Playa Negra Hosts Surf Competition

THE second competition in the 2004-05Circuito Nacional de Surf is scheduled forSaturday and Sunday atGuanacaste’s PlayaNegra on the Pacificcoast. Called TrofeoChica Surf, the contestbegins each day on thebeach at 7 a.m. and competitorsfrom all overCosta Rica, as well asNicaragua, will surf forvia for five-star points atthis stop on the tour.Thomas Musika,CEO of Chica Surf, aninternational surf accessoryline for girls(www.chicasurf.com),put his money behind thiscontest because hebelieves the younger generationof Costa Rican surfers is “just takingoff” and he wants to help with that promotion.“From the early 1990s, I’ve watched thelocal surfers just blossom,” Musika said.“The Costa Rican kids are incredibly talented.They surf from their hearts, and are notin it for the material stuff. That is what surfingis supposed to be about. I’m looking tosponsor two to three Costa Rican girls ages12-30, who have enoughtalent to be put on theWQS (World QualifyingSeries contest)”Perhaps one day,Tamarindo residentJessi Curtis could be oneof those sponsored gals.But for now, the 12-year-old will make hernational contest debut inTamarindo Dec. 18,having successfullytried this past year’sTamarindo Pro Series.NOTED surf coachScott Kadowaki tooknotice of her performancein the Pro Series,then met with Curtis’ parents about theyoungster’s potential in the water. Sincethen Curtis has been in daily training withKadowaki, and will make her first appearanceas a Mini-Grommet at the MohsClassic in next month.The Circuito has been acting as its ownfarm team during its five-year history.“Luis Vindas was the first result of thesystem or our first son. Luis was winning inthe boys,” explained Antonio Pilurzu, headof the Federación Tico de Surf, of two top levelnational competitors. “Then he waswinning in the junior. Then he was winningin the open category. Coming up next wasJason Torres. We consider him our secondson of the group. He worked hard with us,stayed with the right way of living, trainingright. Jason started winning in grommets,then boys, junior and then fourth in the openlast year. Now, he has the potential to go toTahiti (in December) and come back withthe Junior World Surfing title. This is thepyramid’s job.”Sign up for the Trofeo Chica Surf, whichis ¢3,000 for boys, grommets and minigrommetsand ¢5,000 for other categories,will take place from 5-7 p.m. today atTamarindo Vista Villas. The hotel will alsohost a party for the surfers on Saturdaynight, featuring 91.1 La Radio’s DJ SweetBoris spinning live music for revelers.For more information, call 244-3756 orgo to www.surfingcr.com.