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Tico claims win at Witches Rock
by Ellen Zoe Golden
04/02/2008:// Puerto Viejo’s Gilbert Brown has demonstrated his extraordinary surfing level for the second consecutive time in Costa Rica’s Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS). In taking the crown this past weekend, February 2 and 3, at Playa Tamarindo’s Copa Witch’s Rock, he has positioned himself a very solid standing as #1 in the general ranking of the Federacion de Surf of Costa Rica’s (FSC) ranking of the Open category.
At the end of the 3-star tournament, near 2:45 p.m. in the Tamarindo Rivermouth’s 2- to 4-foot waves, the other participants of the final heat—Jaco’s Jason Torres, and Jairo Pérez and the local Tamarindo surfer Federico Pilurzu—watched as Brown maneuvered off two tremendous waves bursting towards the left, surging frontside with an arsenal that resulted in dual high scores. For this ultimate heat, the spectators proved crucial to the performers at sea. Although the public had high hopes for Tamarindo’s favorite son Pilurzu, whose continued trek on the ASP World Qualifying Series has boasted his skill and radical style to the highest levels, it was his surge of expertise that pushed Brown to even further heights. Gilbert, the recent historic Pan-American surf Bronze medalist held fast in the end earning the winner’s 1,000 points making a total of 2,730 in the general ranking points—more than 550 points over the closest competitor on the Open chart, Jason Torres.
“I have been surfing at an incredible level at these two dates of the circuit,” assured Federico Pilurzu. “Simply, the other Ticos are prepared for that and are surfing great against me. Several of them also make the ALAS (Asociacion Latinamerica de Surf Latin Pro) as well and that forces my friends to surf at an incredible level too, and their levels shown at this date in Tamarindo made the Circuito Nacional a super event.”
Pilurzu is leaving this week for the WQS 5-star Hang Loose Pro in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil from February 12 through 17.
All told, 250 competitors registered for Copa Witch’s Rock, a record according to the FSC.
The Women at the Copa Witch’s Rock had a very difficult task when facing the wave conditions as strong offshores impaired visibility during their scheduled heats. However, the über-experienced Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco) managed to surpass these barriers and once again lock-in a CNS win. Current National Women’s Surf Champion, Nataly Bernold—a long-time Tamarindo resident, who now lives in Jaco—has not been able to grab a Women’s trophy this year; nevertheless, she stays close at the heels of Lisbeth, and this weekend resulted a place below her. Bernold, again, won 1st place in the Junior Women’s category.
On the other hand, the male Juniors were favored by the surfing conditions in their final heat, which surged at the end. Jairo Pérez holds his division ranking tight—and is striving to obtain what no surfer in the CNS has ever done: to recapture a title in the Junior category. Perez has 3,000 ranking points from earning 1st place in the three first dates of the Circuito—Copa Mango in Jaco, Trofeo Op in Hermosa and Copa Witch’s Rock in Tamarindo. Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos, his closest-ranked competitor, did not make the finals, which made it easier for Pérez to surf a little more carefree in that heat.
Over in this year’s strangest category—Longboard—where the shortboard pros are making waves, literally, the 2006-07 CNS Open Surf Champion Diego Narango (Jaco) managed to win this trophy for the second consecutive date. He remains dedicated to showing the younger surfer generation that the longboard can be fun and dynamic.
At the end of the competition, the election of Miss Surf Organic and Natural crowned 18- year-old Jetsi Hernández of Puerto Viejo as well as Tamarindo’s own Marion Leroy, also 18 years old. They both received $100, and the chance to win the overall title -- and $1,000 -- at the Reef Gran Finals in April.
The 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf International Sponsors are: Powerade, Coca-Cola, RedBull, Billabong, Quiksilver, Roxy, Reef. 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
The next date of the 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf will take place February 22 and 23 in Playa Nosara. 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 Copa Witch’s Rock Circuito Nacional de SurfFebruary 2-3, 2008 Playa Tamarind
Open Category 1- Gilbert Brown 2- Jason Torres 3- Federico Pilurzu 4- Jairo Pérez
Junior Category (Less than 18) 1- Jairo Pérez 2- Ariel Agüero 3- Angelo Bonomelli 4- Anderson Tascon
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
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ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
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