Despite the heavy pressure from surfing powerhouses like Venezuela, the little, almost unknown 16 year old surfer from Esterillos Carlos Muñoz moved his way into a possible title position at the Billabong World Surfing Games in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica yesterday.

The weather conditions have ranged from scalding sunshine to raining like cats and dogs, along with surfing heats taking place in both high and low tides, Muñoz received two interference calls in two consecutive heats and still win. This is something that is almost impossible to get interference and then go on to win the heat is incredible. more…

A giant Parade of the Surfing Nations began the opening ceremonies of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games at Jaco Beach this morning. In full “Olympic” style, over 34 nations in bright uniforms and flags flying, followed a colorful Costa Rican marching band down the main street of town, to the exited cheers of thousands posted along the parade route.

The parade finished in the Park of Jaco. There, ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, along with the Chief of the Costa Rican Tourism Department, Carlos Ricardo Benavidez, the Mayor of Garabito, Marvin Eliondo, the Manager of the ICE Group, Pedro Pablo Quiroz and the President of the Surfing Federation of Costa Rica, Jose Ureña, spoke in front of an enormous crowd of competitors and public. Billabong´s Marketing Vice-President Graham Stapelberg joined them. more…