ENVIRONMENT

SURFRIDER - Tamarindo Chapter News Check out the new website for Surfrider's Tamarindo Chapter It All Comes Back To You. Todo Se Devuelve. TAMARINDO RECYCLES.. www.tamarindorecycles.blogspot.com Tamarindo Recycling Day is now Every Tuesday! Check the Tamarindo page for bin locations and updates.

Count how much water you use HERE

6/6 - See details of the Jaco recycling drive, August 5th and 6th.

6/5 - Waves Costa Rica Surf School and Roxy hosted an event - LIMPIA TUS PLAYAS - this past Saturday in Jaco. They organized a internal contest amongst schools in San Jose where they asked the girls to submit a proposal,  “How would they help to keep the school clean and how it would contribute to the environment?" The 36  winners where brought to Jaco for a day of Surf sun and fun! Check out the photos.

--> Artist Carlos Hiller has been inducted into the Ocean Artists Society, a group founded to promote appreciation for and continued interest in the ocean arts. Hiller’s work is on continuing display at the Hidden Garden in Liberia, on Highway 21 between Payless Auto and the airport.

--> Recycle your cell phones! Be Concerned about batteries that end up in the uncontrolled dumps typical of municipalities outside the Central Valley. Batteries oxidize in the wet conditions typical of Costa Rica’s garbage dumps, the cadmium will seep into the aquifer below, contaminating drinking water supplies. Rechargeable NiCad batteries contain cadmium which is a highly toxic and carcinogenic metal. Rechargeable batteries generally also are a hazard if burned because they explode.

** Check out this new blog by Andy Bystrom from Pretoma.org. It gives you the latest news on what is happening to marine life and coastal ecosystems in Costa Rica.

Love to travel and help GreenJungle.org? Sign up to igive.com and book your travel with all your favorite airlines, hotels, and travel services and a percentage of the cost will be donated to us! It's easy, free, and secure! Just go to www.igive.com, select Florida International Teaching Zoo as your cause, and start shopping! Igive offers hundreds of stores, not only travel companies, in their mall. All your favorite stores can be found here for every occasion. Shop your favorite stores, and donate to your favorite cause without spending any extra!

4/25 - See photos from Costa Ricans protesting the open pit mining now allowed 4 miles from the Rio San Juan. From Pretoma's Blog.

4/18 - The Beaches of Esterillos Association of Community Helpers (BEACH) has been established. The grassroots nonprofit organization seeks to provide funding for the lifeguard program in the community and surrounding beaches. Since the program’s inception in December 2008, the community of Esterillos Oeste has constructed three lifeguard towers, two mobile and one stationary. The latter was reconstructed from an old tower spared by the ocean currents. Area restaurants and hotels are cooperating with donated lunches for the lifeguards and accommodations for visiting water-rescue instructors. For more information, e-mail BEACH.

4/18 - The Jaco chamber of commerce, in conjunction with the Garabito Municipality, made it possible to add four lifeguards at Jacó Beach during Easter week. Marvin Pérez, Rigoberto Villalobos, César Herrera and Lizandro Porras watched over the many swimmers visiting the beach during those days.

4/18 - Dominical lifeguards racked up over twenty major rescues over the past two weeks and can use all the help they can get heading into the 'slow' season when collections normally drop off and funding gets difficult. Donate here. 

4/11 - Millions of marine turtles have been killed over the past two decades through entrapment in fishing gear, according to a global survey. Read more..

4/4 - For a light, enjoyable read, check out The Pothole, Tamarindo’s new magazine published by FT Restaurant owner Mike Gerhard and entrepreneur, DJ and Surfrider Foundation head Lock Cooper. The second edition features a late-night interview with Chef Steve, “Party of the Month” and “Dispatches from the Sea.”

** How about some summer reading for the kids?? Check out All the Way to the Ocean, a book that teaches kids not to litter, because eventually it will end up in the sea and hurt marine life.

** New Book for Teens talks about saving turtles in Tamarindo - Turtle Feet, Surfer Beat is the story of Penelope who moves to Tamarindo with her parents for a month and learns about the peril of the leatherback turtle. The 86-page book written by Marina Kuperman is printed on recycled paper and has a journal in the back for a girl's own eco-adventure. Read more at - www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com.

 

CONTESTS

8/15 - Jason Torres from Jaco wins the ALAS Latin Pro in Guatemala. Read more in spanish..

8/8 - Frederico Pilurzo makes the quarterfinals at Puerto Escondido. Coverage by SurfingCR.net

7/26 - Isaac Vega is having the best contest performance yet in Puerto Escondido at the 2010 Quik Pro. Frederico Pilurzo and Gilbert Brown win their heats and are still in the running. Read more..

7/26 - Gilbert Brown wins $2500 on the first leg of the Winter Triple Crown. Nataly Bernold takes top honors for Women, and Anthony Fillingim bests the rest in Juniors. Read more and see pics ..

5/23 - JASON TORRES wins in Nosara in huge surf up to four meters. Nataly Bernold takes the women's top prize. See all the results.

5/8 - Giannio Ferrandino ganó Palo Seco y es favorito al título despues de 2ª fecha Circuito Metropolitano, Parrita. Lea mas..

Upcoming Event: Puerto Viejo Open Pro - May 15th - Over $1500 in cash and prizes for Open and Boys Divisions. Visit their website and check out the poster here.

4/25 - Jason Torres and Lisbeth Vindas are Champions of the 6-Star Reef Classic Panamá. Lea mas aqui.. Noe Mar McGonagle from Pavones (CRSURF team) earns 4th place in Juniors in the ALAS Tour. Carlos Munoz from Jaco earns 2nd in Open and 4rd in Juniors. Anthony Fillingham from Santa Teresa earns 3rd in Jrs.

4/18 - ALAS Latin Tour this weekend in Playa Venao in Panama. Jaco's Jefferson Tacson to compete as a CRSURF team rider. Check out photos and results on the ALAS website.

4/11 - Luis Vindas wins the Copa Quiksilver in big Santa Teresa surf. Lisbeth Vindas takes her fourth victory in the womens division. See all of the results here.

4/11 - Jen Smith wins the PLA Longboarding Championships at Boca Barranca. When you are ready to surf there, stay at Hotel Boca Barranca!

4/4 - Jefferson and Anderson Tacson from Jaco win 1st and 2nd in surf contest in Columbia. Read more on IguanaSurf.com

2/21 - Ramon Taliani from Santa Teresa wins the third stop on the Circuito Nacional de Surf de Costa Rica. Lisbeth Vindas, with three wins, is the frontrunner to win the Women's title. Read more and see all the results (en español)

Upcoming Event: The Adelante Pro takes place on Feb. 27th, 8 AM – 4 PM, Participation: 5000c, Categories: Open and Amateurs, Awards: first place 100000c per category, surf equipment and gifts for 2nd and 3rd places. Location: Playa Hermosa (5km north from Uvita, 10 km south from Dominical) Afterparty: at Adelante Hotel starts 8 PM, DJ Sinda (Estonia/UK), free for participants, entrance for public: 1000c. Read all the details here.

1/31 - Here are the results of the Puerto Viejo Pro held at Salsa Brava -

First place open: JORDAN HERNANDEZ $ 350 mas tabla Fischer Bros cortesia de Totem surf shop
Second place open: KEMBA BU $ 200 mas accesorios de Swell surf shop
Third place : Tequila $ 150

First place Grommets : PAUL WHITMANN $ 200
Second place Grommets : ALBERTO MUÑOZ $ 100
Third place Grommets : IAN GAGSTTATER  $ 50

Here are photos taken by Justin Liane of the Puerto Viejo Pro:

1/29 - Carlos Munoz and Ronald Brown were this year's invitees to the Volcom Pipeline Pro on the North Shore of Hawaii. Both could not pass from their first heat, but the 10' surf made for a great learning experience for both. And if you watch the videos, both had some great waves!!! Ronald is Round 112, Heat 8 on the first day, and Carlos is Round 96, Heat 12, first heat of Day 2. Pics and more here..

1/25- Jason Torres wins the Reef Latin Pro in Mar de Plata in Argentina. Also, Carlos Muñoz y Ronald Brown will be competing in Volcom Pipeline Pro starting this week. Read more..

Upcoming event: (new dates) The next date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf is planned for Playa Palo Seco in Parrita on January 16-17th. More details here.

Upcoming Event: Puerto Viejo Open Pro at Salsa Brava. 7 a.m. Over $2000 in prizes! Click to see the full size poster with details..

12/27 - Luis Castro Wins First Contest on the Caribbean Surf Tour in Playa Bonita. See the pics and results here.

12/20 - Noé Mar McGonagle (age 13) had an incredible streak this weekend at the Costa Rican national contest in Jaco Beach making it to 3 finals (U14, U16, and U18). He surfed three consecutive finals in a row and took first place in both U14 and U16 and 4th in U18 and posted the highest heat score total of the entire event in the U14 finals. "I would like to say thanks to all my sponsors Hurley, Etnies, T.Patterson, and CRSurf.com for all their support. Pura Vida"

12/20 - See all the results of Copa Mango in Jaco presented by Lime Coral clothing here..

Costa Rica Surf Circuit announces 2010 calendar of contests. The first event will take place on 12/19-20 in Jaco. Read more..

 

WORLD SURFING GAMES 2009 - NEWS AND PHOTOS

The 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games at Playa Hermosa and Jacó on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast last month holds the official distinction of being the most attended and covered sports event in Costa Rican history. Over the week it drew more than 70,000 spectators. Check out our Facebook Photos from the ISA World Surfing Games - click here..

8/27 - Billabong ISA World Surfing Games Breaks Records. Read more..

8/12 - United States Team wins Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, Costa Rica places in Seventh. Read more..
More news from:
Day 8 - Finals
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2

Top 10 countries in the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games: Read more..
1- Estados Unidos 17.190
2- Francia 14.440
3- Hawai 13.358
4- Sudáfrica 12.508
5- Perú 12.120
6- Australia 12.110
7- Costa Rica 9.650
8- Venezuela 9.040
9- Brasil 9.000
10- Puerto Rico 8.820

Top Ticos at the contest:
Jason Torres 7th
Carlos Muñoz 13th
Gilbert Brown 21st
Luis Vindas 33rd
Mujeres - Lisbeth Vindas 11th
Natalie Bernold 15th
Longboard - Anthony Flores 29th
Diego Naranjo 33rd

 

TRAVEL

Sick of paying airline surcharges for your board?
Join the Surfboard Airline Petition!

7/19 - Dengue fever is on the rise on the Caribbean and South Pacific coastline. So bring that mosquito repellant and keep outdoor containers free of standing water.

7/19 - Autopistas del Sol has reopened the route to the Pacific port of Caldera. The highway had been closed due to landslides. For up-to-date highway information 24-hours a day, call 2588-4000.

7/5 - A festival created in honor of Costa Rican calypso legend Walter “Mr. Gavitt” Ferguson will be celebrated July 5th to 18th in his hometown of Cahuita, on the southern Caribbean coast. Read more on their site, Festival del Cultura de Cahuita

7/4 - The ferry between the Pacific port of Puntarenas and Paquera, on the Nicoya Peninsula, will run 14 trips a day – seven in each direction – in a new schedule until Aug. 2, to accommodate an expected increase in passengers. The ferry cuts an hour off the trip between Puntarenas and the Guanacaste beaches.

6/8 - La Dolce Vita in Playa Esterillos Oeste is holding a photo contest, with a 3-night stay at the resort as the top prize. Check their site for more information and to submit your photo.

Here is a great new report on backpacker hostels, from www.amcostarica.com.

Check out a cool aerial view of the Southwest and Northwest Pacific coastline at www.vrskytour.com

Featured Hotels for Surfers

FORUMS

A good surf forum is judged by how well it gets the local community to participate. These are a few of our favorites. Send a note if there is one you would recommend.

SurfSourceCR.com ~ Costa Rica Surf Forum

Witchs Rock Surf Camp (surf around Tamarindo)

Surfing Nosara (surf around Nosara)

Puerto Viejo Satellite (the Caribbean Coast - new)

2nd Light (Florida surfers with lots of C.R. posts)

Dade County Surf (Florida surfers in between C.R. trips)

WBLiveSurf (North Carolina surfers between C.R. trips)

Trip Advisor (general travel topics)

Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum (worldwide)