Costa Rica’s national team departs for World Surfing Games in France

On Tuesday, the members of Team Costa Rica started their trip to Biarritz, France, where they will take part in the ISA World Surfing Games, a competition that they won in Nicaragua in 2015.

The team’s new coach, Jim Hogan, chose six surfers – four men and two women – for his first outing at the Costa Rican helm at the ISA tournament. This year’s games will take place May 20-28.

“I’ve picked the best qualified men’s and women’s team to represent Costa Rica,” Hogan said in a public statement from the Costa Rica Surf Federation.

Hogan announced the six-member National Team on April 10. The squad includes five of the surfers who won the world title in Nicaragua.

The riders that will take part in the Men’s Open are Jason Torres (Jacó), Leonardo Calvo (Puntarenas), Jair Pérez (Jacó), and Anthony Fillingim (Santa Teresa). Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) and Emily Gussoni (Jacó) will represent the country in the Women’s Open category.

The Costa Rican Surf Federation said the goal is to place in the Top 5, although they do not rule out a podium finish.

The Ticos placed fifth at last year’s games, which Costa Rica hosted in the Central Pacific town of Jacó.  In the last three editions of the World Surfing Games, the national team has won a total of eight medals, both in individual and group categories.

The team will return to the country on May 30.