Team Costa Rica : photo Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica

Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games

International Surfing Association
Huntington Beach, California
14 - 22 October 2006 

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COSTA RICA’S FEDERATION OF SURF PROMOTES TOURISM AT 2006 LOST ENERGY DRINK ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES

VISIT CASA COSTA RICA IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 October, 2006 : - - Huntington Beach, California - Antonio Pilurzu, President of Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (CRFS) announced this morning that his delegation will take advantage of the time spent in Huntington Beach, California at the 2006 Lost Energy Drink International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG) to promote the natural beauty of Costa Rica with the purpose of attracting tourism. 

Since arriving yesterday, and continuing through October 22, the Tico Federation, which includes 8 surfers, coach, judge, manager, Pilurzu, and 3 staff members from the CRFS, have been generating Costa Rican public relations. Yesterday, the group hung their country’s flag at Casa Costa Rica, the house where they are staying during the tournament. Today a large Costa Rican flag was planted on Huntington Beach, in view of the morning training sessions of some of the teams who are participating in the 21st edition of the WSG which begins tomorrow with 35 countries competing for team and individual gold, silver, bronze and copper medals.  

The CRFS has organized a cultural encounter that shows its national products such as coffee, as well as typical food, in association with the ISA website (www.isasurf.org). Subsequently, the Federation staff will distribute material from the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT) to the WSG media, which includes press that have traveled from all over the globe to cover teams from Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Tahiti, United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, Aruba, Switzerland, Panama, Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States. 

“We must take advantage of this occasion, so that the world knows the potential of Costa Rica as a safe and economically attractive destination for the practice of surf,” said Pilurzu. 

To achieve this goal, the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica, with the support of the Costa Rica Tourism Board will set up an exhibition in “Casa Costa Rica” located at 518 11th Street in Huntington Beach.  

"We will take advantage of this opportunity to show photos, to give maps and pamphlets of companies that work in tourism like hotels, car rentals, real estate developers, restaurants and others who are surfer friendly. It will be equally proportionate with the purpose of promoting to surf sites like Tamarindo, Jacó, Dominical, Limon and Old Port, among others,” indicated Pilurzu 

According to the statistical registries of the ICT, between the years of 2001 and 2005, of the total number of tourists who arrived in Costa Rica, between 15 and 20 percent of them came for the practice of surf. 

MEET THE COSTA RICAN NATIONAL SURF TEAM: 

Nataly Bernold: WOMEN’S 13 year old with 7 years experience from Tamarindo; favorite wave is Playa Avellanas; #2 Central American Women’s surfer, #2 2005-06 CNS Junior Women’s Champion. and #4 Women’s leader. Recent double winner of the CENTURY 21 Coastal Estates Charity Surf Classic—1st place Women’s and Junior Womens. Sponsers: Moh’s, Secret Spot Surf Shop, Banzaii Surfboards.

Gilbert Brown:  OPEN 23 year old with 14 years experience from Puerto Viejo; favorite wave is Salsa Brava; 2001-02 Costa Rican National Surf Champion. Sponsors: Quiksilver, Adrenalina TV.

Iván Castrillo: BODYBOARDING 22 year old with 9 years experience from Manuel Antonio; favorite wave is Playitas; 2005-06 Costa Rican National Bodyboarding Champion.

Walter Gatgens: BODYBOARDING 21 year old with 8 years experience from Jaco; favorite wave is a secret. Sponsors: Katin.

Nino Myrie: OPEN 21 year old with 12 years experience from Puerto Viejo; favorite wave is Salsa Brava and Pavones; 2002-03 Costa Rican National Surf Champion, 2001-02 Costa Rican National Junior Surf Champion. Sponsors: Volcom, Adrenalina TV, Arenas Surf Shop, Etnies.

Diego Narango: OPEN, LONGBOARD 24 year old with 15 years experience from Playa Jaco; favorite wave is Playa Escondida, Playa Hermosa, Pavones, Laberinto, Macaronis; currently Top 10 Asociacion Latinoamericano de Surf’s (ALAS) Latin Pro Tour. Sponsors: Billabong, Red Bull, Reef, Freestyle, Quique, Surf Shop, Byrne Surfboards.  

Luis Vindas:  OPEN 19 year old with 10 years experience from Playa Jaco; favorite wave is Playa Jaco; currently Top 10 ALAS Latin Pro Tour and participating in the WQS. Sponsors: Billabong, Reef, Quique, Nixon.

Lisbeth Vindas: WOMEN’S, BODYBOARD 24 year old with 10 years experience from Playa Jaco; favorite wave is Playa Escondida and Playa Jaco; this 5-time Costa Rican National Women’s Champion gave up the CNS this year and is current ranked #32 on the WQS, and is the Central American Women’s Champion. Sponsors: Billabong, Reef, Arenas Surf Shop, Byrne Surfboards, OAM, Freestyle. 

To view the Costa Rica National Surf Team in action at the 2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games go to www.isasurf.org  

For more information about the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica go to www.surfingcr.net
TO VISIT CASA COSTA RICA, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS,PHOTOS PLEASE EMAIL EllenZoe@aol.com or call 800-548-1753.

www.isasurf.org
www.surfingcr.net

Team Costa Rica:
# 1 : Costa Rica announces team for 2006 ISA WSG in Calif.
# 2 : Costa Rica surf team arrives in HB for World Surf Games
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ellen Zoe Golden
EllenZoe@aol.com

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