr Arce. “He reached into his pockets and just took out everything he had to give it to them, and they said ‘No, no, you can't come in.' ”

“I said, ‘No, we're not going to pay. We're locals,” he said, adding he recognized many of the benefit's attendees from surfing alongside them in Tamarindo.

Mr Arce maintains the issue stems greatly from the water, and that the altercation at the benefit just brought to a head the fact many Costa Ricans are often inconvenienced by foreigners while surfing. He said there have been numerous incidents involving this “elite group” of surfers.

The bigger problem, continues Mr Arce, is a glaring conflict of interest within the chapter — it is mainly comprised of developers and real estate agents.

“We lost the Blue Flag — not because of the way Tamarindo is — but because of all the developers, because of everything going on, and nobody caring. But tourists care,” he said. “They don't go to a place with a bad reputation, where the water's polluted.”

According to Mr. Bratton — who owns his own real estate brokerage — the remarks go against the chapter's charter and what they are actively doing. “I don't know how that's possibly a conflict of interest. It is well within my interest and all within my clients' interests that Tamarindo have clean water.”

Yet, an anonymous posting on the chapter's internet blog — part of the Surfrider Foundation's official web site — alleges something similar.

Dated June 26 of this year, the posting reads: “What a joke [Surfrider Costa Rica] is. Run by a bunch of real estate agents…. The Ministry of Health just published the results that the contamination in the Tamarindo Bay is unswimmable. Where is [Surfrider's] results, I spent good money at two fund raisers where the money was supposed to go to testing water quality. Still no results published.”

Mr Bratton said the comments are “grossly unfounded”; and that the chapter, which he co-chairs with Lock Cooper, was in fact one of the first organizations to turn up the heat on the issue of Tamarindo's beach water quality. Mr Bratton asked that the anonymous person attend one of the chapter's monthly meetings and see what's been affected — even within the last few months.

The chapter, he says, is in close contact with the Asociación Pro Mejoras de Playa Tamarindo (Tamarindo Association), and the issue of water quality now has “a nice head of steam and… it's moving forward”.

“We want people to come to the meetings — anyone can come, you don't have to be a member,” though he adds annual membership fees for Costa Ricans are discounted to $10 (about 5000 colones), whereas foreigners pay $20 (about 10,000 colones).

“People need to stop talking and start acting…. Everything we're doing is positive.”

The Tamarindo Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation meets on the last Thursday of every month, at the Surf Club Sports Bar in Playa Langosta.

Tamarindo Getting Potty Trained - from the Tico Times

2008-11-27T23:25:00.009-08:00

Tamarindo Getting Potty Trained - from the Tico Times

Health Ministry Has Closed 11 Businesses, Put 65 Others on Notice

By Dave Sherwood
Tico Times Staff | dsherwood@ticotimes.net

After months tracking the route of last night's gallo pinto from toilet to sea, the Health Ministry issued sanitary orders to 65 businesses in Tamarindo and closed 11 others, demanding immediate action to clean up the Pacific coast town's sewage problem.

The move – which pointed the finger at more than half the hotels and restaurants inspected by the ministry – outraged some but calmed others who believed it long overdue.

In August, the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) discovered dangerous levels of fecal contamination along Tamarindo's beaches.

The results were shelved for weeks until the national press prompted the Health Ministry to take action.

“We are happy to see there has been progress,” said Federico Amador, president of the Tamarindo Improvement Association, which has helped support the ministry efforts. “But we still have serious problems.”

Tamarindo, idealized in the movie “Endless Summer” for its tanned surfers and velvety waves, lacks both zoning and a sewage treatment plant.

The Health Ministry report cited a wide range of violations – from tubes spewing sewage directly onto the street or the stream out back, to businesses operating without licenses or any sewage treatment at all.

“There have been a huge amount of irregularities detected,” said Amador.

There has been some good news too.

Recent tests conducted by accredited labs and the University of Costa Rica showed waters had cleaned up significantly since August – to the point where they were once again safe for swimming.

It's a welcome relief, said Amador, as snowbirds from Europe and North America flock to the town, now considered by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT) to be the country's third most-popular tourist destination.

Health Ministry officials acknowledge some improvement was inevitable with the onset of the December-May dry season, but believe baby steps taken over the past few months have helped too.

Despite a more positive outlook, the beach's Blue Flag, signifying clean ocean water, which was revoked in November, will remain revoked for now, said Amador.

“We won't reapply until we're sure we deserve it,” he said. “We want to resolve the underlying issues, not look for quick fixes.”

During the rainy season, the water table rises, flooding leach fields and septic tanks, and eventually, re-routing sewage into the ocean.

Amador said a full year will be necessary before the town can ensure the problem has been resolved.

“We'll have to wait and see,” said Amador. “We understand that this process takes time.”

The Health Ministry's methodical approach began in October and included the distribution of a questionnaire asking building owners to identify the age and status of their own sewage treatment facilities or septic tanks.

After that, weeks of inspections, further tests and mapping allowed officials to identify chief offenders, according to Dr. Juan Luis Sánchez, director of the ministry's Santa Cruz regional office.

This newest round of sanitary orders – which demand property owners take action to remedy faulty sewage systems – and closures are the result.

Concerned residents, as well as the Health Ministry, have called for the construction of town sewage treatment plant.

“We are taking the right steps, but we have to keep pushing for more,” Amador said.

Tamarindo Water Problem Festers

2008-11-27T23:25:00.007-08:00

Tamarindo Water Problem Festers

By Dave Sherwood
Tico Times Staff | dsherwood@ticotimes.net

Rising citizen concern and press coverage of Tamarindo's fecal contamination problem is forcing action and raising tensions in a coastal Guanacaste town best known for its laid-back, surfer's vibe.

Community Survey: The Health Ministry is sending questionnaires to homes and businesses throughout Tamarindo, which has seen explosive growth in recent years.
Mónica Quesada | Tico Times

Last week, the Health Ministry shut down the Tamarindo Hostel, a small but popular hotel near the beach, citing it as one source of sewage that has put sections of Tamarindo's ocean waters more than 7,000 times over limits considered acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This week, ministry officials, together with the Municipality of Santa Cruz and the National University (UNA), announced they will conduct a second, comprehensive analysis to determine if initial measures have paid off.

In the meantime, increasing media attention, inside Costa Rica and out, is threatening the town's halcyon image as the land of “endless summer.”

“We are already seeing reservations at local hotels being cancelled, and investors are becoming leery,” said Federico Amador, executive president of the Tamarindo Improvement Association, which represents the community.

The call for further testing emerged after representatives from Tamarindo met with Health Minister María Luisa Avila in San José last Wednesday.

Amador attended the meeting and said he is encouraged by the government's attention.

“This is a whole different level of problem than we've seen in the past,” he said. “They recognize it, and they have given us their support. They want to use Tamarindo as an example.”

Juan Luis Sánchez, director of the Health Ministry field office in Santa Cruz, told The Tico Times the action plan begins this week.

According to Sánchez, the ministry has begun distributing questionnaires to local homes, hotels and businesses, to begin the process of identifying contamination sources.

The questionnaires ask building owners to identify the age and status of their own sewage treatment facilities or septic tanks.

After the survey is complete, a team of inspectors will begin visiting and mapping potentially offending structures in Tamarindo, which he said could number as many as 250.

The hope is that one by one, polluters will float to the surface.

At that point, the government will issue them sanitary orders, requiring adequate sewage treatment.

If it doesn't happen, hotels and restaurants, and even private buildings, could be closed, Sánchez said.

But the subject is a touchy one among health officials, including Sánchez, who was hesitant to release the names of hotels that had already received sanitary orders.

“We don't want to create any bad blood with hotel owners. Right now, they want to work together with us,” he said.

Last week, Rodrigo Acuña, environmental inspector with the Health Ministry office in Santa Cruz, told The Tico Times the ministry would move quickly, rattling off hotels that would soon face sanitary orders.

He rescinded his statement the next day.

“We want to take this slowly,” he said.

Sánchez agrees.

“It will be a very individualized process,” he said, holding out hope that the upcoming test would prove that initial awareness-raising measures have already improved the problem.

But some in town believe further tests will only help the government slip the problem under the table again.

“That's my biggest concern: They'll keep testing until the climate takes care of the problem. It's going to be a nonissue in a matter of two weeks,” said Jerry Smith, a San Diego, California transplant who's been a real estate broker in Tamarindo for almost 20 years.

Smith explained his theory that the root causes of the problem are inadequate septic systems that malfunction during the May to December rainy season. The region's water table rises, he said, and floods out the shallow, poorly designed systems.

“This problem is nothing new. We've known about it for years,” he said. “We know to stay out of the water in October.”

He is skeptical of government support.

“They say they're going to help, then they go back to San José, and do nothing at all. It's all hollow political promises,” he said.

According to Darner Mora, director of the Water Testing Laboratory at the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), Tamarindo is not considered one of the country's urban areas, and as such, responsibility for building a sewage treatment plant there falls on the Municipality of Santa Cruz, not the central government.

“We are obligated to support these smaller communities, but not provide the funding for such projects,” he said.

Municipality Mayor Jorge Chavarría told The Tico Times that he has plans to build a sewage treatment facility, but would not provide a timetable.

When asked why it hadn't been built yet, he replied that he'd only “been in office for a few months,” and that he could not speak for the previous administration.

“It is our responsibility, and we plan to do it,” he said.

Amador, while encouraged by the support, believes the private sector must initiate the project.

“We can't just wait for the government to step in and build us a sewage treatment plant. They've already shown that they don't have the funding or the resources. So we have to take what we can get and then do our part,” he said.

At a meeting last Friday, organized by the association and community business leaders, Amador said the will was there, but a solid proposal was not. Amador estimated an adequate treatment plant could cost between $2 million and $10 million.

“Nobody is going to invest without a good proposal. But we're working on it,” he said.

In the meantime, swimmers take their chances in Tamarindo's legendary surf.

Despite promises late last month to put signs warning swimmers and surfers against possible contamination, Sánchez, of the Health Ministry in Santa Cruz said the signs would remain “on hold pending results of the new tests.”

“We don't want to be premature in putting up signs if there is no problem,” he said.

SENARA, Council Seek Urgent Water Measures

2008-11-27T23:25:00.005-08:00

SENARA, Council Seek Urgent Water Measures
By Zoraida Diaz of The Beach Times

SENARA, the government body in charge of the country's underground water supply, is to undertake a study of Tamarindo to work out what damage, if any, is being done to the town's drinking water.

“The contamination of the beaches is a grave issue, but not as dire as if the aquifers were contaminated,” said Bernal Soto, Executive Director of the Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas, Riego y Advenamiento.

“It would be a tragedy.”

Mr Soto's comments came amidst increasing debate over how to deal with the surface contamination of Tamarindo's beaches, after the government's water authority Aguas y Alcantarillados (AyA) found high levels of fecal contamination in 13 points along the main beach in late August.

Although business leaders and the community met in separate meetings to address pressing issues such as increasing hotel cancellations, and the Ministry of Health's imminent census to identify pollution sources (see box at right), environmental experts warn of a graver risk at hand.

Carlos Romero, an engineer with SENARA, said this week the accelerated development in Tamarindo, without any precautionary measures, was putting the aquifers at risk.

“The last study—four or five years ago—measured capacity and availability,” Mr Romero said. “What was found then was the extractions were equal to the recharge, which means the aquifers were already at risk.

“We now need to carry out more specific studies,” he added. “We are about to commence with a detailed study as to how vulnerable is the aquifer so that we can draw up a zoning map for the aquifer that shows high risk areas.

“With this, restrictions can be applied.”

Mr Romero said the studies containing vulnerability maps would take about six months to complete.

Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the Municipal Council of Santa Cruz, the municipality's environmental director, biologist William Arauz, asked for emergency measures to safe-guard the Huacas-Tamarindo Aquifer.

“The negative chain of results uncovered by the study [AyA] in reference to superficial waters, is irrefutable proof of the serious environmental problem and of public health, caused by a generalized lack of regulation—specifically in matters of management of black waters in the areas of housing developments in Tamarindo and Langosta beaches,” the memo reads.

“The ill functioning of the treatment systems in place—be it septic tanks or treatment plants—represent a risk of contamination to the aquifers,” he concluded.

In addition to the vulnerability maps, the note requests all septic systems are switched over to treatment plants; that SENARA provide a study of the area to determine the loads it can support for run-off from the plants, and a moratorium on construction permits in areas of Tamarindo and Langosta until the situation is corrected.

“Whether the aquifer is contaminated by salinity or by fecal coli forms, the damage would be irreversible,” Mr Arauz told the council. “What has to be done is to normalize the situation.”
He was emphatic in stressing that the moratorium should not be “satanized” nor that development should be stopped, but rather how to develop and under which conditions.

He added the moratorium should extend through the natural geographical boundaries comprised between the Tamarindo Estuary in the North and the San Francisco Estuary in the South, and up to one kilometer West from the beach line.

SENARA's Romero agrees the studies will provide maps that will be used as criteria to uphold restrictions.

The fragility of the Huacas-Tamarindo Aquifer was well known, added Mr Romero who said there was already a moratorium on well drilling in some sectors.

“In Tamarindo, there's practically no water; the area has been closed to well drilling since 2003,” he explained, “Only South of Tamarindo—towards Pinilla—are permits still being issued.

“Beko (a private water supplier in Tamarindo), for instance, presented a study to drill some wells a few months ago and their request was denied,” said Mr Romero.

Absolutely closed to drilling, according to SENARA, are most areas Huacas-Tamarindo, and the coastal area of Brasilito-Potrero and the Nimboyores region.

“In the Brasilito—Potrero region, studies from 1997 already showed traces of salt contamination, although well permits are still allowed in the mountain areas of Brasilito, Potrero and Playa Grande,” he explained

The memo met with a cautious response from councilors. Albeit agreeing the issue was serious, the council agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting between the Legal and Environmental Departments, the council and the Ministry of Health and AyA to analyze the proposed emergency measures.

In addition and in a deal brokered with the tourism development Reserva Conchal, the Mayor said he was emptying the black waters from the septic tanks in Tamarindo, and that they would be treated at Conchal.

Ana Saborío, CEO of Reserva Conchal in neighboring Brasilito confirmed the tourism enclave was willing to help their beleaguered neighbor.

“This is an emergency solution,” she said, “I have offered Mayor Chavarría to help get them out of the crisis, but not on a permanent basis.”

Mayor Chavarría warned they should proceed with caution in adopting the controversial measures: “We cannot give Tamarindo the final death blow.”

From La Nacion - www.nacion.com (to translate, go to world.altavista.com/tr)

2008-11-27T23:25:00.003-08:00

From La Nacion - www.nacion.com (to translate, go to world.altavista.com/tr)

Once sitios en la playa y dos en el mar, AyA detecta alta contaminación con feces en playa Tamarindo

Está en peligro la certificación para mantener Bandera Azul Ecológica

Muestras tomadas prueban que la polución llegó hasta el agua del mar
Mauricio Herrera U. | mherrera@nacion.com

Un estudio del Laboratorio de Aguas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) concluyó que Tamarindo, en Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, recibe agua contaminada con excrementos en 11 lugares a lo largo de la playa.

Tres microbiólogos efectuaron el estudio en agosto y determinaron que “de los 11 puntos de muestreo ubicados en las descargas de desechos líquidos se comprueba alta densidad de coliformes fecales por cada 100 mililitros (de agua)”.

MÁS SOBRE ESTE TEMA

* Empresarios y líderes de la comunidad admiten problema
* Detalle de los puntos de contaminación en playa Tamarindo

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Tamarindo se ubica al lado de playa Grande, el principal sitio de desove de las tortugas baula, y es una una de las comunidades guanacastecas que ha experimentado mayor crecimiento turístico y comercial en los últimos años.

El valor máximo para que el agua de mar sea apta para la natación es de 240 coliformes por 100 mililitros (ml) de agua. Además, la presencia de la bacteria Esterichia coli es un indicativo de la presencia de excrementos humanos, compuestos en un 93% por ese microorganismo.

Suciedad. Las muestras fueron recolectadas en tuberías o riachuelos ubicados muy cerca de establecimientos como la pescadería Pedro's ,los hoteles Tamarindo Diriá, El Milagro y el Witch's and Rocks, y de los bares y restaurantes Iguana Surf, Copacabana y Porto –Fino.

Los resultados no necesariamente implican que el agua contaminada proviene de esos establecimientos comerciales.

Uno de los sitios arrojó resultados de 460.000 coliformes y otro de 3,1 millones, “lo cual confirma que esta descarga está siendo utilizada para verter aguas negras”, señaló el estudio.

Los otros nueve puntos “presentan densidades de coliformes fecales típicos de aguas “grises” o aguas de lavatorios, pilas de lavados, etc”.

Otras dos muestras tomadas en el mar, frente a la playa, revelaron que en esos lugares el océano ya sufre la contaminación. En esos dos sitios el agua es calificada como “no apta para la natación”.

Uno está ubicado frente al hotel Tamarindo Diriá, con 4.600 coliformes y 490 Esterichia coli . El segundo punto se ubica frente a la pescadería Pedros, que reveló 4.600 coliformes por 100 ml y 460 Esterichia coli .

Varios de los propietarios o gerentes de los comercios aludidos admitieron que el problema de contaminación existe, pero rechazaron que sean sus negocios los que contaminan y aseguraron que dan costosos tratamientos sanitarios a sus aguas.

“Hay un hotel y un restaurante que tiran toda el agua gris al estero y se murieron los camarones y los peces, y los cocodrilos se fueron”, manifestó Claudio Auffret, dueño del hotel La Laguna del Cocodrilo.

Playa Tamarindo cuenta con la certificación de Bandera Azul Ecológica, que se le entrega únicamente a las playas que tienen condiciones de limpieza excelentes, pero los resultados del estudio de agosto ponen en peligro esa acreditación.

Según Darner Mora, microbiólogo y director del Laboratorio de Aguas del AyA, a playa Tamarindo se le dio hasta finales de octubre para corregir los problemas o se le retirará este año la Bandera Azul Ecológica.

“En Tamarindo hay desorden y focos de contaminación. Nada se hace con grandes hoteles y edificio si no se protege la playa. Al contrario de Jacó, donde el mar no está contaminado, en Tamarindo ya el mar está contaminado en dos puntos”, expresó Mora.

From PRETOMA.org

2008-11-27T23:25:00.001-08:00

From PRETOMA.org

En La Naciòn (en Español)

Favoring the international fleet

By Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA

I read, filled with frustration, the declarations of the President of INCOPESCA before the Environmental Commission of the Legislative Assembly on February 14, in which he states that the organization has its hands tied to fight shark finning in national waters, and requests millions to contract more employees and put greater controls in place.

To begin with, shark finning is not a problem in national waters. Though the practice may have been common in the past, national fishermen have shown their willingness to respect the current laws that require sharks to be landed with all fins naturally attached to the body. This simple method has served as a model for other nations in the region, and even the United Nations General Assembly recently recommended its implementation to effectively control shark finning on a global scale.

Though additional resources would be helpful, the problem of shark finning has more to do with the political desire to arbitrarily favor the interests of the foreign fleet, which operates in international waters, than with the lack of resources.

Without regulation or control

As is widely recognized, shark finning is practiced by fishing vessels under foreign flags, mostly originating from Asia. They have a tremendous impact, and have been denounced in international forums for shark finning and illegal fishing without regulation or control.

Since 1998, Costa Rica has allowed this fleet to land its cargo of shark fins on the private docks of Puntarenas without any type of legal restraint. Despite laws passed by Customs and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation that require this fleet to use public docks, as well as orders by the Constitutional Court and the Ministry of Finance to use public infrastructure as a condition for docking in Costa Rica, the fisheries authorities and customs officials have turned a blind eye to these practices. PRETOMA’s experience in this topic, which spans three presidential administrations, shows that the fisheries authorities have created more work, and spent more resources, in trying to evade the law on behalf of the international fleet than if they had simply complied with it in the first place.

We could learn from El Salvador. For over a year, not a single foreign vessel has landed its cargo in the country, thanks to the effective application of laws against shark finning. In the same amount of time, 90 foreign vessels landed in Costa Rica, taking advantage of the legal loophole that the country offers through its private docks.

Comply with the law!

In closing, what Costa Rica needs to do in order to promote the conservation and management of sharks is, before anything else, to comply with the law in these private docks. What worth will more inspectors have if the law is optional for the international fleet?

It should also be recognized that sharks need more than a simple stop to shark finning. We must reduce their mortality. We must establish permanent and temporal prohibitions in zones of congregation, minimum sizes, maximum quotas, and prohibited take of certain species, all of which will require more technical information and the promotion of additional legislation in a regional and local context. Sadly, the protectionist attitude of our nation toward the international fleet not only sentences any domestic control to absolute failure, but also any initiative to promote the regional management of sharks.

The Surfrider Trip

2008-11-27T23:24:00.028-08:00

The Surfrider Trip

It was 2 a.m. when I pulled in to the gated parking lot at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande. No lights were on, no night watchman around with my keys, only the sound of the surf crashing a hundred yards away. I drifted off to sleep in a hammock, knowing that the following days were going to be hectic.

I wasn't in Costa Rica for a surf vacation or to find love this time, it was a phone call that made me buy the ticket. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, the Minister of Natural Resources (MINAE), wanted to meet me to talk about starting a Surfrider Foundation chapter in Costa Rica. It has been one of my goals in life since 1998, when I first moved to the Pacific beachside village Dominical and started the Basura Busters, a beach cleanup group made up of kids and surfers, spanish students and tourists. In the last five years under the guidance of the Surfrider Foundation Headquarters USA International Affiliate Program I've led cleanups, wrote newsletters, created a website (surfridercostarica.org), translated materials into Spanish, attended meetings and conferences, all as a Surfrider Foundation member interested in protecting the ocean, waves, and beaches of Costa Rica. This call may have been the catalyst needed to get things moving. A friend Scott Gallic was going to meet me in Jaco and join me to interview the Environmental Minister (who also happens to be a dedicated surfer). Scott, working in conjunction with the Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters, had received a Schoephlin grant from UCSD to research the possibility of Surfrider Foundation affiliates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama. I felt that together we could get answers and work with Mr. Rodriguez to find solutions to the problems of sea walls, pollution, drownings, and waste treatment near the coast.

Before the meeting I wanted to get some opinions from the locals about the state of their beaches. The first person I spoke with was Louis, the owner of Las Tortugas, who has surfed around Tamarindo since the early 70's. His concerns were the overcrowding on the main break right behind the hotel and the safety of the turtles that come to nest on the beach. He spoke about the violent nature of some of the locals who think they own the peak and take off on every wave. There has also been a lot of theft in the street parking lot. (During one visit, I had to chase off a thief who broke into a teenager's car, using a large tree branch as a weapon.) Next I spoke with one of Louis' employees, Ylario, who is a part of the Asociacion Protectoro del Recurso Marina y de Vida Silvestre (Marine Resource and Wildlife Protection Association). He explained in Spanish that the problem is the development along the coast from Grande to Tamarindo. The half-mile wide peninsula has condos, cabinas, and residences going up daily, all within fifty meters of Las Baulas National Marine Park, which contains the beach and the miles of estuary and mangroves inland. Street and house lights are disorientating the sea turtles, the water is getting contaminated by pesticides and human waste, and no one in his organization lives nearby to voice their concern.

Later in the day I drive into Tamarindo, which had grown tremendously since my last visit only nine months earlier. Three new mini-malls were constructed, the road was paved, two new neighborhoods had been opened up the hill, and now there were over 400 yards of seawalls along the beach. I found my friend Diana, who teaches surf lessons, and we caught the sunset at her house while chatting about the crowds at the beach. She told me about the problems trying to give a lesson with 60 other beginners flailing around in the shorebreak. The local grommets also paddle out in the middle of the pack, snaking waves from the longboarders, and narrowly missing the swimmers. The problem grew bad enough where the local newspaper The Howler gave it a full page story. The overcrowding wasn't just in Tamarindo, but at Ollie's Point, Playa Negra, Playa Avellanas, and Langosta. Surfcamps taking truckloads of surfers to different breaks and filling up the lineups with guests. The Environmental Minister Rodriguez took some drastic measures to ease the crowds at Ollie's and Witch's. He mandated that boats needed permits to enter the Santa Rosa National Park, and surfing visitors had to pay the entrance fee of $6, which goes back into park maintenance expenses.

I crashed that night at "A Surfer's Dream House" in Playa Negra. It is an awesome house, big enough for six guests with a huge oceanfront view of the break. At the same time I felt guilty since I was one of those at fault for bringing surfers to Costa Rica and crowding this spot. The beach house was a symbol of the development that I was against. Imagine a dawn patrol session at Negra with no one out until six longboarders come strolling down the beach and paddle out right outside of you. Imagine in ten years Playa Negra looking like San Clemente in the 1950's, with private neighborhoods obliterating the coastal ecosystem. I slept restlessly wondering what could be done to help?

The next morning I paddled out with a group of Ticos, some of them visiting from San Jose. At first there was a little tension since the waves were not that plentiful, but I made sure they all had their set waves before I took my first one. For the next hour everyone was cool, and we traded off waves with no paddle battles, no cursing, and a few hoots on the bigger sets. During the second session of the morning, I chatted with Forrest Folgers, who competes on a longboard and shortboard on the Circuito Nacional de Surf, Costa Rica's pro surfing circuit. His wife Gabriella also competes and has a lot of talent. I asked him about what he thought was a problem at Playa Negra and he mentioned the trash that came from up north in Tamarindo. There was not a water pollution issue since there weren't a lot of major rivers emptying in the ocean. I asked him if he was involved in any environmental groups, and he answered "No, it was too hard to organize the group and get things done. So instead I try to be an example of taking care of the environment. I grow food organically, compost waste, recycle, and teach these practices to my kids and others that come to my wife's day care center." I knew he was right since it is hard to have a meeting when the members are an hour away and don't have vehicles to get to a central location.

That evening I shared dinner and some Imperials with Joe Walsh, the owner of Witch's Rock Surf Camp. He has had his share of criticism for sending his guests out to all the major surf spots and was denied a boat permit to enter the Santa Rosa National Park. I wanted to get his side of the story. He defended his business using the following arguments, the first was that the camp spreads out their guests by only sending one vehicle to a popular break (Negra, Langosta, Marvella, Avellanas) each day. He also contended that a percentage of his revenue goes to pay for the lifeguards that work in Tamarindo, since the city does not pay their salaries. (The camp also gives donations to the neighboring elementary schools.) Finally, Joe had sent his guests who wished to visit Witch's Rock through boat owners in Cocoa, which have legal permits, unlike many other tour operators in the area. The blame for overcrowding could not be put on one person or business since there were six surf camps in Tamarindo, plus hotels offering boat tours, lessons, and board rentals.

My opinion has yet to be written in this piece, but here it is now - Surf businesses related to Costa Rica, from travel websites to board rentals, ALL are responsible for the increase in surfers in Costa Rica. So everyone must accept this responsibility and DO something to give back to the beaches they enjoy daily. Businesses must support programs that keep the beach clean and safe. They should be an example of an eco-friendly business - recycling and reducing pollution at home and on the job. They should not support other businesses that are damaging the coastline through pollution or over-development. The number of travelling surfers will only increase so surf businesses can succeed if they protect the resource that everyone shares, the beach.

At the crack of dawn the next day I drove up to Playa del Coco to visit Carlos Barrera, director of the boat owners association and operator of Roca Bruja Tours. We were going to take a trip into Santa Rosa National Park, and I was hoping to learn about the new tour policies for going to Witch's and Ollie's. (and to surf of course!) Carlos showed me the process where visitors signed in for entering the park, and by 7:30 a.m. there were five boatloads of surfers ready to start their trip. He explained that the boat captains all work together and own their own boats. They have decided to only allow eight boats into the park at one time, with a maximum of five surfers on each boat. If there is enough swell, the boats will not all be on the same peaks at the same time, thereby spreading the crowd out even more. All captains have cellular phones in order to communicate their arrivals and departures from each break, or to use if there is an emergency. Another safety measure Carlos had directed was that all boats must start back to Playa del Coco by 4 p.m., allowing enough time for a safe trip during daylight hours.

The cost of the boat trip was worth it just for the breathtaking beauty of the ride into the park. (it's currently $200 per boat, plus the park entrance fee) I saw a few dolphins, sea turtles, lots of frigate birds, and a couple of brightly-colored fish in the lineup. There were about 25 surfers at Witch's who were spread out along the two miles of open beach, although a tight pack of seven were sitting on one peak that appeared to have a cleaner shoulder to drop in on. At least six of the surfers out there were women, holding their own at catching the set waves that came through. I thought while paddling back out after a short tuberide that if Carlos could keep the crowds to this level for the next 10 years, that would be quite an accomplishment.

I left Playa del Coco after sundown feeling exhausted but satisfied with the progress taking place in Carlos' home town. The boats that Roca Bruja Tours uses all have four stroke engines, promoting cleaner emissions. As the association's director, he is helping the families of the other local boat captains, which in turn helps his community. The association also sponsors beach cleanups and visits the schools to teach about the ocean's environment. That is a good example of a surf business giving something back.

The next morning I took the back roads from Tamarindo to Nosara in order to check out a surf contest that Sunny Garcia was judging. It was organized by the Safari Surf School and promoted by Mango Surf Shop. Tim Marsh, the school's owner, commented "I saw the level of surf talent in Jaco and I thought that the local kids (in Nosara) should get a chance to show off their skills." The locals included surfers from nearby Garza and Samara, places still unaffected by crowds but also having environmental concerns. (A recent newsletter was addressing complaints raised by beachgoers over PWC noise and trash on the beach.) It was kind of weird that I was in Costa Rica, yet when I paddled out everyone was from Florida! It turned out that Epic Ministries of Jacksonville was down doing community service work, and nabbing some nice waves, too. In fact, I counted fifty surfers within 400 yards of the big palm tree, about half of them from the religious surf club. They were really nice, outgoing people who came down to help out the church in Nosara, and were respectful in the water as well. I wished that if surfers were coming to Costa Rica they would be this respectful to the local community, as opposed to tossing cigarette butts on the beach and giving everyone who paddles near them the stinkeye.

I spent that night at the Villa Taype, the closest place to stay to the palm tree on Playa Guiones, the epicenter of surfing in Nosara. It is strange that nearly everyone who comes to visit likes surfing right near this solitary tree. It does break a little better in front, but there are almost two miles of completely deserted beach to the north and south (not to mention the point breaks), and at times up to seventy surfers in front of the tree. Maybe the visiting surfers accept the crowds and only a few adventurers are willing to sacrifice an hour to find an empty lineup. On the way to Jaco I passed through Garza, a boating village next to a horseshoe-shaped bay with rock shelves at both ends and a small beachbreak near the center. I paused a few minutes watching two local kids out having a blast in the shorepound, and wondered what this beach looked like when a big Northwest swell charges down during the dry season.

It took almost five hours to get to Jaco. The first part of the drive was all rocky, then once the road improved my speed was rewarded with a traffic ticket. From there on I drove slowly over the new Tempisque River bridge (a gift from Taiwan in exchange for offshore fishing rights), and then south on the Pan-American highway. I took the route that allowed me to check Boca Barranca, which at high tide looked unsurfable, and then stopped again to take some shots of the gigantic crocodiles on the Tarcoles River - the most polluted river in Costa Rica. From there, it was only another thirty minutes to where I was going to meet Scott, at Cabinas Las Olas in Playa Hermosa.

Scott and I traded stories of our trips - he broke his board surfing double overhead Guatemala beach breaks and was getting to meet a lot of strong supporters of the Surfrider Foundation. We also ran into to Robert Barreca, a visiting college student who had been helping translate Surfrider Foundation materials and volunteering his time in Jaco. It felt good to know that more people realized they could make a difference to protect their favorite surf breaks.

After the morning sessions and a long line at the bank, Scott and I were prepped for the drive to San Jose to meet with Mr. Rodriguez, the Environmental Minister. However, we didn't know exactly where his office was and so our spanish skills saved us once we entered the city. The MINAE building was easy to spot, the only nine-story building amidst others half as tall, and the Minister's office was at the top. The antiquated elevator, which we felt may not have made it to the top, stopped on the eighth floor and we took the stairs up to his office. We spent the three hours drive preparing our questions and suggestions and now it was our chance to make things happen.

Well, once it started, the Minister of Natural Resources had control of the conversation. It became a chance for him to explain to us what the problem was as he perceived it - Overcrowding by foreign surfers who did not respect the locals and the environment. That is what he needed the Surfrider Foundation to help with. He explained that "Surfers are hard to organize because they are so indivualistic. We need to find a 'common thread' to bring them together. One example is the economic incentive from having a clean, safe beach. Surf business owners, as well as local contest directors that work with the local surf population and surf industry, could be the future leaders of Surfrider Foundation." Scott and I explained to him that an international affiliate of the Surfrider Foundation would be an autonomous group, capable of raising and budgeting their own finances and finding Costa Rican members (Note: Surfrider Foundation Class A International Affiliates are licencees of Surfrider Foundation USA). He ended the interview optimistically, telling Scott he would seek out some local friends to help create the organizing committee, and support the group after his political term was over. (The Surfrider Foundation is a NGO, non-governmental organization)

We left with our notepads still full of unanswered questions, but glad that we had the support of the Environmental Minister to continue our efforts in Costa Rica. Scott was going to hang around San Jose to interview the head of the Environmental division of the U.S. Embassy about their "White Water to Blue Water Campaign". I needed to leave at dawn the next day for a friend's wedding in Playa Dominical, a four hour drive through the Cerro del Muerte (Ridge of Death). Muy divertido!

Since I left early enough to avoid the tractor trailers flying around the tight bends in the road, and the sun was shining at 12,000 feet (rather than dense fog usually present at that altitude), the ride was 'very fun'. I arrived early for the wedding and had the chance to check the surf and drop by the river-side spanish school where I used to work. Most of the same friends were there, and we laughed about some old times. The only sad part was the changes made to the school after I had left. They had cut down 20 year old hibiscus and almendro trees to make the school yard brighter. In one of the trees, located right out in front of my old front porch, a three-toed sloth and her baby used to come visit. Now the tree trunk ended ten feet up, whacked. Had they done it while I worked there, I would have quit. Two other 'impovements' they made was to remove the composting and recycling bins and to build a second bathroom (with the open septic system ten meters from the river). This type of development, neglecting to take nature into account, can devastate a coastline through soil erosion and water pollution.

The wedding was magical, taking place at the bride's parents house facing a rain forest across the Baru river. Two small Cayman crocodiles swam up the current as the first speakers blessed the couple, and the ceremony ended as Catherine and Brek sang a love song they had written as their wedding vows. After that, mucha fiesta, mucha musica, and then mucha cansa as I was beat from the long day and anxious to wake early to surf.

The final days of the trip were relaxing, as I caught up with friends, made some new ones, and spent a lot of time in the water. Scott made it down from San Jose and wanted to speak to the leader of the recycling program in Dominical. Her name was Zeidi, and she had almost single-handedly kept the program operating. It was hard finding volunteers to sort through bottles and cans to categorize them for pickup, or to go through town asking business to save their recyclible. Not only does she lead that project, but also helps bring school children to National Parks and leads them in monthly beach cleanups. She also is in charge of keeping the town's clinic open, which only receives doctors once a month and has limited supplies if someone gets injured. And she has started a plant nursery with composted soil in order to replant species of mangrove and almendro trees along the river and beach.

Zeidi is the hardest working volunteer I have ever met in my life. She does her work seriously, keeps all the books in order, and rarely gets frustrated. But when Scott and I sat down with her to voice her concerns, she was livid. "There are five evil gringos in this area, they are going to destroy the environment around Dominical, and all they care about is money. They have bought the government and the police, and now it is almost too late to do anything about it." (I can not say these accusations are valid. I can say that the police department has a new vehicle, and the country's president was seen visiting the restaurant of one of the five men mentioned who has plans for building a marina in Dominicalito.) Zeidi seemed worn out from fighting the developments taking place, while the needs of the community (like clean drinking water) were being ignored. We sympathized with her, but shared her feelings that against people with a lot of money there was little that could be done. Projects would be completed while court cases were appealed, and there were scarce resources available to even investigate a case.

Scott and I had one final meeting before we took flights out of the country. It was with Jack Ewing, the creator of Hacienda Baru just north of Dominical. It is a 400 hectare reforestation project being funded by private investors, World Bank carbon credits, small grants, and a few eco-tours through the rainforest. On those tours I have witnessed sloths, snakes, anteaters, monkeys, poison dart frogs, and on separate occasions witnessed a jaguar and an ocelot (a smaller version of a leopard). Jack had done an outstanding job of bringing back nature to what used to be a cattle ranch, teaching the local communities to protect and appreciate their surroundings, and brought the Bandera Azul award to his local beach. (The Bandera Azul is an award given to Costa Rican beaches that have clean drinking water, clean oceans and beaches, safety signs along the beach, and educational programs in place to teach about the environment. Presently 26 beaches around the country have this distinction, awarded by the ICT - Costa Rica's Tourism Institute.)

Jack shared with us information on the projects he was directing. He also explained the difficulties involved after some grants were secured, how funds needed to be managed, and how hard it was to evaluate projects on their success. Since I had worked with him in the past I understood his concerns, and it was almost a personal warning for me to be careful applying for grants for projects that are not well thought out.

Driving north from Dominical to Quepos, the road is still not paved, but the bridge construction has started and soon the area would have more car traffic than ever before. It will mean major changes to the scenery, as more tourists will have access to the south western corner of the country, and businesses will pop up to accommodate them. Hopefully environmental leaders like Jack and Zeidi can convince the government to pass legislation to protect the rain forests and limit development along the beaches. And as a surf travel website owner, I will continue my responsibility to inform travelers how to respect Costa Rica's locals and environment, and publicize events important to surfers who care about clean oceans and beaches.

If you want to help, start by contacting your local Surfrider Foundation chapter to see what can be done to protect your local break. And if you want to volunteer your time and resources in Costa Rica, write info@surfridercostarica.org .

"The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through Conservation, Activism, Research, Education...otherwise known as C.A.R.E."

CR Surf News

2008-11-27T23:24:00.027-08:00

Pre-Register Now at Best Western, High Tide, &
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IUCN Calls for Stronger Measures to Protect Leatherback Turtles, Sharks, and Whales

2008-11-27T23:24:00.025-08:00

IUCN Calls for Stronger Measures to Protect Leatherback Turtles, Sharks, and Whales

During the recent IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Barcelona from October 5 to 14, three resolutions were adopted calling for improved protection of leatherback turtles, sharks and whales. While the leatherback resolution focuses on regional populations of Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles, the shark and whale resolutions address global conservation policy.

Error al descargar la imagenThe leatherback resolution urges nations to protect Eastern Pacific leatherback sea turtles from industrial fisheries by creating marine protected areas along migratory routes, specifically the waters between Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), where the highest risk of interaction with fisheries occurs. The plan to open and close portions of the migratory corridor to fishing as turtles enter and exit the area, is based on scientific recommendations by Stanford researcher George Shillinger and an international team of co-authors who believe their work may make "adaptive" closures a realistic conservation approach. Other endangered species, such as hammerhead sharks, would also benefit from temporary closures to fisheries in
this corridor.

Photo: Randall Arauz of Pretoma and Rebecca Regnery of HSI defended the motions.

The shark resolution calls for a global policy against shark finning, the abominable practice of slicing off the shark's fins and discarding the body to supply the Asian shark fin soup market. Even though the practice is widely condemned, shark finning is still extensively practiced, due in part to the difficulty of implementing existing shark finning bans. A fins attached policy, which requires sharks to be landed with fins attached naturally, is the easiest and most reliable way to guarantee that shark finning did not occur. The resolution calls for the "fins-attached" policy to be globally adopted by all fishing nations.

The whale resolution affirms that the non-lethal use of whales, such as responsible whale watching tourism, contributes to the conservation of whales and can provide valuable benefits in terms of socio economic development, and calls on all governments and IUCN members to strengthen cetacean management and conservation strategies, and consider extending or designating marine protected areas and sanctuaries.

All three proposals were sponsored by the Costa Rican non-profit Pretoma. "Costa Rica has been a major player in promoting efficient shark finning regulations at international forums such as the United Nations and recently played a major role conserving whales at the International Whaling Commission", explained Randall Arauz, President of Pretoma. "We hope the approval of these resolutions provides the political platform for the country to continue its efforts to promote and attain efficient regional and global marine conservation measures in the future", said Arauz optimistically.

Pretoma partnered with Humane Society International's Rebecca Regnery who provided her expertise to help the shark and whale resolutions to be adopted by strong margins in spite of considerable debate. "The shark finning resolution strengthens the last resolution adopted by the IUCN on this issue in 2004 which urged countries to consider fins-attached among less effective measures including a complicated fin-to-body weight ratio", according to Ms. Regnery. "The whale resolution will help spread the message that whales are more valuable alive than dead."

Leatherback sea turtles survived the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs, but they are unlikely to survive our unsustainable appetite for swordfish and tuna," said Todd Steiner, Executive Director of the U.S.-based Turtle Island Restoration Network and a member of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group. "If leatherbacks are to survive the coming decades, we must convert talk to action; otherwise we will lose one of the most ancient creatures on the planet, in the next ten to thirty years.

More than 8,000 scientists, government officials and environmental organizations from over 250 nations supported the resolutions.

Pretoma's participation in the IUCN World Conservation Congress was possible thanks to the support of the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), Humane Society International (HSI), the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), and Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN).

Proposal for Surfrider Foundation - Costa Rica Affiliate (used for INTEL Grant Application)

2008-11-27T23:24:00.023-08:00

Proposal for Surfrider Foundation - Costa Rica Affiliate (used for INTEL Grant Application)

Mission:

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches, for all people, through conservation, activism, research, and education.

Needs to Address:

Developers are destroying the coastal ecosystem by over-developing environmently sensitive areas. This has led to untreated sewage discharge, inadequate water systems, and deforestation in many parts of Costa Rica. Costa Rican adults and children are generally uneducated about how to protect their coastal environment so do not see the long term effects on their community's financial and environment health.

Description of Current Programs:

Surf Site Stewardship -

This program develops teams for community-determined coastal conservation efforts. Members work with state and federal parks, cities, and other public land managers to undertake long term site stewardship projects including: ecological inventories and evaluations, restoration, low impact access improvements, monitoring, public education and other activities; and help to evaluate appropriate uses and management of selected coastal uses in their communities.

Respect the Beach -

This is a coastal educational program designed to teach coastal area stewardship, ocean safety, and marine ecology to K-12 students and community groups. The Respect the Beach program is brought in classrooms by Surfrider members who represent ocean environmentalism from a surfer's perspective, and who provide role models for age groups that are attracted to the allure and image of surfing. Respect the Beach was lauched in schools in the United States in 1991 and in junior lifeguard programs in 1992.

Beachscape -

This program includes citizen-based coastal mapping to create a detailed dataset of the coast. It establishes an accurate and credible baseline of coastal conditions that is widely available to local citizens, community activists and state and federal agencies. It uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to store, analyze, and publish data about natural and human influenced conditions along the coastline (such as the locations of outfall pipes, hard structures, erosion "hot spots", accumulation of marine debris, beach accessways, water quality, etc.)

Population Served:

The Surfrider Foundation presently has 60 local chapters in all coastal states in the U.S., as well as Puerto Rico, Montana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. They are also represented internationally in France, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. Every person that visits the beach to surf, kayak, swim, walk, or sun bathe is being helped to ensure that the shoreline will remain unpolluted and accessible.

Project Description

Purpose of Fundraising:

All funds provided will be used to expand the Surfrider Foundation to include an international affiliate in Costa Rica. The new chapter will implement the three programs described above and actively recruit members and organize fundraising events in the country.

Population to be served and how:

The entire population of Costa Rica (~3.7 million) and the 1.3 million visitors that come to their national parks and beaches will be served. The citizens will have available a database of shoreline descriptions on a website and in print that will help when planning a trip to the beach or where to develop land with the least damage to the surrounding ecosystem. Also on the website will be posted where environmental threats are occuring and what can be done to solve them. Most importantly, volunteers in the group will help to maintain unpolluted beaches and go into public schools to teach how to protect the shoreline ecosystem.

Implentation Strategies:

Goal 1 - Organize Local Chapters for Surf Site Stewardship

Objective 1: To organize 6 local chapters in San Jose, Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo, Jaco, Dominical, and Quepos.

Objective 2: To organize nationwide and local coastal cleanups.

Objective 3: To have Costa Rican and Intel Corporation volunteers educated on how to preserve the coastline.

Goal 2 - Begin the Respect the Beach educational program.

Objective 1: To create lessons in English and Spanish on how to preserve the environment of the coastline using the curriculum designed by Surfrider, USA and current computer technologies.

Objective 2: To print, copy, and distribute lessons to the six local chapter locations

Objective 3: To travel to the 6 chapter locations to train local teachers to use the computer technology to teach the unit.

Objective 4: To lead the lessons at the elementary and high school level.

Goal 3 - Collect coastal data for Beachscape Program

Objective 1: To create an environmental database of the most popular accessible beaches in Costa Rica.

Objective 2: To monitor high coastal development areas for potential environmental threats.

Objective 3: To post the collected data on a website for potential travelers.

CR Surf News

2008-11-27T23:24:00.021-08:00

Environmental tribunal found fault with 14 of 16 projects
From the A.M. Costa Rica staff

10/27: Of 16 projects inspected by the nation's environmental watchdogs in the Cantón de Osa, 14 have come under investigation.

In a report Friday at the end of a four-day sweep, the Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo released a summary of its findings.

The first was the discovery of a major hotel in Playa Hermosa de Osa that had been constructed without the proper environmental clearances, said the tribunal.

Also cited was a 492-hectare (1,215-acre) project in which a road encroached on a river and passes by a nearly vertical slope.

Then there was the two-story house in Pozo Azul de Osa that not only was constructed without any permits at all but had been built on Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario land in a primary forest, said the tribunal.

Tribunal officials said that they visited La Parcela, a restaurant and cabina tourism project that had been constructed in the prohibited zone that covers the land from mean high tide to 50 meters inland.

The tribunal began the sweep Tuesday with an overflight of the Cantón de Osa. From photos released after the flight, there has been intense development and the movement of land in the canton, which runs from Dominical south to the north half of the Osa Peninsula.

The large project is Costa Verde Estates on the border of Pérez Zeledón and Bahía Ballena de Osa, said the tribunal. The first stage of this project involves some 56 terraces for homesites, said the tribunal.

Tribunal judges said they found new terraces, extensive soil movement and roads in forested land, which brings up some very technical requirements.

This is where the tribunal said a road was found encroaching on a river course.

The tribunal said it was seeking information from both Pérez Zeledón and Osa on permits for the project.

The house at Pozo Azul de Osa went up with no permits, said the tribunal, which issued a closing order for the site. In addition to the homesite in forested land, the access road passes through forest, too, the tribunal said.

The hotel project in Playa Hermosa is almost ready to
open its doors to the public, said the tribunal. It is owned by Tucano Group S.A., said the tribunal. The project covers some 5,000 square meters or about 54,000 square feet, more than an acre. This project, too, was constructed in forest, said the tribunal.

The tribunal, its judges and experts from several different ministries went to the Cantón de Osa because of the extensive construction there. Municipal permits were up 200 percent in 2008, officials said.

LIVING IN PEACE WITH NATURE

2008-11-27T23:24:00.019-08:00

LIVING IN PEACE WITH NATURE
Celebrate the Osa - Earth Day Festival 2008

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Osa Peninsula Earth Day 2008 Committee, we would
like to personally invite you to be a part of our celebration honoring
the Earth. On Sunday April 20, 2008, the 4th Annual Osa Peninsula
Earth Day Festival is again expected to attract hundreds of
participants from communities throughout the Peninsula, providing an
opportunity to network and celebrate together the abundance of Nature.
In 2004, the Osa joined with other communities around the world
kicking off a festival in downtown Puerto Jimenez with a great showing
of community support and involvement. For the past four years, we
have continued to build on this success by offering a free event which
celebrates the environment and reflects the growing diversity of our
community. The Festival hosts numerous environmental exhibits with a
wide variety of interactive educational opportunities for children and
adults, as well as exciting and diverse live entertainment, musical
line-ups, contests and speakers all in a family-fun atmosphere. The
theme for this year is Living in Peace with Nature, presenting a
variety of practical applications for ecological stewardship.
The Osa Earth Day Festival maintains free admission and when
possible, free transportation to draw the largest cross-section from
rural communities so that we can celebrate this internationally
recognized event in the most inclusive manner. Our Festival's success
depends on financial support from businesses and organizations such as
yours.

Enclosed is an overview of the sponsorship levels for the Osa Earth
Day Festival 2008, which includes details of the sponsorship benefits.
Please note that these benefits include potential print, radio, and
television exposure as well as on-site visibility. By sponsoring the
Osa Earth Day Festival, you have an opportunity to support the
environment and garner positive publicity for your company locally,
and exponentially throughout Costa Rica and the world.
Please see the attached opportunities for sponsorship, We
appreciate your time and consideration and hope that you will partner
with us as we work to protect the environment here on the Osa
Peninsula, a place whose biological diversity has significance around
the globe well as right here at home.

Sincerely,

Tricia Stapleton, Tao Watts
chirripohomegrown@gmail.com
taoaqui@racsa.co.cr

Women of the Osa
event co-chairpersons
LIVING IN PEACE WITH NATURE
Earth Day 2008
COME JOIN US!

The Osa Peninsula Earth Day Celebration is a private-
public coalition working to raise public awareness and education about
conservation and environmental stewardship on the Osa Peninsula.
This coming year marks the 4th year of this ongoing initiative.

The partnership's goal is to raise $25,000 for the April 20, Earth Day
2008,

Here's How You Can Help

BE A FINANCIAL SPONSOR

As a Sponsor, your organization will receive special recognition in a
number of ways:
• Jaguar Sponsor $2,500
• Tapir Sponsor $1,000
• Monkey Sponsor $ 500
• Turtle Sponsor $ 100
• Macaw $ 50

BECOME AN EXIBITOR

Exhibitor package, including one 10' x 10' exhibit space
Exhibition Booth Fee: $25

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT
• Your financial support at any level is needed and appreciated.
• Consider contributing professional expertise and other "in-kind"
services.
• Participate as a speaker, performer, or presenter

VOLUNTEER!
• Join the growing partnership
Public outreach success lies in the cooperation and hands-on
involvement of many partners. Volunteer efforts represent a
value exceeding 10 times direct expenditures in our event.

Name___________________________________________

Organization _____________________________________

Phone___________________________________________

Fax_____________________________________________

E-mail ___________________________________________
Please return this form along with a check for a tax deductible
donation to:
Friends of the Osa
c/o Conservation International
1919 M St NW Suite 600
Washington DC 20036
Earmarked: WOMEN OF THE OSA EARTHDAY 2008

Or within Costa Rica:
Make a direct deposit to the WOO account
at Banco Nacional de Costa Rica:
100-02-094-600210-6
Asociacion Women of the Osa

Or send your check to
Women of the Osa
Apdo #1
Puerto Jimenez
Peninsula de Osa
Costa Rica 60702

• For more information, check out our Website
http://www.womenoftheosa.org.

From the Tico Times

2008-11-27T23:24:00.017-08:00

From the Tico Times -
Another Pacific Poop Problem

Posh hotel stopped discharge into estuary but sewage now goes to a nearby town

By Dave Sherwood
Tico Times Staff | dsherwood@ticotimes.net

PLAYA PANAMA, Guanacaste – Guests enjoying their morning minute on the lavish toilets of the Hotel Allegro Papagayo may be surprised to find out where last night's dinner went.

Residents in El Gallo de Liberia, a half hour away, certainly were when they started smelling it in their backyards.

The sewage, which officials say is being trucked to the town, is also threatening to contaminate the local water supply and a nearby river.

The discovery came after nine months of detective work by municipal officials, who pieced together the clues with help from local activists and community groups.

In February, the environment ministry (MINAE) revealed the 300-room hotel – part of the government's Papagayo Tourism Project, the largest development in the northwestern province of Guanacaste – was dumping raw sewage directly into the estuary beside the hotel.

Government inspectors were outraged. Local prosecutor Juan José Soto asked for “the complete closure of the hotel due to the volume of sewage that is contaminating the area,” according to an “urgent” request he filed with the chief prosecutor of Liberia.

On April 24, hotel manager Guillermo Guerra responded: “Since the receipt of your letter, the problem of discharges was immediately corrected, totally eliminating the problem of the estuary.”

Guerra assured inspectors that his “facilities were adequate” for the upcoming May to November “off season” and that the hotel had contracted “a thorough expert analysis with a recognized firm in Costa Rica ” to prepare an “improvement” of their treatment plant.

Notably absent from the letter, say officials, was any indication of how the all-inclusive hotel had “eliminated the problem” in the estuary, or where they planned to send the sewage should the problem arise again.

Contacted several times this week by The Tico Times, hotel officials have declined to comment.

A half-hour drive from the hotel, an apparently unrelated incident was unfolding.

In the village of El Gallo, hidden among dusty dirt lanes, scrub brush and graced with sprawling vistas of Rincón de la Vieja volcano, a bad odor was wafting down from a defunct sewage treatment plant that officials say is operating illegally.

Trucks, which residents reported were sometimes decrepit and concealing their license plates, rattled in at a rate of up to 150 per day, some, they said, in the middle of the night.

“No one could sleep,” said community leader Alexandra Sibaja. “It was just unbelievable.”

The smell was so offensive, students reported their eyes were watering in class.

Local residents took notice and organized.

Every time a truck passed, they wrote down the time, a short description, and its license plate number, compiling a list of hundreds over four days.

The residents said they observed trucks spilling sewage onto the street.

Truck drivers, the residents said, responded by obscuring license plates behind rags, stripping them all together, or simply going so fast, kicking up so much dirt, that no one could read them.

Shortly thereafter, community members who had verified that the plant was operating illegally, and that a new one next door had permits for just one truck a day, not 150, decided to act.

On Wednesday, the town blockaded the street, preventing the trucks from making their daily delivery.

The municipality supported their efforts, said Sibaja.

“The mayor has finally promised us he will shut down the plants. Thank God,” she said.

Municipal environmental inspector Augusto Otarola summarized the situation in a report to the municipality on Dec. 7.

“We have proved the repeated entry and exit of cistern trucks carrying sewage from the hotel to the ‘treatment plants' in Gallo,” he wrote.

The discovery came eight months after the hotel had assured MINAE the problem had “not only been solved…but will remain definitively eliminated in the future.”

Hotel Allegro Papagayo, part of the Spanish hotel chain Occidental and the enormous and controversial Papagayo Tourism Project, is on government land – its concession managed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

ICT, Otarola said, “must ensure that laws in this zone are obeyed. This is a grave offense, and could warrant the cancellation of the concession.”

But ICT and other government officials have juggled the blame, Otarola said.

“We see inaction and apathy on the part of our institutions, whether it be the Environment Ministry, the Health Ministry, or the Tourism Institute, among others, who have not assumed their responsibilities and have not taken the required measures in this situation.”

The hotel said it hired a private company to take care of the wastewater and that it was not the hotel's responsibility to determine where the excrement was exported, according to Otarola's report.

Gadi Amit, a local activist and long-time leader of the Guanacaste Brotherhood Association, said he is troubled by the incident, which is not unlike the sewage problems that last fall forced the closure of several hotels in Tamarindo to the south.

“Is this the type of tourism this government is promoting? Is this a company that is showing consideration for the surrounding communities? Is this the kind of development we want?”

Over the course of an hour Wednesday morning, The Tico Times observed and photographed three cistern trucks leaving the hotel's premises from the site of the sewage storage facility.

All three trucks displayed license plate numbers matching those recorded by community members in Liberia months earlier.

Local guards, truck drivers and a fierce stench confirmed the out-going truck's contents.

No one knows exactly how many of the trucks that swarm the hotel's sewage holding tanks go to El Gallo, or where else they might be headed, because managers there aren't talking.

Hotel guests interviewed by The Tico Times on Playa Manzanillo, the public beach that abuts the hotel, were more vocal.

“We'd been smelling the sewage from the trucks all week. We had wondered where they'd been taking it,” said Glenna Barnes, a Canadian who had spent the week at Hotel Allegro Papagayo. “We're never coming back.”

CR Surf News

2008-11-27T23:24:00.015-08:00

How a citizen can stop those environmental vandal
By Dennis Rogers
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

http://www.amcostarica.com/index.htm

Is the neighbor playing fast and loose with Mother Nature?

Are the trees getting chopped up?

Is trash just getting dumped alongside the river?

Residents don't have to watch the environment get degraded. There is a Costa Rican superagency that can step is and stop the carnage.

It is the Secretaria Tecnica National Ambiental, the environmental watchdog for the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energia. Costa Ricans call this agency SETENA for short, and it is the Costa Rican version of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Developers of any industrial project or significant housing development must file an environmental impact statement for approval. This provides a ready point of reference for violations of environmental code, but, of course, only applies to formal operations. Illegal fill and tree cutting seem to be the most common sort of violation for housing developments.

Developers take seriously the implications of a denuncia or complaint. One situation in San Isidro de Heredia had the local municipality on the scene to close a soil dump too near the Rio Tibás, on the developer’s own property within a few hours after a complaint had been filed.

Any fill even of clean soil or rubble requires a municipal permit. Any cutting of natural forest also requires permits. Complaints should first be addressed to the local municipality, but political patronage, corruption, or a simple desire to have a larger tax base means many cases go unanswered. If the situation continues for more than a few days after reporting it to the municipality, then a resident should contact the Secretaria Tecnica.

All files (expedientes) at the Secretaria Tecnica are freely available to the public. A visitor needs the file number for the impact statement in question. If this isn’t immediately evident, the staff can help. The files may not be taken out of the building. For copies, a librarian will accompany a visitor to the closest photocopy machine, which is at a pharmacy down the street.

The offices are in the east San José suburb of Sabanilla. See www.minae.go.cr/setena/ for more details. Would-be visitors should check for times, too, because the office is open to the public for limited hours currently Tuesday and Friday.

Evidence for a complaint should be clear and well-documented. First a complainant needs to obtain the business name (ends in S.A.) and number (starts with 3-101-) of the offender. If the property is not owned by a Sociedad Anónima, the owner’s name and cédula number will suffice. As the owners are unlikely to cooperate with the investigation, the information is available at the municipality where the property is located. A great deal of patience is needed for this process.

The cover letter to the Secretaria Tecnica should be a clear description of the situation in Spanish. Then those making the complaint should include the best documentation possible with photographs, if available. Satellite images of Costa Rica on Google Earth are much improved of late, and can be useful in the Central Valley. A copy of the letter is a must. It will be stamped as received on that date and provides proof of submission. The Secretaria Tecnica will (eventually) inspect the site and pass the case to the environmental tribunal, if warranted.

If there is no environmental impact statement, the process is the same except one must submit the complaint directly to the tribunal. Usually a visit to the municipality where the violation is taking place will be a better first step.

The process is open to abuse. As the Guatemalan company that makes Big Cola attempted to break into the Costa Rican market against the global soft-drink giants, it reportedly suffered repeated complaints about its environmental impact even though it is in an industrial district of Cartago.

DIADESOL cleanup activities take place in Guanacaste beaches

2008-11-27T23:24:00.013-08:00

DIADESOL cleanup activities take place in Guanacaste beaches

(Infocom) — Last Sept. 27, several Guanacaste coastal communities joined the DIADESOL (Inter-American Day of Sanitation and Citizenship) Cleanup Campaign, whose theme was “Juegale Limpio a tu Comunidad” — Play ‘Clean’ (Fair) with your Community.

In Brasilito, for instance, the cleanup effort was supported by the community and organized by the Municipality of Santa Cruz’s Department of Environmental Protection and Sanitation and DIRSA-Costa Rica.

The institutions and organizations that collaborated in this activity were Reserva Conchal’s Ecological Blue Flag Committee, CEPIA Foundation, the Brasilito Development Association, the Diria Biological Corridor, the Santa Cruz branch of the State University for Distance Education (UNED), the Brasilito Elementary School, La Paz School, and the Brasilito Ecological Blue Flag Committee. Also taking part in the activity were the Youth Action Foundation, Catalina Cove, and Hotel Paradisus Playa Conchal’s Department of Environmental Administration.

Some 250 people joined in this beach cleanup affair, which included the separation of reclaimed waste for recycling, exhibits by various institutions and organizations, and passing out and sales of educational materials and products. The campaign included much more than picking up trash.

Organizers also provided a venue for cultural presentations, including traditional dances by La Paz School students, a dramatic reading by children and teachers from the Brasilito Elementary School, and more traditional dances by the Colpachi Group. Children also participated in an environmental drawing contest, all receiving a small gift from the organizers.

Overall, the event was filled with joy and much activity on the part of attendees, including national and international tourists who came to enjoy the day’s activities. Promoted by the organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL), the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS), the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). DIADESOL was started in 2002 with the goal of building and consolidating citizenship awareness about the importance of taking care of the environment, keeping areas clean and avoiding contamination from solid waste.

DIADESOL was celebrated in all Latin American and Caribbean nations the third week of September. DIRSA-Costa Rica, which is the national AIDIS chapter, was in charge of coordinating all necessary actions to promote the celebration of this day in Costa Rica, engaging government institutions, community associations and the private sector.

Illegal Tuna Boat Busted in Cocos Island National Park

2008-11-27T23:24:00.011-08:00

Illegal Tuna Boat Busted in Cocos Island National Park

(February 1, 2008 - San José, Costa Rica).

Last January 29th, local Costa Rican fishermen blew the whistle against a purse seine vessel that was illegally fishing inside the marine area of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica , by reporting the incident to officers of the Ministry of Environment MINAE and Coastguards. The Panama Flagged ship "Tiuna", was caught 9.5 miles away of the island, which is supposed to enjoy a 12 mile no take zone, at the time of its capture. Officers reported the release of 12 tons of live tuna from the purse seine nets, and confiscated the 280 tons of tuna in its hold.

The illegal operation of purse seine tuna vessels inside Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the Eastern Tropical Pacific is not an isolated incident, as there have been similar recent reports in Galapagos (Ecuador) and Malpelo ( Colombia ). The problem is that local authorities lack resources to efficiently patrol their waters, a situation which tuna purse seiners take advantage of to poach officially protected marine resources..

Conveniently for the tuna industry, tuna illegally caught in MPAs still qualifies for a "Dolphin Safe" certification, because the duty of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) observers is only to report the dolphin kill, not other illegal activities. "If we can´t trust IATTC observers to report pirate activities in MPAs, in spite of their UN Humanity Heritage status, can we trust them to report true dolphin kill figures?", wondered Randall Arauz from PRETOMA. "The most recent information regarding dolphin populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific tells us we can`t, because of which consumers of canned tuna should think twice before they purchase tuna with environmental protection labels".

Other releases:

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee /2008/enero/30/pais1404145.html

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee /2008/enero/31/pais1406797.html

For more information:

PRETOMA

Telf: (506) 241-5227

Fax: (506) 236-6017

info@tortugamarina.org

www.tortugamarina.org

From the Tico Times

2008-11-27T23:24:00.009-08:00

From the Tico Times:

by Leland Baxter-Neal

Osa Beach Incursion Has Neighbors Worried

GOLFITO, Puntarenas – Bulldozers and backhoes, accompanied by government officials and a squad of National Police dressed in riot gear, arrived at the remote Playa Platanares beach earlier this month, much to the surprise of nearby residents. The workers were there to open an abandoned public road, according to the local municipality and the regional office of the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET). But witnesses here in the southern Pacific’s Osa Peninsula say they were shocked by the damage to beach habitat and the secrecy surrounding the project, and have questioned the project’s legitimacy.

During a flight with the environmental monitoring and education organization CAVU, The Tico Times confirmed from the air that much of the beach’s vegetation was stripped along a section of the beach. In an e-mail press release sent out the following day, Toby Cleaver, whose hotel Iguana Lodge is adjacent to where the construction began, said he and his neighbors were “stunned at the scope and level of destruction.” Officials “aren’t talking,” he wrote, and an official from the local government harassed a local photographer, “yelling that taking his picture or any picture of this epic destruction is prohibited by law since the photographer was standing on government property (the beach).” The presence of two officials from the national Comptroller General’s Office, which normally doesn’t oversee municipal works projects, also raised suspicions.

Mariela Azofeifa, a spokeswoman from the Comptroller’s office, said the officials were in the area on official business, but were not involved with the project. Three days after Cleaver sent his e-mail, which was forwarded through environmental circles, the work stopped. Three weeks later, the crews have yet to return, and the details surrounding the project are still unclear. While all government officials contacted over the past week eventually referred questions to the mayor of Golfito, whose municipality encompasses Playa Platanares, messages left at the mayor’s office seeking comment were not returned.

Victoria Blanco, a lawyer in the municipality’s Maritime Zone Department, said that a road is established in the area’s zoning plan to run parallel with the ocean, just inside the restricted area of the maritime zone. Another swath of land, an untouched green area, separates the road from the public zone, she said. The road has since become overgrown after years of neglect, she said, and the municipality had decided to move the road so it lies directly adjacent to the public zone, eliminating the green area. That move is to be included in a new zoning plan for the area, which has yet to be approved. Blanco said the police presence was a standard procedure when dealing with maritime zone demolitions: A yoga platform belonging to the Iguana Lodge had to be removed because it strayed into the public zone. The municipal lawyer also added that all the neighbors had been told about the construction.

Cleaver said the municipality had met with him and others from the area in January and told them the road was to be moved, but that they would be given warning and would be included in the planning. Cleaver also noted that the beach is a nesting site for sea turtles, and that between 10,000 and 15,000 turtles hatch there every year. In fact, he added, the construction was temporarily halted when one of the nests hatched and the workers stopped to watch. Tilma Morales, director of MINAET’s Golfito office, said her office was brought in to confirm that the area was not forested, and added that no environmental laws were broken.

Thousands support Las Baulas National Marine Park.

2008-11-27T23:24:00.007-08:00

Thousands support Las Baulas National Marine Park.

Environmentalists demand lawful expropriations.

from www.Pretoma.org

(August 29th, 2007. San José, Costa Rica). On Wednesday August 29th, members of the Costa Rican National Network for Sea Turtle Conservation delivered a letter to President Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, declaring their concern because authorities have not yet carried out with expropriations in Guanacaste's Las Baulas National Marine Park. Since January of 2006, the General Attorney's office (C 444-2005) gave the green light for the government to expropriate properties that legally belong to the National Park, but unfortunately, the public interest has not prevailed and the process has been stalled since May 29 of the present year. Up to date, only 0.22% of the land has been expropriated.

The environmentalist's letter was accompanied by a petition signed by 7685 Costa Rican citizens, calling for the immediate recovery and protection of coastal lands, as a measure to ensure the ecological integrity of the most important leatherback nesting beach in the Pacific coast of the Americas, threatened by the unregulated and unsustainable urban development in Guanacaste.

“The government appears to be determined to defend the interest of investors, who expect expropriation values which are out of proportion with the current real estate market in Guanacaste” complained Randall Arauz, from the Sea Turtle Restoration Program. “Investors bought those properties fully aware that they were within the boundaries of a National Park, and besides, the Law establishes that the price to be paid must be fixed by the Internal Revenue Ministry, therefore, there is no justification for stalling the process,” Arauz informed.

The situation of Las Baulas National Marine Park is not new to President Dr. Oscar Arias. In 1990, during his first term as President, he received a letter signed by over 150 international sea turtle experts participating in the Tenth Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation (Jekyll Island, South Carolina), asking for his intervention to protect such an important nesting beach form the coastal development.

“It is a pity, because if 17 years ago President Arias had listened to the voice of these experts, we wouldn't be in the current situation,” lamented Claudio Quesada from Asociación ANAI. “We hope president Arias and his Peace with Nature initiative will take this opportunity, possibly the last one, to demonstrate his commitment to the leatherback turtle and sustainable development of the Guanacaste coast”, Quesada said.

The properties to be expropriated consist of a 75 meter strip along three kilometers of beach adding up to a total of 46.6 hectares. These properties are in the hands of investors who wish to carry out urban development projects, which would alter the conditions of the ecosystem necessary for the leatherback turtle to nest. “There is scientific and legal criteria available as well as the international financial support necessary to proceed immediately with the protection of the Park and it is still a mystery to us why there is no progress on the subject,” explained Didiher Chacón from Asociación WIDECAST-Costa Rica.

“We do not know what is happening; we are not talking about expropriating a coastal community which has lived for generations on the site. On the contrary, the owners of these properties are mostly companies and partnerships which should not have a higher priority than the natural resources that belong to all Costa Ricans”, expressed Wagner Quirós, coordinator of the National Network for Sea Turtle Conservation.

What is even more contradictory is that the country is a member of several international agreements committed to protect these species, while the example it is setting is inconsistent. This is the case with the disregard shown for the recommendation established in Resolution 001 of the Inter-American Convention for the Conservation and Protection of Sea Turtles (IAC) which urges all countries with leatherback nesting beaches in the Eastern Pacific to take the necessary measures for their protection. Ironically, Costa Rica is the headquarters of the pro-tempore secretariat of the Convention and has formally requested to be the permanent secretariat.

Finally, it is only reasonable for the Costa Rican society to know that according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Pacific leatherback turtle is critically in danger of extinction and Las Baulas National Marine Park has been identified as the most important nesting site left in the Eastern Pacific. “This is serious, extinction is forever and we have the responsibility of handing over a biologically diverse Costa Rica to our children and not beaches filled with concrete”, concluded Rolando Castro from CEDARENA (Environmental Law and Natural Resources Center).

MINAE reported that residential Quepos and Parrita damaged environment

2008-11-27T23:24:00.005-08:00

MINAE reported that residential Quepos and Parrita damaged environment

Tribunal clausura 360 condominios Court closing 360 condominiums

En un proyecto se construyeron 36 casas cuando el permiso era para 6 In a project 36 houses were built when the permit was for 6

Autoridades estudian el cierre de más complejos habitacionales Authorities are studying the closure of more housing complexes
Juan Pablo Carranza | jpcarranza@nacion.com Juan Pablo Carranza | jpcarranza@nacion.com

El Tribunal Ambiental ordenó ayer clausurar tres proyectos habitacionales en Quepos y Parrita por causar daños ambientales a su alrededor. The Environmental Court yesterday ordered closed three housing projects in Quepos and Parrita for causing environmental damage around them.

Los proyectos “Costa Montaña” y “Hermosa Vista”, en las cercanías de Jacó, más el residencial “Hills of Esterillos”, en Parrita, comprenden la construcción de 360 condominios. The projects "Coast Mountain" and "Beautiful View" in the vicinity of Jacó, plus residential "Hills of Esterillos," in Parrita, include the construction of 360 condominiums.

Según el Tribunal Ambiental (institución autónoma del Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía), el desarrollo de esos complejos derivó en montañas arrasadas, árboles muertos, quebradas enterradas por la sedimentación y humedales en peligro. According to the Environmental Court (autonomous institution of the Ministry of Environment and Energy), the development of these complex resulted in mountains razed, dead trees, creeks buried by sedimentation and wetlands at risk.

José Lino Chaves, presidente del Tribunal Ambiental, le indicó ayer a La Nación que las condiciones de esos proyectos fueron inesperadas y muy lamentables. Jose Lino Chaves, president of the Environmental Court, told The Nation yesterday that the conditions of these projects were unexpected and very unfortunate.

“Es desagradable el caso del proyecto en Parrita, donde ni siquiera se tenían los permisos de construcción”, comentó Chaves sobre “Hills of Esterillos”, que según el informe del Tribunal, levantó 36 casas cuando tenía autorización solo para 6 y planeaba seguir con 64 más. "It is unpleasant the project in Parrita, where even were building permits," said Chaves on "Hills of Esterillos", which according to the report of the Tribunal, lifted when 36 houses were authorized only for 6 and planned to continue 64.

Naturaleza en peligro. En detalle, el Tribunal Ambiental señala que en el caso de “Costa Montaña”, pese a que tenía los permisos municipales y ambientales, se dañó la naturaleza por construirse en zonas de protección y en pendientes de más de 60 grados.

Nature in danger. Detail, the Environment Court said that in the case of "Coast Mountain," although it had permits municipal and environmental concerns, it is damaged by the nature built in protection zones and on slopes of more than 60 degrees.

Además, en el análisis de la viabilidad ambiental se indicó al Setena que esta era un área de potreros, cuando en realidad se trata de una zona montañosa con bosques secundarios y con mantos acuíferos importantes para el suministro de agua de la población. In addition, the analysis of environmental sustainability indicated to Setena that this was an area of pasture, when in fact it is a mountainous area with secondary forests and aquifers important for the water supply to the population.

Mauricio Mussio, uno de los encargados del residencial “Costa Montaña”, aseguró ayer que pese a tener diferencias con el Tribunal Ambiental sobre si construyeron o no sobre zonas protegidas, ya presentaron un plan de mitigación, con esto esperan que el Ministerio les levante la medida cautelar el próximo lunes. Mauritius Mussio, one of those responsible for the residential "Coast Mountain," said yesterday that despite having differences with the Environmental Court on whether or not built on protected areas, and submitted a mitigation plan, I hope that the Ministry will lift measure next Monday.

A 15 minutos de Jacó, en el proyecto “Hermosa Vista”, las autoridades informaron sobre “un destrozo de peores proporciones, donde se arrasó, literalmente, una montaña para preparar las terrazas en las cuales se construirían cerca de 100 condominios”. In 15 minutes of Jacó, in the project "Vista Hermosa", the authorities reported "a destruction of worst proportions, which swept literally a mountain to prepare the terraces which would be built on about 100 condominiums."

Pueden ser más. José Lino Chaves comentó que los tres residenciales clausurados fueron parte de un total de ocho proyectos inspeccionados.

They can be more. Jose Lino Chaves said that the three were closed residential part of a total of eight projects inspected.

De los cinco restantes, tres (“Costa Sol”, “Cabo Caletas” y “Celestial Mountain Resort”) permanecen en estudio y dos estaban en orden. Of the remaining five, three ( "Coast Sun," "Cape Caletas" and "Heavenly Mountain Resort") remain under study and two were in order.

El Tribunal ambiental informó que está por cerrar “Costa Sol” donde se soterra un humedal con palma de yolillo en plena zona marítimo-terrestre ya 150 metros del manglar. The Environmental Court is reported that close "Costa Sun," which soterra a wetland with palm yolillo in full sea and land area and 150 metres from the mangroves. Cerca de ahí había un basurero clandestino. Nearly there was a clandestine dump.

CR Surf News

2008-11-27T23:24:00.003-08:00

From Inside Costa Rica - 3/5/07

97% Of Sewage Heads Straight For the Rivers

What happens to the waste from the sewage drains? Even though Costa Rica boasts of being environmentally friendly, only 3% of the waste is treated, that is 97% is sent to the rivers and creeks around the country.

This places the country in the list of five Latin American nations with the lower levels of water sanitation and below the average for the continent, according to the president of the water and sewer utility, the Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), Ricardo Sancho.

Currently, the only sewage treatment facilities operated by the Aya are located in Pérez Zeledón; Barranca and El Roble, in Puntarenas; Limón; Cañas, Liberia, Santa Cruz and Nicoya, in Guanacaste.
In Metropolitan San José, the rivers and creeks that crisscross the city, collect the contaminated water and all dump into the Grande de Tárcoles river flowing into the Pacific ocean.

It is estimated that some 276 million litres of sewage is dumped into rivers and creeks in the Gran Área Metropolitana (San José), making it one of the most contaminated in Central America.

According to information by the AyA, the Gran Área Metropolitana has sanitary sewers that covers only 45% of the population that receives potable water.

Álvaro Araya, of the Dirección de Aguas Residuales del AyA, explains that companies connected to the sanitary sewers are expected are required to meet basic regulations before they can dispose of their waste into the sewers. However, a majority of residential homes, businesses and industry are not connected to the sewer network and those that don't count with a septic tank or treatment facility, dump directly into the rivers and ditches.

In the case of the Gran Área Metropolitana the sewer system is more than 30 years old and is collapsed, comprised of four collectors, Rivera, Tiribí, Torres and María Aguilar, that runs 86 kilometres. Many of the sewer pipes that run above ground and over the rivers, are broken or cracked, and spill sewage, leaving nearby residents having to fight off odours, flies and mosquitoes resulting from the leaking pipes.

Though work has been scheduled in many parts of the sewer system, it has yet to be done, according to William Leininger, of the Dirección de Aguas Residuales del AyA, who adds that the sewer network has to be completely repaired and increased with the objective of covering 65% of the population.

The solution, according to the AyA is forthcoming with the approval of the project Mejoramiento Ambiental del Área Metropolitana de San José (Alcantarillado Metropolitano) which will require an investment of us$230 million dollars in its first stage.

From AMCostaRica.com

2008-11-27T23:24:00.001-08:00

From AMCostaRica.com -

Environmental tribunal says it has 40 open cases

The nation's environment police has 40 open cases as a result of four sweeps through the Caribbean, Guanacaste and Puntarenas province from March through July, the agency said Thursday.

This is the Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo. The sweeps were of development projects and houses. The agency said that it had 13 cases in Guanacaste after having visited just the cantons of Santa Cruz and Carrillo. There are six cases in central Pacific cantons of Garabito and Parrita, and in the south Pacific in the Canton de Osa there are 15 cases. Some six cases originated in the Caribbean coast.

Some projects have been frozen. Some early cases resulting in closings and developers are negotiating remediation of the landscape. Other cases still are in investigation. The primary concern of the tribunal is destruction of the landscape.

The tribunal in a news release singled out the Sea Breeze Mountain development in Las Delicias de Santa Cruz for special notice. The development includes four mountains, and the tribunal said that developers had constructed a network of roads. The problems include road cuts at 90-degrees from the horizontal, development in a waterway and the destruction of a number of trees.

ste removal at the Barceló Playa Langosta.

Also singled out was the Hotel Hyatt Azulera in Playa Brazilito where the tribunal said that permission was granted for cutting an excessive number of trees by the local office of the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía.

In Playa Panamá the tribunal said it halted work on the Condo Hotel Loma Linda where the investigation centers on the extensive movement of earth and the cutting of trees. In Cuajiniquil de Santa Cruz the Proyecto Marbelleza is being investigated because tribunal experts said they found obstructions to three waterways and a kilometer of roads in a dry tropical forest.

In Tempate de Santa Cruz, the tribunal said it found a 52-unit apartment complex being built without a single permit. The press release identified the project as Villas Mediterraneous.

In Potrero the tribunal froze work on a gigantic home of some 650 square meters (nearly 7,000 square feet) because it said the project lacked environmental viability. The structure is perched on a hill and has a turret. The neighbors have dubbed it El Castillo. The tribunal said the home is owned by a German.

The tribunal said it also found a violations of the 50-meter restricted maritime zone at the Tamarindo Diriá hotel and sought a plan for wa

Arias Readies Zoning Decree for Puntarenas Province
8/3: Theft of computer could be intimidation tactic: Environmental Court (La Prensa Libre) — A computer with important data has been taken from the Environmental Administrative Court’s (TAA) office, and judge Mario Leiva this could be an intimidation tactic. Since the court began a series of inspections that have resulted in closing down tourism and real estate development projects due to environmental law violations (many of them in Guanacaste), TAA judges and some relatives have been harassed, even receiving death treats. “The equipment is intact. They only broke in, and our hypothesis is that they were either looking for some information or only did it as another intimidation tactic similar to what has been happening in the past few months,” Leiva said.

From AMCostaRica.com News

2008-11-27T23:23:00.000-08:00

From AMCostaRica.com News -

Health officials closing more Tamarindo businesses

By Helen Thompson

of the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Five more Tamarindo businesses are to close down after officials of the Ministerio de Salud judged that they continue to pose a public health risk.

Four restaurants or bars and one condominium complex were found to have failed to complete the measures demanded of them by sanitary orders issued by the health ministry in December, the ministry said. They will therefore join the ranks of the 11 businesses that were originally shut down in January.

Health officials checked 47 businesses in the Guanacaste coastal town during the week beginning March 10. They concluded that 27 had completely fulfilled the requirement set out by their sanitary orders, some of which concerned making changes or repairs to sewage disposal systems.

Another 15 businesses had their sanitary orders prolonged, as the only thing they lacked was the documentation of a professional management plan.

“We understand that there are very few professionals qualified to draw up these plans for businesses,” said Juan Luis Sánchez, director of the ministry of health in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. “In the cases where businesses were clearly trying to complete their orders but lacked this component, we granted an extension, usually of around 15 days.”

In total, the ministry had a list of 71 businesses to check, but due to lack of time did not finish checking 24 of the businesses. Sánchez said that

these would be checked in the coming weeks, adding that the entire follow-up should be finished by the end of April, but said that this may not happen if new problems are found during future checks.

The health ministry started checking Tamarindo's businesses in December after water tests off the beach showed that the ocean contained unacceptably high levels of fecal contamination.

Similar problems have since been encountered in many beach towns around the country. It was announced Tuesday that eight beaches have this

year lost the blue flag certification that shows they are clean and safe. In addition to Tamarindo, they are Dominical, Manzanillo in Guanacaste, Negra in Puerto Viejo de Limón, Arenilla, Ocotal, Agujas and Pelada de Nosara.

Of these eight, Tamarindo scored the least environmental points, with a poor 65.

To qualify for the blue flag, a beach must score at least 90 points in checks that include ocean water quality, and the handling of both inorganic and human refuse.

Sánchez said that the health ministry is satisfied with the way they are handling the situation in Tamarindo.

“At the beginning we had over a hundred businesses to check,” said Sánchez. “In this follow-up we started out with 71, now we're down to 24 left to check. Bit by bit, we are making sure that each business is held accountable for their environmental impact.”

Debbie Zec wins 1st event in Junior Womens on the Costa Rica Surf Tour (CNS)

2008-11-27T23:20:00.015-08:00

Debbie Zec wins 1st event in Junior Womens on the Costa Rica Surf Tour (CNS)

Debbie Zec has been competing on the Costa Rica CNS (Circuito Nacional de Surf) for the last three years and after many close 2nd and 3rd place finishes, finally has succeeded in winning her first event. With two contests left on the tour, the next one in her home town, Dominical, she talked about her accomplishment and what to expect from this rising surf star.

Q. So you just won your first Jr. Women's Division event on the Costa Rica National Surf Tour. How do you feel?

A. I'm very happy! I always wanned to beat my good friend Nataly and Its been really hard because she is a very good competitor but this time the luck was on my side...

Q. What were the waves like for the contest?

A. They were real nice, very good shape, good size... I just didn't like the sets to much they were too strong and they make you waste a lot of time paddling.

Q. Describe the final heat. When did you feel like you could win it?

A. Well it was flat for a while and then lots of sets, so it was hard to catch waves, but finally my first wave was a left and its was really nice and long and i try to do everything i could on that wave, since that moment i knew that maybe this was my lucky day hahahahaha!

Q. What is your goal for the rest of the surf tour?

A. Hmmmmmm I want to win the junior girls category because its my last year as a junior, and i want to stay inside the top 4 in women category.

Q. The next contest will be in Dominical, your home town. Will that give you an advantage?

A. Yes and No. Yes because I know the waves here. And No because most of the people in town are putting to much pression on me, and that get me really nervous on my heats, more than any other contest!

Q. When did you start surfing and who taught you?

A. I started like 4 years ago, I use to sneak out and try to learn by my self, but i have to say Jose montoya, ronny Obando and Pina helped me with tips and those kinds of thing.

Q. When did you start surfing in contests?

I think I started in the 2005-06 CNS

Q. Who are your favorite surfers in Costa Rica and on the ASP World Tour?

A. Nataly Bernold, Juancarlos Naranjo, Luis Vindas. Kelly Slater and Sofia Mulanovich.

Q. Anything else you'd to like to say?

A. First of all I have to thanks God for the privilege of surfing and letting me be able to participate in all of this events, Then I have to thank Greg Gordon from CRsurf.com, without his help I would never start competing, Also Green Iguana Surf Camp, broke'n'bored, BANZAII, Land Assurance, and of course my family.

Segunda fecha de la Triple Corona 2007 (by Luis Castrillo)

2008-11-27T23:20:00.013-08:00

Luis Vindas repite de nuevo en la cima en una final de alto calibre

Surfista de Playa Jacó se confirmó en el liderato

Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas. En una final que se definió por solamente 0,01 punto el tablista de Playa Jacó, Luis Vindas, se anotó el segundo triunfo consecutivo en la categoría open de la Triple Corona de Surf que se terminó hoy frente al hotel Terraza del Pacífico en Playa Hermosa de Garabito.

En ese lugar Vindas obtuvo el segundo triunfo consecutivo de la Triple Corona luego que alcanzara el primer lugar en el arranque de esta serie de torneos iniciada el mes pasado en Playa Dominical de Osa.

La victoria en esta nueva jornada, que se denominó Hotel Terraza del Pacífico, le permitió a Vindas adjudicarse $600 y; además, otros 1000 puntos que sumados a los anteriores en Dominical, le permiten llegar a 2000 unidades en el liderato de la tabla general de open .

“Para mi es muy importante mantenerme en una buena posición, máxime que así puedo responder al apoyo de mis patrocinadores Billabong, Reef, Nixon y Quique Surf Shop, es gracias a ellos que uno se dedica de lleno a este deporte de grandes satisfacciones”, indicó Vindas.

La final de open en Playa Hermosa se resolvió en un ambiente cargado de adrenalina que se reflejó claramente en el puntaje otorgado por el panel de jueces que aplicaron los mejores conocimientos para definir las posiciones del último heat .

En el segundo puesto detrás de Vindas -quien recibió una calificación de 16 puntos- terminó el oriundo de Puerto Viejo de Limón, Germaine Myrie con 15,99 unidades, apenas 0,01 abajo del ganador de la fecha.

“La verdad es que fueron momentos bastante emocionantes, esta final tan cerrada refleja el nivel de la competencia que tiene el surf nacional, en un caso como estos es muy importante mantenerse concentrado para elegir la mejor ola, pienso que eso me ayudó bastante en la victoria”, resaltó Vindas.

En el tercer lugar de open concluyó Jairo Pérez, mientras que en la cuarta casilla terminó Durby Castillo.

Otras divisiones

Por otra parte, en junior el vecino de Playa Esterillos Oeste de Parrita, Carlos Muñoz, se alzó con el primer lugar para derrotar a Jairo Pérez, el colombiano nacido en la ciudad de Cali, Anderson Tascón y al local, José Calderón.

Durante el pasado Campeonato Mundial Junior, que se llevó a cabo en Portugal, Muñoz se consagró como el mejor hispanohablante de la rama de boys en la que cumplió una destacada participación que lo convierte en una de las grandes promesas del surf costarricense.

“Una de las cosas que más me agradó de esta fecha de la Triple Corona fue que tuvimos muy buenas olas, eso permite que uno pueda hacer buenas maniobras, por dicha en mi caso todo me salió muy bien”, indicó Muñoz.

Entretanto, en la rama femenina el primer sitio le correspondió a la actual bicampeona centroamericana, Lisbeth Vindas, quien superó a Lupe Galluccio, Marissa Guthrie y a la joven Angie Forigua.

La última fecha de la Triple Corona se llevará a cabo el 17, 18 y 19 de agosto en Playa Jacó.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, tel. 3639921.

Resultados de la segunda fecha de la Triple Corona:

Categoría open:

1. Luis Vindas.
2. Germaine Myrie.
3. Jairo Pérez.
4. Durby Castillo.

Categoría junior:

1. Carlos Muñoz.
2. Jairo Pérez.
3. Anderson Tascón.
4. José Calderón.

Categoría mujeres:

1. Lisbeth Vindas.
2. Lupe Galluccio.
3. Marissa Guthrie.
4. Angie Forigua.

Resultados de Sabado -

Clasificados a los cuartos de final de open: Luis Vindas, Juan Carlos Naranjo, Jason Torres, Sergio Mauro Oliveira, Germaine Myrie, Rónald Reyes, Durby Castillo, Josimar Fuentes.

Clasificados a las semifinales de junior: Jefferson Tascón, Jairo Pérez, Anderson Tascón, Derek Gutiérrez, Orlando Solís, José Calderón, Carlos Muñoz y Danny Bishko.

*************

Luis Vindas buscará consolidarse en el primer lugar

* Torneo se realizará en Playa Hermosa de Garabito frente al hotel Terraza del Pacífico - July 13-15

El actual líder en el ranking de open de la Triple Corona, Luis Vindas, tratará de confirmarse en el primer lugar con la ventaja de que defenderá esa posición en un lugar donde conoce el oleaje a la perfección.

La segunda ronda de esa serie de pruebas se llevará a cabo entre el 13 y 15 de julio en Playa Hermosa de Garabito frente a las instalaciones del hotel Terraza del Pacífico evento que está a cargo de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica organización que entregará una bolsa total de $ 1 500 dólares (¢780 000).

Durante la primera fecha, realizada en Playa Dominical, Vindas logró quedarse con el liderato de la categoría open ; de modo que, ahora ostenta la cima de la tabla de puntuación con 1000 unidades. Entretanto, en esa misma casilla, pero de la rama junior, aparece Jairo Pérez y en mujeres esta posición le pertenece a Amy Nichols.

El torneo de la segunda fecha, que tiene como nombre oficial “Hotel Terraza del Pacífico”, arrancará con las inscripciones que tendrán lugar en el restaurante Tabacón ubicado en pleno centro de Playa Jacó registro que se deberá cumplir el 13 de julio entre las 5 p. m. y las 7 p. m.

La Triple Corona es un proyecto impulsado por la Federación con el apoyo de la revista Surfos, Chiclets Tree Tour Canopo Tour, Pro Am, Hotel Terraza del Pacífico, Radio 991, Hotel Best Western Jacó Beach, RF/ Max Surf Side y el restaurante Tabacón.

Grandes esperanzas

En la actualidad Vindas está considerado como uno de los grandes exponentes en el deporte de las olas ticas e incluso en el pasado se coronó monarca del Latin Pro Tour de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Surf en la categoría de junior.

“Espero en este nuevo torneo ganar más puntos con el fin de afianzarme en el primer puesto, siempre es bueno mantenerse alerta porque ahora existen una gran cantidad de caras nuevas que le dan a uno mucha pelea”, precisó Vindas.

Además de la competencia deportiva, que arrancará el 14 y 15 de julio, a partir de las 7 a. m., la nueva programación de la Triple Corona incluirá una Surf Party que se organizará el próximo sábado a partir de las 9 p.m. en el restaurante Tabacón.

El evento, llevado a cabo por Cesar Vargas Producciones, abarcará música en vivo, modelos, concursos y rifas de premios de los patrocinadores de la Federación de este deporte. Además, se realizará un concierto con el grupo de roots Native Culture el sábado 14 de julio a las 10 p. m.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, tel. (506) 3639921.

Ranking de la categoría open:

1. Luis Vindas: 1000 puntos.
2. Jairo Pérez: 860.
3. Carlos Muñoz: 730.
4. Diego Naranjo: 670.
5. Germaine Myrie: 610.

Fuente: Federación de Surf de Costa Rica.

Triple Corona de Surf 2007

2008-11-27T23:20:00.011-08:00

Jairo Pérez golpea de nuevo en Dominical

* Luis Vindas gana primer evento en la división de open

Playa Dominical, Osa. Las olas de esta playa de la Zona Sur colocaron al surfo del cantón de Garabito, Jairo Pérez, en el primer lugar de la categoría junior en que se impuso con sobriedad.

Durante la final Pérez, quien reside en Playa Jacó, logró alzarse con el triunfo sobre José Calderón, Anderson Tascón y Carlos Muñoz, tablistas que finalizaron en el segundo, tercer y cuarto lugar, respectivamente.

En evento en Dominical reunió a un total de 88 representantes en las divisiones open, junior y mujeres competencia que marcó el primer episodio de la Triple Corona que entregará un total de $ 5 mil.

La presentación de Jairo Pérez ratificó el potencial de este joven de 17 años quien durante la pasada edición del Circuito Nacional de Surf se coronó monarca de junior rama que dominó de principio a fin.

“Por dicha empecé bien en la Triple Corona, he estado entrenando bastante y practicando maniobras nuevas porque en las categorías menores en los últimos años han surgido mucha gente que pone una rivalidad muy fuerte en cada uno de los heats”,

La final de open la disputaron el mismo Pérez, Carlos Muñoz, Luis Vindas y el actual campeón nacional de esa división, Diego Naranjo.

En el primer lugar se ubicó Vindas, seguido de Pérez, Muñoz y Naranjo quienes protagonizaron un heat lleno de emociones y movimientos radicales que mantuvieron la adrenalina al tope.

“Tuvimos una fuerte disputa en el agua porque a la final llegaron los surfos más respetados de los últimos años; por dicha, tuve la suficiente calma para salir adelante con una buena selección de las olas”, acotó Vindas.

Proyecto que avanza

La organización de la Triple Corona se concretó por el deseo de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSCR) de ofrecerle un calendario permanente a los miles de tablistas que practican este deporte de manera competitiva.

“Esta primera experiencia resultó todo un éxito para nosotros porque logramos reunir a 88 muchachos quienes forman parte del gran semillero que tenemos, este nuevo espacio deportivo nos pone a pensar que el surf tico goza de buena salud”, expresó José Ureña, Presidente de la FSCR.

Además, de la Triple Corona en los próximos meses la Federación realizará la segunda final nacional de los Juegos Deportivos Estudiantiles que avala el Ministerio de Educación Pública.

En Playa Dominical el cetro de mujeres se lo adjudicó Amy Nichol, mientras que en la segunda casilla quedó, Lisbeth Vindas. En el tercer peldaño terminó la chica de Villarreal de Santa Cruz (Guancaste), Natalie Bernold y en el cuarto puesto, Ericka Valverde.

La próxima fecha de la Triple Corona tendrá lugar en Boca Barranca de Puntarenas el 28 y 29 de julio fecha y sitio que se confirmarán en los próximos días.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf, tel, 3639921.

ASP PRESS RELEASE: Monday 26 June, 2006. Boca Barranca, Costa Rica 7:00am

2008-11-27T23:20:00.009-08:00

Check the ASP website at www.aspworldtour.com for live audio updates and scoring results.

ASP PRESS RELEASE: Monday 26 June, 2006. Boca Barranca, Costa Rica 7:00am

UPDATE: We are moving down the road to Playa Hermosa and will be back in the water this morning! We packed up all our equipment and computers and all the surfers for the ASP World Longboard Championships and the Rabbit Kekai International Longboard Classic and we are going to be running the Pros and Amateurs today from of the Hermosa Palms Development at Playa Hermosa. First heat is scheduled to go off at 8:00am.

Late yesterday the Guy Takayama Professional Noseriding Championships concluded in fairly good 2’ to 4’ surf. All the competitors ware excited to be able to run their last 3 rounds in good surf. Noseriding requires the surfer to be surfing and standing on the front 24’ of their surfboard. This is one of the most difficult and yet graceful maneuvers in the longboarding repertoire and the Longboard surfers all look forward to this climatic event . The winners were C.J. Nelson from USA winning with an accumulated tip time of over 32 seconds! Second place was Elliot Dudley from UK, Third place went to Jamie Viudes from BRZ, with Brent Russell from USA in fourth place. Congratulations to all the noseriding competitors! And congratulations to Guy Takayama and his judges and crew for all their great efforts.

ASP PRESS RELEASE: Saturday 24 June, 2006. Boca Barranca, Costa Rica 3:00pm

UPDATE: Due to declining conditions, surf is 1’ to 3’ and inconsistent, we have postponed the 2006 ASP Men’s World Longboard Championships competition until further notice. We are hoping to resume the competition tomorrow morning, Sunday, 25 June.

Today a scouting crew of ASP officals and contest organizers traveled south to Playa Hermosa to secure an alternate site. To give the best longboarders in the world the opportunity to showcase their talents in more challenging conditions. The final decision whether to move or not will be made tomorrow morning after evaluating the conditions here at the Boca Barranca. Right now conditions at Playa Hermosa are 4’ to 6’ “A” frames, while the conditions at the Boca are remaining smaller with less push from the current swell. Excitement for potentially bigger and better surf was apparent from the surfers as word spread of the decision for a potential move. The Hermosa Palms Resort is a perfect place to relocate the contest site. Stay tuned for further updates as information changes.

Today we ran 13 heats for the 29 and under amateurs of the Rabbit Kekai Longboard Classic. This brought the amateur competition all the way up to the finals. After 3 rounds of competition, including the semi-finals, 4 surfers remain. They are Cole Robbins from USA, Demi Arauzu from FRA, J.T. Roberts from USA and Jonas Lima from BRZ.

Thank you.

The Boca Barranca Beach and Surf Resort, www.bocabarrancabeachandsurfresort.com, The Fiesta Resort and Casino Puntarenas, www.fiestaresort.com, the ICT and Minister of Tourism, Costa Rica, Hobie Sports, www.hobie.com, Costa Rica Paper Co, Headline Graphics, www.headlinegraphics.com, Coolies, Spatters/Ride Hard, www.spatters.com, Toes on the Nose, www.toesonthenose.com. Wayne Rich Surfboards and Clyde Beatty Products, Wayne Miyata Surfboards, Koko Island Products, Surfline, www.surfline.com.

The 2006 Tico Travel Jr Pro/Am went off to a great start

2008-11-27T23:20:00.007-08:00

The 2006 Tico Travel Jr Pro/Am went off to a great start. Friday was the beginning of our 10 day week which had the biggest swell of the year arrive with us. Overhead sets bombing all spots where on fire. It was too big behind the host hotel Jaco Beach Best Western for the free surfing so most ventured off to other rideable spots such as Escondido, Hermosa and Agujas and the Island all which were at their best.
Shea Lopez and Peter Mendia were doing tow-ins on the outer reefs on reportedly 35-40 foot faces.

Everyone had five days to warm up before for the contest which started on Thursday. We also went on an offshore fishing trip on one of the Pangas. We caught 15 Mahi Mahi in 4 hours and brought back to the hotel, Roray Kam's wife Ui cooked up the fish for the entire crew. The swell dropped as the contest drew closer but the conditions and form got much better. To make it short, by the time the swell came for the contest we had perfect stomach to overhead peaks. Mother nature provided us with some of the most perfect waves for a contest. Everyone was stoked! We had the top 15 pro/am surfers in Costa Rica plus surfers from Brazil, California and the East Coast to make up a field of over 36 just for the first round of the Jr Pro division. The were also a large amount of participants in the Amateur Long and Shortboard divisions

Here is a rundown of the results.

Jr Pro-1st-Luis Vindas $1000, 2nd-Gilbert Brown $500, 3rd- Juan Carlos $250 Naranjos, 4th-Jason Torres $175, 5th- Ronald Brown $75...

Boys- 1st- Carlos Munoz, 2nd- Anthony Flores, 3rd Jason Green, 4th Yuri Gonsalves, 5th Anthony Helberth, 6th- Spencer Ricardel.

Men's division- 1st- Nino Myrie, 2nd- Keahi Kam, 3rd- Auturo Aquilar, 4th- Cappy Cheshier,5th- Shane Hlavsa, 6th-Kenny Keating.

Sr Men- 1st- Cassio Carvalho, 2nd- Victor Nasquez, 3rd Wally Pilat, 4th - Greg Hollingsworth, 5th- Chuck Herwig, 6th--Roberto Savinu,

Open Woman's- 1st-Marianna Somullio, 2nd-Nataly Bernold, 3rd-Lupe Galluccia, 4th-Ariel Waller, 5th- Mallia Galluccia, 6th- Lorenz Brooks.

Open Longboard-1st-Anthony Flores, 2nd -Wally Pilat, 3rd-Marvin Perez, 4th-Greg Hollingsworth, 5th-Mike Stevens, 6th- Chuck Herwig.

This trip we met many new friends and new families to be. All the local Costa Ricans were at their fullest Pura Vida hospitalities as usual.

Special Thanks to

Tico Travel

Jaco Beach Best Western
Red Bull for our tents and judges set up and free drinks for everyone
Radio 911 for their awesome DJ system
Surfos Magazine
Island Water Sports
Sticky Bumps
Billabong
Von Zipper
|Oakley
Costa Rica Travel & Real Estate
Pacific Sun Estates
CRSURF.COM

Teleswell.com

Devad Productions

The Surfers Guide to Costa Rica

Our Judges and Salsi Boy for the colorful commentary for the event……………..

Check out the Devad productions website for pictures of the event at http://devadproductions.com/zengallery/index.php?page=2

Stay tuned for the 2007 Pro/Am....

CONTEST INFO:

Mike Brooks & Roray Kam

www.juniorproam.com

contestinfo@juniorproam.com

Tele# 954-272-8038

THE ADVERTISEMENT - Use the links to sign up for next year!

Tico Travel Pro-Am coming up June 18th-25. “Come watch or compete against some of the best surfers in the World right behind your hotel” More at www.ticotravel.com/competition.htm

Contest Director: Roray Kam & Event Director: Mike Brooks

“Come watch or compete against some of the best surfers in the World right behind your hotel”
Eat and drink all week for FREE
Bring the entire family Kids 11 and under pay only $150 for the entire week!
8 days of fun, Sun, Surf & Adventure
Dates: June 18th – 25th (7 nights) additional nights available upon request

JR PRO-EVENT

* 20 years old and under for the Jr. Pro event (shortboard)
* $2,000 in prize money
* 1st place $1,000 / 2ndplace $500.00 / 3rd place $250.00 / 4th place $175.00 / 5th place $75.00
* U.S. Competitor entry fee $80 / $20 per extra event ($100 value Free with package)

AMATEUR EVENT

* Boys Shortboard / Men Shortboard / Men Longboard / Sr. Men Shortboard / Sr Men Longboard
* Women open / Women Longboard
* U.S. Competitors entry fee $80.00 / $20 per additional event ( $100 value free with package)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday-June 18: competitors arrive from U.S.
Monday-June 19: FREE SURF (welcome party )
Tuesday-June 20: FREE SURF
Wednesday-June 21: FREE SURF
Thursday-June 22: Competition starts at 7:00am
Friday-June 23: Competition starts at 7:00am
Saturday-June 24: Finals begin at 7:00am / Awards Banquet starts at 7:00pm/ 10:00pm Players Party at Plankton until 2:30am
Sunday-June 25: Participants depart

PACKAGE INCLUDES

* 7 night’s accommodations Jaco Beach Best Western (dbl occupancy room)
* RT Transfers San Jose Intl Airport/Jaco Beach Best Western Hotel
* All Inclusive (includes all food and drinks including alcohol)
* Free Competitors Registration fee ($100.00 value)
* Free Awards Banquet with food and drinks and after party at Plankton
* Free Surf Clinic: provided by Pro-Longboarder Roray Kam ( $100 value)

COST: $649.00 per person
children under 11 years old only $150 for the entire week!

Online Registration Form

Registration contact info: Mike Brooks (event director) or Roray Kam (competition director)
Phone Toll Free 1-800-493-8426 e-mail: info@ticotravel.com

Quiksilver Surf Team Visits Nosara

2008-11-27T23:20:00.005-08:00

On October 26th Jason Torres, Isaac Vega, Gilbert Brown and Ariel Gutierrez traveled to Playa Nosara-Guiones to participate in an event for children of the community where they were given motivational talks and in favor of the environment, recreation and educational games and taught them to surf. This event took place thanks to Quiksilver, Roxy, Waves Costa Rica, Cayuga and Harmony Hotel. Coming soon will be sending a video of the activity, and pictures are posted below..
Press Release:
El team Quiksilver de Costa Rica visito la comunidad de Nosara

A pocos días de su regreso del mundial de surf Portugal 2008
Por Mitzam Fontiveros

Imagina tener tantas ganas de surfear que lo hagas en jeans. Imagina que tienes once años, nunca has surfeado antes y el campeón nacional de surf de Costa Rica (y uno de los mejores surfistas del mundo) te enseñe como hacerlo en una paradisíaca playa del pacifico Costarricense.

Aunque parezca un sueño fue lo que les ocurrió a mas de 15 chicos de la comunidad de Nosara cuando Gilberth Brown, Jason Torres, Isaac Vega, Ariel Gutiérrez y parte del equipo de surf de Quiksilver y Waves Costa Rica les enseñaron a surfear y compartieron toda una mañana en Playa Guiones gracias a la iniciativa de Cayuga.

Comenzaron a llegar los chicos y algunos representantes al hotel Harmony, provenientes de diferentes instituciones educativas locales, a eso de las nueve de la mañana de aquel último domingo de octubre, ocupando sus puestos alrededor de los surfeadores.

Andrea Díaz, Directora de Waves Costa Rica y Roxy Surf Camp presentó a los surfeadores, aunque muchos chicos ya los conocían. Poco a poco fueron hablando de como llegaron a ser profesionales, los obstáculos que tuvieron que superar y los logros que obtuvieron tras años de esfuerzo y dedicación.

Trofeos y medallas pasaron de mano en mano entre los asistentes, en especial la última medalla obtenida en el pasado mundial de surf Portugal 2008, donde Costa Rica pudo obtener un quinto lugar, hazaña nunca antes lograda por ningún país de habla hispana y menos aun un pequeño país latinoamericano.

Cuando terminaron de relatar sus historias todos dibujaron sus sueños. Desde pilotos de avión, investigadores de huracanes, guitarristas hasta un patinador profesional patrocinado por Quiksilver. Nos sorprendió enormemente la cantidad de chicos que se inspiraron con las historias de los surfeadores y se dibujaron siendo surfistas. Aunque los surfeadores se dibujaron siendo pintores, padres de numerosos hijos y patinadoras sobre hielo, demostrándole a los chicos que nunca se deja de soñar.

La segunda parte del evento se desarrollo en la Playa frente al hotel Harmony, donde se formaron equipos con los surfeadores para aprender jugando a cuidar y respetar el ambiente. Términos como reducir, re-usar y reciclar fueron escuchados una y otra vez mientas corrían por la playa en competencias amistosas.

Finalmente el momento mas esperado, los chicos aprendieron a surfear de la mano de los profesionales. Fue conmovedor ver que muchos de ellos llegaron vestidos con jeans, camisas y sin importarles nada se lanzaron al agua y tomaron olas guiados por Jason, Gilberth, Isaac y Ariel quienes dieron lo mejor de si para que estos chicos se divirtieran. Al final todos recibieron regalos de Quiksilver y Roxy, así como certificados de asistencia al evento, los cuales fueron autografiados por los Pro.

Queremos agradecerle a Quiksilver-Roxy por apoyarnos todos los eventos que realizamos a favor de nuestras comunidades donde el surf esta involucrado. A Cayuga, empresa encargada de administrar hoteles ecológicamente sustentables como Harmony hotel, donde se desarrollo el evento y las escuelas de surf locales de Guiones por prestarnos las tablas de surf.

En especial gracias a nuestro equipo de producción integrado por Andrea Díaz, Brooks Wilson, Agustín Muñoz, Jonathan Yonkers, Ariel Gutiérrez, Eli Bonomelli y Fabián Sánchez. Por último y no menos importantes a Jason Torres, Gilberth Brown e Isaac Vega, quienes llegaron un par de días antes de Portugal donde tuvieron dos semanas muy agitadas, después de un largo viaje de regreso a casa y haber cumplido compromisos profesionales, sacaron tiempo de donde no lo tenían para devolverle a este mundo parte de la dicha que les han dado e inspirar a otros a seguir sus sueños, amar la naturaleza y ser responsables con sus comunidades.

The Soulstice Open - Annual Expression Session

2008-11-27T23:20:00.003-08:00

From - www.lasolashotel.com/soulstice.cfm

The Soulstice Open Expression Session is an annual surf contest created to bring the locals together in Playa Hermosa to develop programs that have a positive impact on the surf community.

WHAT IT DOES
The event raises monet through contest entries, raffels, and donations during a day of fun and celebration. The money is used in programs that support positive changes in the local community. Our goal is to create awareness for recycling and beach safety.

CONTRIBUTORS
Cabinas Las Olas, Backyard Bar & Hotel, Lowtide Lounge, Wishbone, Tsunami Sushi, Nacho Daddy's, Las Arenas/ Jammin, Jungle Surf Cafe, Goola Cafe, Bocha Pizza, Bubbba's Tacos, Apart-Hotel Ola Bonita, Cabina Surfside, Hotel Poseidon, Monkey Bar & Unhinged, Shifi Surf Shots, Fischer Bros., Michael Price Surfboards, BT Surfboards, Piko Surf Shop, Costa Rica LTD, Cool Dawn Properties, Costa Rica Real Estate, W.O.W. Surfshop.

YOU CAN HELP PRESERVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY & NATURAL RESOURCES
Volunteers for beach restoration/cleanup and surfers who to enter our Expression Session can check in at the Cabina Las Olas. Help with beach cleanup and restoration or surf during the day and stay for the celebrations along the strip after the sun sets. Everyone is welcome!

SCHEDULE
Preceding the contest will be a beach cleanup and volunteer trip June 20 to raise awareness of beach recovery by visiting and collecting trash at the heavily polluted Playa Guacalillo. June 21st: Soulstice Dinner- 8pm-Cabinas Las Olas
June 22nd& 23rd: Beach cleanup 10am-5pm - Voluteers accepted all day at Cabinas Las Olas
June 24th: Soulstice Open- Expression Session, 6:30 am - First Heat Sunset - Award Ceremony and Celebration

ENTERING THE EXPRESSION SESSION
$40 or 20,000 Colones SPECIAL THANKS Wolfgang Bloch, Reinhardt Creative, Costa Rica National Surfing Association, Las Olas Staff, and Hermosa Locals.

NEW - Visit Soulstive on Mypsace - http://www.myspace.com/soulsticeopen

CENTURY 21 COASTAL ESTATES CHARITY SURF CLASSIC RAISES UNPRECEDENTED $30,000 PLUS DONATED SERVICES, PRIZES AND MORE FOR TAMARINDO BEACH'S ECOLOGICAL BLUE FLAG COMMITTEE, LOCAL SURFRIDER FOUNDATION CHAPTER AND LIFEGUARDS

2008-11-27T23:20:00.001-08:00

COSTA RICA NATIONAL SURF CHAMPION ISAAC VEGA WINS SURF CONTEST FOR HOMETOWN BREAK

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

Special Olympics athletes headed to China, will compete in Costa Rica on October 26th and 27th.

2008-11-27T23:19:00.019-08:00

Latest Update here -(with time table for events)

Este viernes 26 de octubre llegan a Jaco los atletas del equipo de natación que representaron Costa Rica en las pasadas Olimpiadas Especiales en Shangai, China , con el objetivo de aprender a surfear.

Después de tres meses de trabajo logramos organizar el Lets Go Surf con estos chicos tan especiales, siendo el equipo de natación el que trajo mas medallas de China .

Todas las personas que les pedimos ayuda, estuvieron allí para hacerlo, otras ni siquiera necesitamos pedirles nada, ya estaban dispuestos a todo.

Paolo y Judhit Quaglia, managers de Hermosa Bungalow, fueron los primeros que aportaron su ayuda, convocaron a Johnson kellie, Susan Hornor , Jimmi and Debby Hosking, dueños de bungalow y recaudaron fondos para poder lograr que este evento sea exitoso.

Jeanne Cordes y Erin Buescher, llegaron a nosotros con su granito de arena y la voluntad de hacer algo. Christina Truitt y Gabriela Arias, Las chicas de la Cámara de Comercio de Jaco, nos estuvieron apoyando en cada momento y sacando valiosos minutos de su tiempo para el Lets Go Surf.

Day Star Properties hizo posible que los atletas y sus representantes se puedan quedar en el hermoso condominio Paloma Blanca.

Wishbone restaurant se encargara de hacer el almuerzo de Instructores y Atletas que Stay in Costa Rica patrocino, mientras Rippers nos organizo una exquisita cena de bienvenida en sus instalaciones.

Pachis Pan patrocino el desayuno, Maxibodega proveerá el agua, jugos y frutas durante todo el evento.

Andres Quiroz, de Wilderness Photography, por su parte es quien le tocara plasmar el momento en fotografías para que no lo olvidemos.

El sr. Manrique Bonilla de Punta Leona, en conjunto con transportes Marvin, se encargo de ayudarnos con el trasporte a San José, buscando a cada chico en su casa y a Grez de Sand Pippers hotel, quien nos ayudara a trasladar a los chicos con su van en el área

Piko surf shop nos presto sus tablas de surf para poder dar la lección, Cesar Vargas nos ayudo con el sonido y a afinar los últimos detalles y Pava, sirvió de puente entre muchos contactos para poder seguir adelante.

Gracias a Cabinas las Arenas y Cabinas Las Olas, por ofrecerse con hospedaje. Especialmente gracias a CRSURF, The Beach Times, Tico Times y el Chunche por divulgar nuestros esfuerzos

Muchas gracias a todos por apoyarnos en nuestros inventos, por nunca decirnos que no y por confiar en nosotros. Todos están haciendo un esfuerzo enorme, lo se y mas aun en temporada baja, donde todos vivimos del turismo que aun no ha llenado nuestras playas en esta temporada.

No se si escribir este correo en pasado o futuro, pues la ayuda ya no las brindaron, aunque no se ha efectuado el evento.

A continuación pueden encontrar el cronograma de la actividad, les agradeceríamos enormemente, dentro de sus posibilidades, que asistan al evento, aunque se de muchos que no se encuentran en el país como Joaquin y Letti de Stay in Costa Rica y Jeanne Cordes, personas claves en el desenvolvimiento de esta actividad

Viernes 26 de septiembre

12:00am. Salir de Jaco. Recoger los atletas en San José

02:00m. Comenzar la ruta por las 12 paradas en San José.

04:00pm. Terminar ruta trasporte. Regresar a Jaco

06:00pm. Llegar a Jaco. Dejar a los atletas en Day Star. Recibir a los atletas

07:00pm. Cena de Bienvenida Rippers.

09:00pm. Despedida primer día

Sábado 27 de septiembre

09:30am. Llevar a los atletas a Madrigales, sur de Jaco, donde se desarrollara el evento.

10:00am. Comenzar con el desarrollo de la lección A cargo de Andrea Diaz .

10:20am. Comenzar calentamiento divertido a cargo de Leonidas Ruaro

10:40am. Repartir aguas. Comenzar con la clase práctica en el agua

12:00am. Fin de la actividad acuática. Sacar a los atletas, instructores y familiares del agua. Repartir aguas

12:20am. En el área del toldo firma de autógrafos, repartición de premios y repartición de los agradecimientos.

01:30pm. Llevar a los atletas a Paloma Blanca. Que tengan comida lista en sus condominios

03:30pm. Buscar a los atletas en Paloma Blanca. Llevarlos a San José.

05:30pm. Llegar a San José. Comenzar la ruta por las 12 paradas.

Mitzam Fontiveros
Operation Manager
+(506) 643 7025
www.roxycostarica.com
www.roxy.com/surfcamps
Playa Hermosa-Costa Rica
Roxy Costa Rica Surf Safari by Waves Costa Rica ...enjoy the Surfing experience

GILBERT BROWN WINS HISTORIC BRONZE MEDAL WITH 3 RD PLACE OPEN FINISH AT VIII JUEGOS PANAMERICANOS SURF CHILE 2007

2008-11-27T23:19:00.017-08:00

COSTA RICA NATIONAL SURF TEAM SCORES 4 TH OVERALL

SQUAD RETURNS HOME VICTORIOUS TONIGHT ON COPA AIRLINES FLIGHT; ARRIVES 7:00 P.M. COSTA RICA TIME AT SAN JOSE'S JUAN SANTAMARIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

by Ellen Zoe Golden
The Bevy, Marketing and Designs... The Catalyst Group
Toll Free 1-800-548-1753

In Costa Rica call 867-21-97; A supplier for Costa Rica's Tourism Bureau (ICT)

IQUIQUE , CHILE November 12, 2007 – Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica 's Gilbert Brown yesterday made surf history for his country when he raced out of the second chance repercharge Finals, into the Open Finals, and maneuvered into 3 rd place of the Panamericanos Surf Chile 2007 in Iquique . With this Bronze medal, he obtained the best performance ever by a Costa Rican surfer in the Pan American Surfing Games in the Open division.

In front of over 1,000 people on the beach, Brown ran through his repercharge heats—the first obstacle of the morning—by taking 1st, 2nd, than 1st in those Finals, and then positioned himself for the Open Finals. He was in 2nd place in that heat based an illustrious performance. Yet, in the last five minutes, his opponent, the Peruvian Javier Swayne, literally scooped in to score enough to take 1st place, knocking Gilbert to 3rd, and the Brazilian Erc De Souza to 2nd place.

Still, the Bronze medal was groundbreaking for Brown and Costa Rica . Only two years ago, Tamarindo 's Federico Pilurzu cracked the first ceiling when he earned a Copper medal with a 4th place Open finish at the Reef Panamericano de Surf Peru 2006 Copa Motorola . (Pilurzu missed this year as he is making more history as the first Costa Rican at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) Reef Hawaiian Pro, which kicks off the Triple Crown in Ali'i Beach Park in Haleiwa Town on Oahu 's famous North Shore .) Jaco's Jason Torres, claimed Gold at Peru 2006 with his medal in the Junior category of that tournament. That prize remains the only Gold medal the Ticos have ever earned in the Pan American Surfing Games.

“My best birthday gift was to maintain my stature until the end of these Pan American Games, especially when the level was simply incredible. In addition, with this I collaborated with the team to earn a 4th place position,” said Brown, who yesterday also turned 25.

The teams award was thanks to the stellar work of everyone on the 18-member team that included Torres (Jaco), 2007 Triple Crown Champion Luis Vindas (Jaco); 2007-08 Costa Rican National Surf Champion Diego Naranjo (Jaco); 2001-02 Costa Rican National Surf Champion Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo); two-time Central American Women's Surf Champion Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco); 2007-08 Costa Rican National Women's Surf Champion Nataly Bernold ( Tamarindo ); 2007-08 Costa Rican National Junior Surf Champion Jairo Pérez (Jaco); 2007-08 Costa Rican National Boys Surf Champion Carlos Muñoz (Playa Esterillos); 2007-08 Costa Rican National Women's Bodyboard Champion Jimena Calvo (Boca Barranca); 2007-08 2nd Place Costa Rican National Bodyboard Champion Silvio Mangel (Limón ); José Calderón (Jaco); Orlando Solís (Jaco); and Mauricio Umaña (Jaco). Costa Rica earned a total of 20,267 points with its 4th place; Brazil was 1st with 29,992; Chile 2nd with 24,372, and Perú 3rd with 24,072.

The women on the Tico Team also saw a lot of action yesterday. While Lisbeth Vindas did not manage to classify all the way to the end of the Women's division, after placing 4th in the repercharge Finals, she contributed points and veteran experience to the other members of the group. Meanwhile, Bernold, the youngest member of the pack at 14 years and only on her third international challenge with this tournament, blew through the other country's women to Round 5 of repercharge, was strong and confident, if soft-spoken on dry land.

Bodyboarder Jimena Calvo, 17, however, was a bright new shining hope for the Costa Rican National Surf Team. After years of disappointment in this category and in the Male bodyboarder division, the Ticos saw Calvo pass all the way to the repercharge Finals, adding desperately needed points to their total. She placed 4th in that heat, and was cheered on very loudly by the blue, white and red flag-toting guys and gals on the shore.

In 2008, the Pan-American Games for the Junior category will be celebrated in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Look for a Costa Rican National Junior Surf Team there! Meanwhile, for further details and information on the Costa Rican National Surf Team at the Panamericanos Surf Chile 2007 in Iquique , please go to www.surfingcr.net

Photos by:Philipe Demarsa Costa Rica's Gilbert Brown, far left, gets his Bronze Medal.

************************

Friday, November 09, 2007

Ticos Get Chilly Start To Pan Am Surf Games
By Britton Jacob-Schram of The Beach Times

Despite sincere welcomes from the mayor of Iquique, in Chile, as well as the president of the Chilean Surf Federation, the start of the eighth Annual Pan American Surf Games was marred by hostility.

The Costa Rican team has lodged an official complaint with the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the Pan American Surf Federation’s executive committee.

“There were problems in the water,” said FSC delegate Christophe “Kiki” Commarieu who had accompanied Men’s Open competitor Jason Torres down to the beach for pre-competition onsite training.

“We arrived at 9am to train and the Chilean federation denied us access to the break,” continued Mr Commarieu, adding moments later Lisbeth Vindas and the current women’s champion 14-year-old Nataly Bernold entered the water and were verbally threatened.

National junior champion and Jairo Pérez said he experienced similar hostility.

Yet regardless of the aggression, the Costa Rican team were well placed late in the week.

“Everyone has been keeping their concentration,” said Alex “Kiko” Valverde, one of two Costa Rican judges scoring the competition and working full-time with the Pan American organization.

“Jairo Pérez has been doing really well, and today [Wednesday] he won his heat against two Chileans. You could tell a lot of people on the beach were pretty upset.”

“We’re doing really well,” José Ureña, President of the Costa Rican Federación de Surf, told The Beach Times from Chile, Thursday. “Today is the third day and we still have nine of our 14 competitors.” The Chilean federation was dealt with, and what needed to be cleared up was, he said.

“Once the contest started, we cleared it to the side. Since the first day, we haven’t talked about it,” he said, adding the incident hasn’t been brought up during the nightly team meetings.

It’s better to keep the team more focused, he said — especially against powerhouse teams like Brazil.

Brazil, which is invariably number one or two in the world, he says, has been especially tough competition; though, he adds, their professionalism in and out of the water is always a pleasure to compete against.

“The Chileans are doing well, but they lost three or four people today [Thursday]. It’s their boogie division that’s their strongest — that’s where they get a lot of their points.”

He said the only problem facing the Costa Rican team has been evading exhaustion: “It’s a long contest. By the second or third day, they’ve lost — I don’t exactly know what you call it — their fire. We have to keep them on a rhythm. That’s why the meetings are so important. We have to keep reminding them of the good stuff they have, so they can apply it the next day.”

Most remedial for this are the seasoned competitors on the team, he says, making mention of Diego Naranjo and his wife Lisbeth Vindas, who posted first in a heat shared with Bernold, Wednesday.

Another veteran, he notes, is Gilbert Brown.

“He’s already in round three of his division; and he still has a really good chance of making it to the finals,” said Mr Ureña.

He said Brown has been well poised in the colder Chilean waters, which are currently between 13 to 14 degrees Celsius (about 55.4 to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit), possibly due to the fact he’s been spending a good amount of time in California, conditioning in colder currents.

The wetsuits have not been a problem at all, according to Mr Valverde. “The water is cold but it’s nothing like how it was in Portugal.”

What Mr Valverde is referring to was how the frigid temperatures of Portugal during this year’s Junior World Surfing Championships took a solid toll on the Costa Rican team — the majority of which have been somewhat babied by the jacuzzi-like temperatures closer to the equator.

The wetsuits, too, inhibited performance, said Mr Ureña after Portugal.

However this time around, he says, the open-cell neoprene second-skin has not been obstructing the competitors’ style, nor speed.

“They’re used to them now,” explains Mr Ureña, alluding to the two-a-day practices the team endured — in full wetsuits, in Jacó — preparing for the competition.

“We’ve got a really good chance of being one of the top five teams this year,” he said.

*******************************

COSTA RICA NATIONAL SURF TEAM ARRIVES AT VIII JUEGOS PANAMERICANOS SURF CHILE 2007

FIRST DAY OF ONSITE TRAINING FOR PAN AMERICAN SURFING GAMES IN IQUIQUE, CHILE TARNISHED BY INDIVIDUALS FROM HOST TEAM, ACCORDING TO VIDEO

Official Complaint Filed Against Chile Team Today with ISA and PASA

IQUIQUE, CHILE November 4, 2007 -- In what should have been a triumphant return to the Pan American Surfing Games for Costa Rica 's 2005 Junior gold-medal winner, Jason Torres of the Costa Rican National Surfing team was instead blocked from the water Friday, November 2, and had verbal threats made against him by members of the Chilean National surf team, according to Christophe “Kiki” Commarieu, Publisher of Surfos Magazine, and a consulting member of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica.

At 8:45 a.m. local time yesterday, Commarieu, who had a video camera on hand to record the altercation, had been escorting Torres to the contest site of the Panamericanos Surf Chile 2007 in Iquique , where the competition is scheduled to begin on November 6, and continue until November 11.

“Jason was the first to prepare to train and I was along to video his session,” Commarieu explained by telephone yesterday. “When we arrived at the site, we were told by the surfers there, ‘We are training for Chile team.' We didn't think much of it at the time, thinking we'd wait our turn. Jason has brought along a brand new Banzaii Surfboard to give to one of the Chile surf team members, so he went back to the hotel to get the board, and I climbed out onto the rocks to prepare to video. Jason returned, and we both waiting for an hour and 20 minutes.”

At this point in time, Torres began warming up, with stretches on the beach. As he attempted, once again to enter the water, Commarieu said: “Someone came off the podium to tell him he can't go in.”

By this time Lisbeth Vindas and the Tico Team's youngest member Nataly Bernold had paddled out into the ocean. Shortly afterwards, they had to get out, and told Commarieu “they were threatened.” Diego Naranjo, the elder statesman—and Vindas' husband—intervened, and was told by the Chileans, “I'm going to put my hand in your face, motherf…” All of the Costa Rican team were spit upon, said Commarieu.

Jose Ureña, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) joined Commarieu in attempting to calm the situation, by talking with Chilean Surf Federation President, Cristian Gonzalez, but at the time, there was no resolution.

Upon returning to the hotel, the Costa Ricans learned from the teams of Argentina , Venezuala, and Ecuador of similar harassment problems at the contest point.

“It is not even a question that our team must train for this event, which is known all over the world as coming second to the Olympics in worldwide importance in athletics,” stated Ureña. “Our team is okay, there is no problem, Everybody is confident. We are taking care of everything. It is only one or two guys who are spoiling the universal good spirit for everyone.”

Yesterday, Ureña and Commarieu made an official complaint against the Chilean surfers who harassed the Costa Rican Surf Team with the Pan American Surf Association's Executive Committee, which includes Maile Aguerre, President (she's also Vice President of the International Surfing Association [ISA]); Juca de Barros, Vice-President; Paul West, Secretary; and Marcos Bukão, Technical Director.

Fernando Aguerre, President of the ISA, who is not in Chile , sent his support to the Costa Rican team via email: “I am very sorry about what has happened. It seems to me a barbarism that the authorities of PASA allow this illegal and unacceptable attitude.”

Two years ago, in a come-from-behind, Cinderella story, that all but had Torres out from the Reef Panamericano de Surf Peru 2006 Copa Motorola, the powerhouse maintained enough focus to pull off skillful maneuvers on his last wave in the last heat of the Junior Finals to become the first Costa Rican ever to win a gold medal at a Pan-American Surfing Game. This historic moment occurred at Puntas Rocas, on the final day of the best of Latin American surfing in which all nine National Costa Rican Surf Team members worked hard to earn 4 th place overall in this Olympic-style competition.

Now, Torres, is back. And he's surfing in the Open along with Luis Vindas ( Costa Rica 's 2007 Triple Crown Champion); Diego Naranjo (2007-08 Costa Rican National Surf Champion); Gilbert Brown ( 2001-02 Costa Rican National Surf Champion); and substitute Nino Myrie (2002-03 Costa Rican National Surf Champion).

Surfing for the Costa Rican women are: Lisbeth Vindas (two-time Central American Women's Surf Champion); Nataly Bernold (2007-08 Costa Rican National Women's Surf Champion); and substitute Lupe Galluccio (2006-07 Costa Rican National Junior Women's Surf Champion).

Juniors: Jairo Pérez (2007-08 Costa Rican National Junior Surf Champion); Carlos Muñoz (2007-08 Costa Rican National Boys Surf Champion); José Calderón; Orlando Solís; and substitutes Derek Gutiérrez and Danny Bishko.

Rest of the team are: Longboard Diego Naranjo and Mauricio Umaña; Boogie: Silvio Mangel, William Fallas and substitute Richard Marín; and Boogie Women's: Jimena Calvo and substitute Dineth Arce.

The Costa Rican team will join Argentina , Aruba , Bahamas , Barbados , Brazil, Canada, Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , El Salvador , United States, Guadalupe, Guatemala , Jamaica , Mexico , Panama , Peru , Puerto Rico , Dominican Republic , Trinidad and Tobago , Uraguay and Venezuela .

For more information on the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica , please go to www.surfingcr.net

GILBERT BROWN WINS SECOND DATE OF COSTA RICA'S CIRCUITO NACIONAL DE SURF IN PLAYA HERMOSA

2008-11-27T23:19:00.015-08:00

GILBERT BROWN WINS SECOND DATE OF COSTA RICA'S CIRCUITO NACIONAL DE SURF IN PLAYA HERMOSA

By: Ellen Zoe Golden/The Bevy EllenZoe@aol.com
1-800-578-1753 From the U.S./867-2197 In Costa Rica

PLAYA HERMOSA , COSTA RICA January 14, 2008 With his customary surge of powerhouse surfing, Puerto Viejo's Gilbert Brown managed to take the Trofeo Op 3 star Open at the Playa Hermosa date of Costa Rica 's Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) this past weekend, January 12 and 13. In doing so, Brown ended the stranglehold of Jaco's Luis Vindas, who had won the last five dates of Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) contests that have taken place on this country's beach on the central Pacific.

The finals Open heat included a battle between Brown and surfers all too familiar with tournaments coming down to the wire—Jaco's Jason Torres, Jairo Pérez and current Costa Rican National Champion Diego Narango. Earlier at the Trofeo Op, international Tico representative Federico Pilurzu—who had just returned home from the year's first WQS, the O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro in Florida—ramped up the Open competitors levels with his skill, only to fall out in the semifinals to Torres and Naranjo. For his part, Vindas, was also a victim to Brown and Pérez—the latter just on fire this year peeling off surfers much older than his 17 years—in heat 2 of the semifinals. (Copa Mango winner Nino Myrie was not at this second CNS date as he was competing at the Asociaion de Latinoamericana de Surf's Reef Class Argentina 2008 in Biología this same weekend.)

“Today's contest was a tribute to the Open finalists, to Diego, Jason, Jairo and Gilbert, who ended up in the finals and had a great finish due to their own merits and were able to win thanks to great figures like Luis Vindas and Federico Piluruzu. Their work today was because of much courage and desire to win,” affirmed Jose Ureña, President of the FSC.

One of the most spectacular shows of the day was the end of the Grommets contest, for boys less than 14 years of age. During this final heat, the waves were at the best of Sunday, between 3 and 5 feet with sets of 11 seconds or more. Surfers Anthony Fillingam (Jaco), Tomas King ( Tamarindo ), Josué Rodríguez (Jaco) y Normar McGonagle (Jaco) may have been young, but their spectacle made the public shout and cheer the loudest of the day. When trophies went 1 st place to Filligam, 2 nd to King, 3 rd to Rodriguez and 4 th to McGonagle the kids received equally loud applause.

Pérez, again, had his work cut out, when he, along with Esterillo's Carlos Muñoz, Quepos' Ariel Agüero and Jaco's Jefferson Tascon put up one very bitter fight to the death in the Junior's finals heat. This was the high quality of surfing Costa Rica has come to see in the Open category. Nevertheless, the experienced Pérez once again managed to put his particular stamp on the division, taking the Junior trophy for the second consecutive time this year.

In the Women's division, it was a welcome return to Argentinean Laura Pecoraro, a frequent competitor on the CNS in years past would often challenged Jaco's Lisbeth Vindas for her 1 st place spot back then. Pecoraro won 1 st place in Hermosa's Trofeo Op, pushing Lisbeth to 2 nd , Jaco's Bernold to 3 rd and Jaco's Mariana Samudio to 4 th .

The Trofeo Op in Playa Hermosa was important. in many ways, including the fact that the rankings for this date, the first, and the next two of the Circuito Nacional de Surf will be used by the Board of Directors for the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) to help make the Costa Rica national team selection. This is the group that will travel to the next Central American Surf Championships, which will take place in Panama in March. For the past two years, the Tico team has won the crown, so it will be up to this year's selection to defend it, making the next CNS dates extremely vital for national pride. They are the Torneo Witch's Rock, February 2-3 Playa Tamarindo and Playa Nosara 4 th Fecha February 23-24.

At the end of the Trofeo Op in Playa Hermosa, before the trophy presentations, the Miss Surf Organic & Natural contest took place in a special area at Hotel Backyard. Here was a contest to pick the woman who is best bronzed, most likable, sporty and takes best care of their health. The winner was 19-year-old Jaco resident Guadalupe “Lupe” Solís, who won $100 and a chance to compete the winners from the rest of those from the CNS dates in the Gran Final Terraza-Reef April 26-27 in Playa Hermosa for the grand title and $1,000.

The international sponsors of the CNS are Organics in America, Reef, Red Bull, Quiksilver, Roxy, Billabong, Op. National Sponsors include: 911 Groovy Radio, Witch's Rock Surf Camp, Hotel & Resort Terraza del Pacifico, Bar & Restaurant El Tabacon, Hotel Playa Carmen, Quique Surf Shop, Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Co., Banzaii Surfboards, Banana Wax, Remax Surfside, Cala Luna Hotel & Villas, The Backyard Hotel, Mango Surf & Skate, Jass Surf Shop, Roca Bruja Surf & Skate Shop, Carton Surfboards, Chiclets Canopy Tree Tour, Gimnasios Platinum Fitness Center, Chuck's W.O.W. Surf Shop, Shifi Surf Shots, Surfos Magazine, ICT.

For more information on the CNS, Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica and its Costa Rican surfers, please go to www.surfingcr.net .

Results of Trofeo Op

Circuito Nacional de Surf

January 12-13

Playa Jaco

Open Category

1- Gilbert Brown

2- Jairo Pérez

3- Diego Naranjo

4- Jason Torres

Junior Category (Less than 18)

1- Jairo Pérez

2- Carlos Muñoz

3- Ariel Agüero

4- Jefferson Tascon

Boys Category (Less than 16)

1- Carlos Muñoz

2- Ramón Taliani

3- Danny Bishko

4- José Calderón

Grommets Category (Less than 14)

1- Anthony Fillingam

2- Tomás King

3- Josué Rodríguez

4- Normar McGonagle

Mini-Grommets Category (Less than 12)

1- Normar MacGonagle

2- Callen Reid

3- Elijah Guy

4- Czar Esterak

Open Women's Category

1- Laura Pecoraro

2- Lisbeth Vindas

3- Nataly Bernold

4- Mariana Samudio

Junior Women's Category (Less than 18)

1- Nataly Bernold

2- Malia Galluccio

3- Lupe Galluccio

4- Debbie Zec

Mini Grommets Women's Category (Less than 12)

1- Leilani McGonagle

2- Marta Fillingam

3- Naomi Bernold

4- Avalon Esterack

Longboard Category

1. Diego Naranjo
2. Cedrick Auffret
3. Mauricio Umaña
4. Luis Vindas

Masters Category

1- Marcela Mattos

2- Daniel Salazar

3- Giacarlo Loría

4- Gustavo Saravic

Novices Category

1- Jose López

2- Wayne Guevara

3- Alexis Chamorro

4- Jordi Azofeifa

Bodyboard Category

1- Richard Marín

2- Silvio Mangel

3- Joan Mojica

4- Edwin Offer

MATIAS BRAUN, LISBETH VINDAS WIN COSTA RICA'S CIRCUITO NACIONAL DE SURF TORNEO BANCO NATIONAL AT PLAYA NOSARA THIS WEEKEND

2008-11-27T23:19:00.013-08:00

MATIAS BRAUN, LISBETH VINDAS WIN COSTA RICA'S CIRCUITO NACIONAL DE SURF TORNEO BANCO NATIONAL AT PLAYA NOSARA THIS WEEKEND

by: ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN/The Bevy EllenZoe@aol.com 800-548-1753

NOSARA, Costa Rica February 25, 2008 – After an intense weekend of surfing at Playa Guiones in Nosara, Matías Braun of Montezuma earned the title of the fourth date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) called Torneo Banco Nacional, making it his first #1 victory of his eight years of participating in it. Although Gilbert Brown of Puerto Viejo—with a knee injury sustained last week surfing at his Salsa Brava homebreak—was unstoppable, the work of Braun in Nosara waves that were near 4 foot on Saturday then decreased to 1-3 feett on Sunday, were the most memorable.

Braun's aggressive combinations and great technical dowries made easy work for the judges in naming him the best of the Torneo Banco Nacional. As a matter of fact, just before the final heat, the surfer explained that his Achilles' Heel usually isn't other people its himself, but once recently he had judged a small contest in Montezuma and learned what those judges were looking for. The experience changed his game. That skill set was obvious on Sunday as the surfer would often sit back and wait in his final run of heats searching for just the right wave in the mushy surf, then select a good one and run it down with a series of maneuvers that would wow the guys in the tower. During the final heat, he ran a spectacular right with a serious of snaps and a reverse, then came back with another right and a 360 in the last 5 minutes.

Even with three of the biggest stars—current CNS champion Diego Naranjo, Luis Vindas and Nino Myrie away at the Asociasion Latinamericana de Surf (ALAS) Reef Classic Chile in Playa Reñaca, everyone else at the 4-star contest—there were about 300 inscribed who pushed hard at the highest surfing levels to get through to the end.

“It's all a blur,” he gasped, with his trophy after the ceremony. To everyone's surprise, the powerful 15-year-old Carlos Muños (Esterillos) came in 2 nd place, with #1 CNS ranked Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo) 3 rd and 20-year-old Juan Carlos Naranjo (Jaco) finishing 4 th .

“To win the Open in Costa Rica you need to surf at a really high level with a lot of concentration and have a lot of desire to win, and be really innovative with your maneuvers, and aggressive, and mainly, remember not to commit any mistakes. If I did, the judges will not forgive you, and you are out of the competition, and you jeopardize your ranking! Now, I am certainly going to maintain what I've achieved,” Braun concluded.

Braun's win in Nosara earned him a position on the Costa Rica National Surf team as they prepare to defend their two-time title at the Central American Surf Championships in Playa Venao, Panama on March 21, 22, 23.

Once again, the former five-time National Women's Surf Champion Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco) secured the crown of a Circuito date, making it three dates so far this year where she has disabled the 2006-07 CNS Women's Surf Champion Nataly Bernold (Jaco). Vindas is demonstrating that she wants to get her title back, and not even the return of the great surfer Laura Pecoraro of Pavones can deter Lisbeth from her goal.

In addition, the surprise upset in the Junior category came when Jaco's Jairo Pérez found himself the runner-up to Anderson Tascón (Jaco), who has for several CNS dates now shown his drive for the crown. Despite this, Pérez proclaims that says that “without a doubt I'm the next Junior Champion again,” and with the points awarded at the Torneo Banco Nacional, he is indeed still #1 in the Junior ranking and will travel with the National Surf Team to Panama for the Central American Surf Championships.

The Longboard division was a worthy spectacle this weekend because Tamarindo 's Cedric Auffret, the current National Longboard Surf Champion has been on a mission to defend his title, too. Surfing in a location farther left of the judges podium, the staging area for longboarders received the best conditions of the weekend—3-5 feet featuring sometimes open face conditions. Auffret demonstrated a style and finesse that far surpassed his competitors when he earned his 1 st place trophy.

The 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf International Sponsors are: Banco Nacional, Powerade, Coca-Cola , RedBull, Billabong, Quiksilver, Roxy, Reef. National Sponsors include: 911 Groovy Radio, Banco Nacional, Witch's Rock Surf Camp, Hotel & Resort Terraza del Pacifico, Bar & Restaurant El Tabacon, Hotel Playa Carmen, Quique Surf Shop, Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Co., Banzaii Surfboards, Banana Wax, Remax Surfside, Cala Luna Hotel & Villas, The Backyard Hotel, Mango Surf & Skate, Jass Surf Shop, Roca Bruja Surf & Skate Shop, Carton Surfboards, Chiclets Canopy Tree Tour, Gimnasios Platinum Fitness Center, Chuck's W.O.W. Surf Shop, Shifi Surf Shots, Surfos Magazine and Harbor Reef Hotel.

The next date of the 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf, Torneo Playa Carmen, will take place March 15-16 in Playa Carmen. For more information on the Circuito Nacional de Surf or the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica , please go to the new webpage at www.surfingcr.net .

Results of Torneo Banco Nacional

Circuito Nacional de Surf

February 23-24, 2008

Playa Nosara

Open Category

1- Matias Braun

2- Carlos Muñoz

3- Gilbert Brown

4- Juan Carlos Naranjo

Junior Category (Less than 18)

1- Anderson Tascón

2- Jairo Pérez

3- Jordan Hernéndez

4- Carlos Muñoz

Women's Category

1- Lisbeth Vindas

2- Nataly Bernold

3- Debbie Zec

4- Laura Pecorano

Longboard Category

1- Cedric Auffret

2- Mauricio Umaña

3- Adolfo Gómez

4- Cristian Santamaría

Masters Category (More than 35)

1- Mauro Sergio Oliveira

2- Cassio Carualho

3- Marcelo Matos

4- Carlos Velarde

Boys Category (Less than 16)

1- Carlos Muñoz

2- Danny Bishko

3- Rudy Jimenez

4- José Calderón

Grommets Category (Less than 14)

1- Manuel Mesén

2- Josué Rodríguez

3- Anthony Filligam

4- Elijah Guy

Mini-Grommets Category (Less than 12)

1- Manuel Mesén

2- Noemar McGonagle

3- Josué Rodríguez

4- Leonardo Calvo

Junior Women's Category (Less than 18)

1- Nataly Bernold

2- Debbie Zec

3- Anatassssio Patterson

4- Julie Javelle

Mini-Grommet Women's Category (Less than 12)

1- Martha Fillingam

2- Arishe Grioti

3- Michelle Rodríguez

4- Avalon Esterak

Novice Category

1- Vader Draz

2- David Torres

3- José Angel López

4- Andrés Gutiérrez

Bodyboard Category

1- Richard Marín

2- Joan Mojice

3- Reiner Montenegro

4- Oscar Ulate

Bodyboard Women's Category

1- Anne-Céale Lacoste

2- Jimena Calvo

3- Lorena Vera

4- Dineth Arce

FINALIZO EL SURF ESTUDIANTIL

2008-11-27T23:19:00.011-08:00

FINALIZO EL SURF ESTUDIANTIL

Nuevo talento de Jacó se corona monarca

* Torneo reunió a 65

alumnos de escuelas y colegios

Playa Jacó, Puntarenas . El tablista de Playa Jacó, Orlando Solís, se convirtió hoy en el primer deportista que gana una medalla de oro en la categoría A de los Juegos Deportivos Estudiantiles que por primera vez en 34 años incluyeron al surf en la programaciones de finales anuales del año 2006.

La competencia escolar y colegial de las justas, organizadas por la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica y el Ministerio de Educación Pública, se realizó en Playa Jacó donde 65 participantes disputaron las preseas en las categorías A, B, C y D en masculino y femenino.

En la prueba participaron estudiantes de Villarreal de Santa Cruz, Puntarenas, Jacó, San Ramón de Alajuela, Parrita, Esterillos, Quepos, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo y Limón centro, entre otros lugares que acudieron para tomar parte en la primera final del surf en la historia de los Juegos creados en 1982.

Durante el último heat de la división A Solís realizó un trabajo táctico que le permitió tomar las olas adecuadas para llamar la atención de los jueces con maniobras radicales estrategia vital para quedarse con el primer lugar nacional.

Estudiante de sétimo año en el Colegio Técnico de Jacó el nuevo monarca forma parte de la nueva generación de surfistas que surgieron en los últimos meses cuando la Federación y el Ministerio empezaron a promover el ingreso de esta disciplina en la mayor cantidad de colegios y escuelas de todo el país.

"La verdad me gustó mucho competir, es la primera vez que ganó un torneo, pero la verdad me esforcé bastante para finalizar de primero. En las rondas iniciales las olas estaban un poco difíciles porque eran muy grandes y rápidas", afirmó Solís.

La segunda posición en la rama A le correspondió a Jefferson Tascón también alumno del Colegio Técnico de Jacó, mientras que en el tercer lugar se ubicó Juan Calderón estudiante del Colegio Bilingue Inmaculada de Jacó. La tercera casilla quedó en manos de caribeño Dexter Miller quien foam parte de la Telesecundaria de Cahuita.

Otros protagonistas

En la rama B de varones el triunfo le correspondió al joven Ariel Aguero de la Escuela República de Corea de Quepos, seguido de Anderson Tascon, Anthony Flores y Adriel Gutiérrez, todos de Playa Jacó.

Por otra parte, en las edades escolares resultó ganador Carlos Muñoz estudiante de la Escuela de Playa Esterillos Oeste y quien forma parte del equipo de Rancho Coral Surf Camp . En la última edición del Circuito Nacional de Surf 2005-2006 Muñoz alcanzó la corona en minigrommets (menores de 12 años).

"La verdad es que me sentí bien en la competencia puede tomar buenas olas que me ayudaron bastante, siempre entreno bastante con mi equipo que por dicha siempre me apoya en todas las competencias", indicó el parriteño.

En la pruebas femeninas la gran sorpresa de la final la constituyó el triunfo de la estudiante del Instituto Julio Acosta de San Ramón de Alajuela, Denise Mora, quien reside en una ciudad sin playa y que más bien se destaca por los cultivos agrícolas como el café.

"Tengo apenas como seis meses de haber empezado en el mundo del surf, practico una o dos veces por mes cuando puedo ir a la playa, mi papa me regaló una tabla y así fue como empecé poco a poco, este es el primer torneo que ganó y; por eso, me llevo un gran recuerdo para la casa", declaró Mora.

La ramonense obtuvo el primer lugar de la división A en que se impuso ante Andreína Samudio y Malia Galluccio. En B femenino el cetro le correspondió a Natalie Bernold quien forma parte del Colegio de Villarreal de Santa Cruz, Guancaste.

El equipo del Colegio Técnico de Jacó se consagró como la delegación que obtuvo la mayor cantidad de puntos con 3580 unidades obtenidas gracias al empuje de los estudiantes de esa institución educativa.

Resultados de los Juegos

El tablista de Jacó, Orlando Solís, entró ayer en la historia como el primer campeón colegial del surf en la división A de los Juegos Deportivos Estudiantiles.

Masculino

Categoría A: 1. Orlando Solís, Colegio Técnico de Jacó; 2. Jefferson Tascon, Colegio Técnico de Jacó; 3. Juan Calderón, Colegio Bilingue Inmaculada de Jacó, 4. Dexter Miller, Telesecundaria de Cahuita de Limón.

Categoría B: 1. Ariel Aguero, Escuela República de Corea de Quepos, 2. Anderson Tascón, Colegio Técnico de Jacó; 3. Anthony Flores, Colegio Técnico de Jacó; 4. Adriel Gutiérrez; Colegio Técnico de Jacó.

Categoría C: 1. Carlos Muñoz, Escuela Esterillos Oeste de Parrita; 2. Jordan Hernández, Escuela de Puerto Viejo de Limón, 3. Alberto Muñoz, Escuela de Esterillos Oeste de Parrita, 4. Billy Dalton, Escuela Complementaria de Cahuita de Limón.

Categoría D: 1. Manuel Mesén, Escuela Central de Jacó; 2. Joshué Rodríguez, Escuela Bilingue Inmaculada de Jacó; 3. Noe Mar, Escuelas Las Gemelas de Pavones; 4. Jason Zúòiga, Escuela Esterillos Oeste de Parrita.

Femenino

Categoría A: 1. Denisse Mora, Instituto Julio Acosta de San Ramón de Alajuela; 2. Adreína Samudio, Colegio Técnico de Jacó; 3. Malia Galuccio, Keystone National High School de Playa Hermosa de Puntarenas.

Categoría B: 1. Natalie Bernold, Liceo de Villareal de Santa Cruz de Guanacaste; 2. Lupe Galluccio, Keystone National High School de Playa Hermosa; 3. Anasiassia Bissinger, Colegio Complementario de Cahuita.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, tel. 3639921 o visitar la página www.surfingcr.net

Noticias Achivadas...

La primera final de surf en las 34 ediciones de los Juegos Deportivos Estudiantiles se llevará a cabo en Playa Jacó, en el cantón de Garabito (provincia de Puntarenas), de acuerdo con una decisión conjunta entre la Federación de este deporte y el Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP).

El desarrollo de la competencia quedó definido para el 1 de julio (7 a.m.) con la participación de los nuevos valores del surf en las categorías A (17 años a 16 años), B (15 a 14), C (13 a 12) y D (11 a 10) en las divisiones masculina y femenina.

Durante una reunión celebrada el pasado 20 de febrero los dirigentes de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica y el MEP acordaron aprobar el ingreso de esta disciplina en el calendario anual de los Juegos creados mediante un Decreto Ejecutivo emitido en 1982.

La agenda anual de competencias –entre fases eliminatorias y finales- de las pruebas que organiza el MEP abarca un total de 20 disciplinas y; además, involucra a unos 50 000 alumnos de aproximadamente 4 000 escuelas y colegios.

En la final del surf –deporte que debuta en la programación de unos Juegos Deportivos Estudiantiles- podrán participar todos aquellos estudiantes de primaria y secundaria que estudien en alguna institución –pública o privada- reconocida por las autoridades del MEP.

Además, la Federación estableció algunos otros requisitos adicionales como: saber nadar, una carta de autorización del padre de familia o encargado del surfista y una certificación emitida por el centro de enseñanza donde conste que el participante forma parte de la academia respectiva.

“Este es un evento muy importante para nosotros porque permitirá expandir las perspectivas del surf entre las nuevas generaciones con el fin de ir buscando talentos que en muy pocos años podrían estar participando en el Circuito Nacional”, expresó el Presidente de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, Antonio Pilurzu.

Los interesados en la competencia de Playa Jacó pueden inscribirse únicamente con llamar a la oficina de la Federación (tel. 244-2400) o enviando los documentos al correo electrónico dbrenes@surfingcr.net trámite que se debe cumplir antes del 28 de junio cuando vence el plazo para cumplir esa gestión.

Las personas que deseen más información al respecto se pueden comunicar con Luis Castrillo, periodista de la Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, tel. (506) 3639921.

more old news....

Finalizó cuarta fecha del surf por Luis Castrillo

2008-11-27T23:19:00.009-08:00

El liderato de open cambia de manos

• Diego Naranjo triunfa para apoderarse de la cima Playa Jacó, Puntarenas. Las olas de Playa Jacó sacudieron la cima del Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) campeonato que ahora estrena líder en la categoría open cuya cima pasó a manos del local, Diego Naranjo, quien defendió con éxito la condición de local del cantón de Garabito.

En la rama abierta Naranjo avanzó con fuerza para llegar a la final de esa división en que se apoderó del primer lugar por encima de Luis Vindas, Jairo Pérez y Rónald Reyes quienes ocuparon el segundo, tercer y cuarto lugar, respectivamente.

Además, de saborear las mieles del triunfo el tablista Naranjo, de 26 años de edad, sumó 500 puntos a la tabla general para alcanzar 1620 unidades suma que le permite ubicarse en el liderato luego de realizadas cuatro fechas de la temporada 2006-2007.

“Tuve que emplearme a fondo porque en el agua había gente muy buena. Estaba Luis Vindas que es un muchacho de maniobras innovadoras y radicales; Jairo Pérez quien es toda una promesa nacional y Rónald Reyes que, como todos conocemos, es un hombre de una larga experiencia sobre las olas”, afirmó Naranjo quien reside en Playa Jacó.

En la actualidad Naranjo es un deportista que practica el surf de manera profesional para marcas tales como Red Bull, Billabong y Free Style –entre otras empresas- pero también participa de manera activa en los torneos de la Serie de Calificación Mundial (WQS, siglas en inglés) de la Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) y en el Latin Pro Tour de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Surf (ALAS).

La exitosa presentación de Naranjo en el evento de Playa Jacó –que se realizó frente a las instalaciones del hotel Copacabana- le permitió arrebatarle el primer lugar del CNS a Isaac Vega, oriundo de Villarreal de Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

En vista de que Vega se ausentó de la Copa Mango –que congregó a 119 competidores- perdió el primer lugar que pasó a manos de Naranjo mientras que el pampero se estancó en 1488 puntos.

“Para este año tengo muchos planes como; por ejemplo, viajar en los próximos días a Argentina donde se inicia la temporada 2007 de las competencias de ALAS, luego estaré en Chile y en Perú donde procuraré estar presente en unos torneos del WQS, por dicha empecé bastante bien en el 2007, ojalá todo siga por buen camino en los próximos meses”, añadió Naranjo.

Junto con la victoria en la rama de open Diego terminó de redondear la fecha de la Copa Mango con otro triunfo en la categoría de longboard en la que se impuso ante Cedric Auffret, Mauricio Umaña y Chuck Herwig.

Guanacasteca de poder

En las pruebas femeninas de junior y open la gran protagonista fue la adolescente de Villarreal de Santa Cruz, Natalie Bernold, quien sumó dos ganes en ese par de salidas para continuar una racha de alto rendimiento que se inició en la temporada anterior.

La chica santacruceña sumó en la Copa Mango de Jacó logró la tercera ocasión en que finaliza en la máxima casilla de junior y; gracias a ese extraordinario trabajo, acumuló 2000 puntos como líder indiscutible de las muchachas menores de 18 años.

“He tenido un buen inicio de temporada con varios primeros lugares, ahora solamente tengo que esperar las próximas fechas para saber si es posible seguir con esta buena racha, pero sé que es posible finalizar campeona luego de terminado el Circuito”, destacó Bernold de 13 años de edad.
La próxima fecha del CNS 2006-2007 se realizará el 3 y 4 de febrero cuando se dispute una nueva competencia de la Copa Mango en Playa Hermosa de Puntarenas.

Balance de la jornada

Las pruebas de la Copa Mango reunieron a 119 surfistas durante un fin de semana de intensas competencias.

Categoría open : 1. Diego Naranjo, 2. Luis Vindas, 3. Jairo Pérez, 4. Rónald Reyes.

Categoría junior (menores de 18 años) : 1. Jairo Pérez, 2. Anthony Flores, 3. Carlos Muñoz, 4. Anderson Tascón.

Categoría boys (menores de 16 años): 1. Carlos Muñoz, 2. Anthony Flores, 3. Michael Torres, 4. José Calderón.

Categoría grommets (menores de 14 años) : 1. Michael Torres, 2. Joshué Rodríguez, 3. Roberto Jiménez, 4. Manuel Mesén.

Categoría minigrommets (menores de 12 años) de hombres: 1. Joshué Rodríguez, 2. Manuel Mesén, 3. Bruno Carvalho, 4. Czar Sterak.

Categoría minigroomets de mujeres: 1. Dailana Mesén, 2. Naomi Bernold, 3. Mar Ypaz Solano, 4. Avalon Sterak

Categoría open femenino: 1. Natalie Bernold, 2. Lupe Galluccio, 3. Angela Aguilar, 4. Shilka Chavera.

Categoría junior de mujeres: 1. Natalie Bernold, 2. Julie Javelle, 3. Malia Galluccio, 4. Ariele Weller.

Categoría masters (mayores de 35 años): 1. Cassio Carvalho, 2. Wílliam Agüero, 3. Alejandro Banfi.

Categoría novatos: 1. Jeremy Sandoval, 2. Rándall Ruiz, 3. José Robles, 4. Byron Gloria.

Categoría longboard : 1. Diego Naranjo, 2. Cedric Aufrret, 3. Mauricio Umaña, 4. Chuck Herwig.

Categoría bodyboarding : 1. Edwin Offer, 2. Joan Mojica, 3. Silvio Mangel, 4. Jonathan Obando.

Fuente: Federación de Surf de Costa Rica.