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…

Costa Rica has plenty of deserted beaches but one would think that with a top model coming here, one of the surfers would have heard about it and spread the news. I found this video by accident while getting Surf in Jaco ready to begin postings about our own Costa Rica champion surfer, Gilbert Brown. Enjoy the video and check back next week for stories and videos about Gilbert Brown.

Once again, Carlos Munoz, the young star surfer out of Esterillos, Costa Rica who is only 16 years old won not only his category but swept them all. Carlos Munoz, who was picked up by Volcom not along ago won the Boys, Junior and Open categories during the fifth meeting of CNS DayStar COPA. This last weekend’s event was called the COPA Day & Night and took place in the beautiful Costa Rican surf spot Santa Teresa. Jose Urena said the showing of tourist and nationals to this fifth event demonstrates Costa Rica’s maturity in the international surfing community.  With Carlos, winning the open category this sets the stage for the final battle for national surf champion in Playa Hermosa on May 1 between Jason Torres and Federico Pilurzu. more…

We were finally able to get our hands on a compilation video from Maluca Videos. Thanks to Romy for this video! We have all of the top surfers here and I apologize in advance if anyone was left out. This is the top people from the 2008-2009 surf competition season. There are many surf contests in Costa Rica but it is the CNS DayStar COPA contest that determines the national champion. So lets give it a go:

Gilbert Brown, Jason Torres, Andres Montes, Mauricio Umana, Diego Naranjo, Carlos Munoz, Jair Perez, Nataly Bernold, Lisbeth Vindas, Luis Vindas, Nino Myrie, Rodrigo Froilano, Jefferson Tascon, Jose Angel Mantarrita, Anderson Tascon, Yosimar Fuentes, Juan Carlos Naranjo are all in this video. This list is not in any particular order of point standings or when they are shown in the video. Congrats to all of these excellent Costa Rican surfers!!

Once again more opinions coming out about the final results of the Copa Natural Balance Open in Playa Guinones or Nosara, Costa Rica. The 18 year old surfer from Jaco, Jair Perez, won his first contest in the Open category in Nosara, Costa Rica. For those in attendance at the Playa Guiones contest of the Circuito Nacional de Surf  sponsored by DayStar Properties it was the most memorable contest performance in memory. In this contest, not only did Jair win his first open category but  he beat the 5^th and 6^th rankded surfers in the world. This is quite an accomplishment for the young surfer out of Jaco, Costa Rica.

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