National Surf Circuit Finals

• Carlos Muñoz and Lisbeth Vindas are the winners of 2008-2009 CNS.

• Final competition worked as a practice for the World Surfing Games Costa Rica 2009

The emotions were intensified in the final circuit when Jason Torres, who was expected to achieve the fifth position of the date to assure the national title for himself, was eliminated during the Open semi-finals. At that time, he had to accept the seventh place, while Carlos Muñoz was making the most of his new position and became the new national champion of Costa Rica.

Carlos Muñoz moved forward as a leader after competing a “deluxe” heat during the semifinals with Gilbert Brown, Diego Naranjo, and Jairo Perez. Muñoz had to wait for Juan Carlos Naranjo, Jason Torres, Matías Braun and Jefferson Tascón to race the second semi-final. Braun and Tascón classified and had to surf in the finals against Diego Naranjo, who had won the last date in Playa Hermosa, Jaco.

Just 5 minutes before the 20 minutes given for the title fight, the final heat took place. Muñoz took hold of the inside for some minutes, surfed the rear of a series of waves and made an explosive 360º turn in the top, where the wave opened. He kept connected head-on, doing some vertical tricks. Muñoz took the wave up to the shore, and ended it up evidently exhausted.

  "All I want is to thank the people who have supported me up to this moment. I want to thank my family, Arturo Quiroz, my friends, my sponsors and the Circuit. And thank you very much everybody for being here," Muñoz said in his speech as the new champion.

Carlos Muñoz managed to establish more records in the national circuit. At age 16, Muñoz won the titles of the Under 16, Under 18 and the Open Categories; a new age record for a national champion.

Everyone had great expectations on the participation of Federico Pilurzu, who had great potential for obtaining the national title, but sacrificed such opportunity for a date on the WQS, event of great international significance. Federico is one of the few Latinos ranked in this important international circuit organized by the ASP.

Costa Rica is used to associate the name Lisbeth Vindas with female national champion.  Such association will last at least one more year because the girl from Jaco managed to win the last date and thereby achieved her seventh title of the season.

"Every year, I see my future uncertain because there are new talents emerging. But my desire to compete is always growing. I could hardly sleep thinking about whether it was possible to be national champion or not and I think that I am finally waking up,” said Lisbeth Vindas.

From the very beginning of the National Surf Circuit in 2001, Lisbeth has won all but 2007’s, when she lost her title record against Nataly Bernold, who came to the Terrace - Reef with Lisbeth’s same chances, but did not get to the final that Lisbeth won.

Tag Team
The National Surf Circuit Finals’ Party was huge after the participation of four teams that strategically competed for the $500 cash prize meant for the first place.

A couple of hours after finishing the competition, the red team (Gilbert Brown, Jordan Hernandez, Josymar Fuentes, Carlos Muñoz and Mariana Samudio) defeated their opponents and were the last competitors in the award ceremony.

According to Damaris Arriola and Karla Gutierrez, president of the municipal council and the Mayor of the Municipality of Jacó, respectively, the trophies to the champions were given minutes before the concert that closed the most important date for national surf began.

National Surf Circuit Finals = Practice for World Surfing Games

Few months before the world surfing games, the Surf Federation of Costa Rica, during the CNS final date, decided to take this event as a trial for the logistics of the ISA World Surfing Games 2009.

Beyond the well-known result of that great final Surf Circuit, the federation is working for the World Games to meet the high expectations of residents, surfers, business people and tourists.

Chris Heffner, Billabong representative, and Stephanie Keith, Director General of ISA (International Surfing Association), visited Playa Hermosa and Jaco for the last time before the World Surfing Games.

The judges’ stage is almost ready. The Refresh system for the heats’ scores is working successfully in the country. All the judges qualified have been invited to compete for participating in this event. The logo was officially published. Many details are coming along and many others are still awaiting their turn.