The top surfers from Costa Rica have been selected to compete at the World Surfing Games in Huntington Beach, California, Oct. 14-22, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Surf Federation.
The competition is considered the Olympics of surfing, drawing the best surfers from all over the world to vie for team and individual gold, silver, bronze and copper medals.
The Costa Rican team will take to the waves against 28 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Jamaica, Japan,Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The games are hosted by Surfing America, the national governing body for the sport of surfing in the United States, the statement said.
Tico surfers headed to Huntington Beach include Gilbert Brown, Nino Myrie, Luis Vindas and Diego Naranjo, who will compete in the Open division, while women competitors include Lisbeth Vindas, Nataly Bernold and substitute Lupe Galluccio.
Bodyboarders Ivan Castrillo and Walter Gatgens will also be part of the Tico team.
Costa Rican Surf Federation president Antonio Pilurzu said the trip to Huntington Beach represents great advancement for the national surf team.
“This is a group of athletes who have recently risen many levels,” Pilurzu said.
