Boca Barranca, near the Pacific port city of Puntarenas, will play host to the 13th Rabbit Kekai International Longboard Surfing Classic June 21-30.
Named after surfing’s octogenarian, world-famous Hawaiian Beachboy and surfing legend Rabbit Kekai, the event will award the winner the world championship and $50,000, one of the largest purses in longboard surfing history.
In addition to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned championship, the event will include the Hobie Surftec One-Design Competition, the Guy Takayama Noseriding Challenge, a Women’s Open Pro-Am and a Men’s Amateur Competition.
Featuring some of the world’s best longboarders, the nine-day competition is expected to be one of the biggest longboard competitions the country has ever hosted.
“Costa Rica is a favorite destination for surfers around the world, and once again this beautiful country has partnered with the Rabbit Kekai Classic and the ASP to make this event the crown jewel of longboard surfing,” said surfing legend Henry Ford. “The spirit of pura vida is alive and well in Costa Rica.”
The event’s namesake, Rabbit Kekai, rode his first wave in 1925 at the age of 5 and is still surfing today, competing and winning surf contests.
The 84-year-young Hawaiian legend has been at the forefront of surfing for more than seven decades. Kekai is credited with being the father of modern hotdog surfing, and surfers today still emulate him and his style.
The home of the Rabbit Kekai Classic will be the all-inclusive Fiesta Resort, which sits at the break of Boca Barranca.
Entry fees for the contest are $150 for the men’s and women’s professional divisions, $80 for the men’s amateur division and $100 for the noseriding division.
Applications and information can be obtained at www.4surfing.org, or by emailing Jim Reynolds at 4surfing@longboard.net or Henry Ford at henry@kokoisland.net.
