A week after returning to Costa Rica as the Central American surfing champion, Jason Torres captured first place in the SOL Surf competition at Manuel Antonio, on the central Pacific coast.
In the finals, Torres trailed Luis Vindas for most of the heat but, in the last minute, both surfers caught the final wave, with Torres going left, and Vindas right.
On that wave, Torres scored high enough to pass Vindas and win the championship. Torres won $1,500 for his first place finish and was awarded a $200 gift certificate at Las Olas surf shop in the nearby port town of Quepos.
His victory in the SOL Surf contest comes only a week after Torres won the Central American championship, in El Salvador, for the second time. In the World Surfing Games in August in Jacó, Torres finished seventh overall.
“This was an incredible finale,” Torres said after leaving the water. “I couldn’t let my guard down for one second.”
Vindas, a teammate of Torres on the Costa Rican national surfing team, took home $500 for his second place finish.
On the women’s side, Nataly Bernold finished first, winning $500, while teammate Lisbeth Vindas came in second, earning $250.
–Adam Williams
