Costa Rica National Surfing Competition Comes to Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo and the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica will host the second big surf competition in the 2014 Olympus National Surfing Circuit later this month. The Lime Coral Caribbean Classic II will be held January 25 and 26 at Playa Cocles just south of Puerto Viejo.

Top surfers from all over Costa Rica will compete in seven categories in the race for the national champion title: Open Division (ages 18 and up) for men and women, Juniors (under 18) for men and women, Boys (ages 15 and under), “Minigrometts” or young surfers (boys and girls ages 12 and under), and Longboard.

Maikol Torres of Playa Esterillos Oeste is currently leading the Men’s Division for the 2014 Costa Rica National Surfing Circuit. Torres won the first competition of the season, the Dunkelvolk Cup at Playa Bejuco on December 14-15, and is challenging Men’s National Champion 2013, Jair Pérez of Jacó.

For the women, 10-time national champion Lisbeth Vindas is blazing the trail. Going strong after winning the 2013 National Champion title in July, Vindas again won top honors in the Dunkelvolk Cup in December.

Starting on top for the Juniors are Manuel Mesen and Leilani McGonagle; Sean Forester is in first place in the Boys Division, Dean Vandewalle and Valentina Resano for MiniGrommets, and Anthony Flores is first in Longboard for the 2014 season.

Two pro surfers to watch for in the Lime Coral Caribbean Classic II are 2012 National Champions Gilbert Brown and Nataly Bernold. Brown lives in Puerto Viejo and has “home beach” advantage, and Bernold grew up surfing these Caribbean waves before moving to Jacó.

Puerto Viejo and the southern Caribbean Coast are not as often thought of as a big Costa Rica surfing destination. Surfers in the know come to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Manzanillo for the great waves and the relaxed Afro-Caribbean vibe. Puerto Viejo also is home to what is considered the most powerful wave in Costa Rica — “Salsa Brava.” Salsa Brava is a “thick Hawaiian-style wave” that builds in deep water and breaks over a shallow reef, and has been called the “heaviest wave” in the country.

Playa Cocles, where the competition will take place, offers a consistent beach break with both lefts and rights. The Caribbean Coast surf report shows overhead to double overhead waves through the month of January.

Where to stay in Playa Cocles: Hotel Le Caméléon (“The Chameleon”). One of the finest upscale hotels on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast and an Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Le Caméléon is located across the street from the beautiful golden sand Playa Cocles, where the hotel has a private beach club. You will be minutes from watching all of the action of the Lime Coral Caribbean Classic II national surf competition.

Fuente: http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-national-surfing-competition-comes-to-puerto-viejo/

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