By Ellen Zoe Golden Photo courtesy: Federación de Surf de Costa Rica
Valeria Salustri, already considered the best female SUP surfer in Costa Rica, is also making waves outside the country. The Tica ambassador won the Under 19 division of the Lanakila Classic in Redondo Beach, California. This stellar result in that division, coupled with a 3rd overall finish among paddlers from all over the world, was accomplished by Salustri in the 10 kilometer race.
“This is the second time I did this competition and the first with a 14-foot board,” said Salustri, who will compete for Costa Rica in the Pan American Games this July in Lima, Peru, and is vying for a SUP sport representing her country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
As the kolbi Circuito Nacional presented by Junta de Protección Social pulled into Nosara’s Playa Guiones this month for the Copa Surfing Republic, already some leaders are moving towards the head of the pack. At the second date—the Copa Marley in Puerto Viejo—the top winners were four-time national surf champion and local Gilbert Brown, as well as another area resident, Paulina Summers, who garnered the Women’s and the Junior Women’s trophies.
At the top of the rankings now is Jair Perez, who won 1st then 2nd place so far this season. He is followed closely by Brown, Anthony Fillingim (who won this beach last year), and Olman Morales.
The Women’s division showcases the young talent of Summers, Rubiana Brownell and Indiana Ferri.
Here are the rankings leaders after the two Circuito Nacional dates:
Open: Jair Pérez
Women’s: Paulina Summers
Junior: Sam Reidy
Junior Women’s Paulina Summers
Boys: Tao Rodríguez
Girls: Indiana Ferri
Grommet: Pierto Garroux
Minigrommets: Ethan Hollander
Minigrommet Girls: Erika Berra
Masters: Gilbert Brown
Longboard: Daniel Álvarez
Copa Marley
February 23, 24, 2019
Playa Cocles, Puerto Viejo
Open
Gilbert Brown López (Puerto Viejo)
Jair Pérez (Jacó)
Carlos Brown (Puerto Viejo)
Olman Morales (Santa Teresa)
Women’s Open
Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo)
Indiana Ferry (Puerto Viejo)
Julissa Matamoros (Matapalo)
Valeria Ojeda (Jacó)
Master
Gilbert Brown López (Puerto Viejo)
Alvaro Solano (Jacó)
Diego Naranjo (Jacó)
Mauro Sergio Oliveira (San José)
Bodyboard
Brandom Steward
Jefferson Calderón
David Westtin
Hugo Alfonso Meléndez
Bodyboard Women’s
Beatriz Arleo (San José)
Cindy Díaz (Jacó)
Megwin Sauders (Jacó)
Sofia Córdoba (Puerto Viejo)
Bodyboard Junior
Hugo Alfonso Meléndez
Brandon Steward
Steven Miranda
Dylan Araya
Alderick Hernández
Junior
Cedrick McCrakin (Puerto Viejo)
Gabriel Córdoba (Puerto Viejo)
Sebastián Mora (Santa Teresa)
Sam Reidy (Dominical)
Junior Women’s
Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo)
Julissa Matamoros (Matapalo)
Valeria Ojeda (Jacó)
Ericka Berra (Puerto Viejo)
Boys
Darshan Antequera (Jacó)
Sam Reidy (Dominical)
Aarón Ramírez (Jacó)
Tao Rodríguez (Panamá)
Girls
Indiana Ferri (Puerto Viejo)
Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo)
Valeria Ojeda (Jacó)
Auxiela Ryan (Puerto Viejo)
Grommets
Pietro Garroux (Guanacaste)
Ian Rojas
Ethan Hollander (Dominical)
Leonardo Apreda (Jacó)
MiniGrommets
Ethan Hollander (Dominical)
Pietro Garroux (Guanacaste)
Leonardo Apreda (Jacó)
Kian Ashara
MiniGrommet Girls
Erika Berra (Puerto Viejo)
Already, without the completion of the Sharky’s Triple Crown—the 6th season of the Sun Bum presents Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf (CGS),–Avellanas surfer Coral Wiggins is all set to claim the Women’s Guanacaste title. With wins in both Marbella’s Copa Witch’s Rock and Avellanas’ Copa Lola, all she has to do is show up in the finals of Playa Negra to take the championship. The season final for the rest of the ranking competitors take place in June and among the competitors will be Malakai Martínez, who also won the tournament’s first two Junior dates. His situation, however, finds Tiago Carrique, only 310 points away, leaving the result for the title to be settled in Negra.
Copa Lolas
March 2, 3, 2019
Avellanas
Open
Malakai Martínez
Tiago Carrique
Ángelo Bonomelli
Francisco Coronado
Open Women’s
Coral Wiggins
Rubiana Brownell
Zulay Martínez
Chelsea Lisauis
Masters
Ian Bean
Claudio Mazzone
Christian Boss
Mike Castro
Junior
Malakai Martínez
Tiago Carrique
Dean Vadewalle
Taigo Leao
Boys Under 16
Tiago Leao
Axel Castro
Kalani Abrahao
Zack Spooner
Girls
Ericka Berra
Auxiela Ryan
Lucia del Solar
Yam Heral
Boys Under 14
Pietro Garroux
Kalani Abrahao
Nadar Attar
Nicolás Boos
Groms Under 12
Pietro Garroux
Romeo Stone
Ericka Berra
Gal Bepmate
Dolphins
Dario Vargas
Maey Yhitieau
Archer Bratton
Bella Bratton