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Tamarindo Events: Costa Rica’s Circuito Nacional De Surf Heads To Tamarindo This Weekend

TAMARINDO, Costa Rica -- José Ureña, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC), announced today that the third date of the 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) will take place this weekend, February 2 and 3, in Playa Tamarindo.

Called Copa Witch's Rock, the 3-star tournament will begin each morning at 7:00 a.m. in the Tamarindo Rivermouth—where last year's contest brought one of the best surges of ever seen in this Costa Rica area—and will award the winner of each category 1,000 points.

Expected at the Copa Witch's Rock is Costa Rica's most recognized international surf ambassador, and Tamarindo's hometown guy, Federico Pilurzu. He is handicapped as the favorite to win this date of the CNS for two reasons: The first for his exquisite level of skill possessed, among other reasons, by the work done on the ASP World Qualifying Series—last year placing #109; and the second for his familiarly for his hometown turf.

On the other hand, the possibility of the others in the competition running the waves is high. The last time the contest took place in Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo's surfer Germaine "Nino" Myrie managed to seize 1st place in the end, working his way through the final heat beating his fellow Puerto Viejo water kin Gilbert Brown, Jaco's Luis Vindas and Montezuma's Matias Braun.

Also returning to familiar waters in Tamarindo is the current National Women's surf champion Nataly Bernold, who recently moved from the area to Jaco. Although she has not yet this year managed to win this category, she stays close to Lisbeth Vindas in the general ranking of the Women's division. As to the Junior category (less than 18 years of age), Bernold is the leader.

Jairo Pérez, the 2006-07 CNS Junior champion, has, this year, quickly settled back into the 1st place Junior position with the first two dates of the Circuito year behind him. If he takes one more victory, he has a great chance of revalidating his title.

At Tamarindo's Copa Witch's Rock this weekend, all 13 categories will see high numbers of participation including Open, Junior, Women's, Junior Women's (less than 18 years), Longboard, Masters, Boys (less than 16 years), Grommets (less than 14 years), Mini-Grommets (less than 12 years), Mini-Grommets Girls (less than 12 years), Bodyboard, Bodyboard Women's, and Novices. Good conditions are expected for this date with a swell of 3- to 5- feet and a possibility of more size as the weekend continues with the sets of 14 seconds, according to wetsand.com.

At Tamarindo's Copa Witch's Rock this weekend, all 13 categories will see high numbers of participation including Open, Junior, Women's, Junior Women's (less than 18 years), Longboard, Masters, Boys (less than 16 years), Grommets (less than 14 years), Mini-Grommets (less than 12 years), Mini-Grommets Girls (less than 12 years), Bodyboard, Bodyboard Women's, and Novices. Good conditions are expected for this date with a swell of 3- to 5- feet and a possibility of more size as the weekend continues with the sets of 14 seconds, according to wetsand.com.

According to Ureña, this date was scheduled at the peak surfing time in the Tamarindo area to try and stimulate the foreign and national tourism to the area. "We think that there is no better way to make tourism in spite of the recent disadvantages that Tamarindo has suffered due to tourism expansion. This continues to be a zone of paradise and what better way to show the use of the oceans that the surfing of the National Circuit?" proclaimed the President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica.

After the Copa Witch's Rock, the winners rankings, cumulative with the first two dates of the CNS—the Copa Mango in Jaco and the Trofeo Op in Hermosa—will be used by the FSC Board of Directors to help make the Costa Rica national section for the team that will travel to the next Central American Surf Championships. The Tico team will compete in Playa Venao, Panama on March 21, 22, 23, defending its trophy, which Costa Rica has won each year the Central American Surf Championships have been in existence.

Inscriptions for the Copa Witch's Rock will take place Friday, February 1, at Witch's Rock Surf Camp between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Costs are c6000 for Open, Women's Longboard, Bodyboaders and Masters, and c5,000 for Boys, Juniors, Junior Women's, Grommets, Mini-Grommets and Novices. Additionally, first-time registrants must pay an annual FSC membership fee of c10,000.

Once again, the 2007-08 Circuito Nacional de Surf will offer spectators an added visual treat before the surf trophies on Sunday with the Miss Organic & Nature contest. Each winner receives $100 and a chance to earn the overall title -- and $1,000 -- at the Reef Gran Finals in April. So far, the winners have been, Alexandra Vasquez, Kimberly Bondurant and Guadalupe Solís.

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.

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