LATIN AMERICA’S BEST—CARLOS MUÑOZ FINISHES AT #9

Salinas, ECUADOR April 4, 2009 – With the Costa Rica National Junior Surf Team fighting to best their #12 ranking earned last year in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Games France 2008, their last remaining soldier today battled down to the horn at the ISA World Junior Surfing Games Ecuador 2009 to put Costa Rica in the #10 position.. Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos made history at this event as the Latino who went the furthest in these Heats, going all the way to Round 8 of repercharge and finishing ranked #9 in the Games Under 16.

In addition, Muñoz earned #21 in the Under 18, the second-best Hispanic after the Chilean Guillermo Satt, who obtained #19 out of 99 competitors who ran La FAE during the week.

Muñoz—known as Cali to his friends—appeared in tears when leaving the water, where he faced South Africans Mikey February and David Brand. February and Brand gave the Tico a run for his money during the 20 minutes of Heat: Whenever Muñoz pulled ahead, one of the other came right back, relegating him to 3rd place at the end.

“My surfing is the reason I did not finish satisfied, but I feel content that Costa Rica ultimately ended up strong in this World Junior Surfing Games and managed to improve from the last time. There is no doubt that my country is one of the best in the world,” expressed Muñoz.

Hundreds of people who came to the beach to see the last participation of the Spanish speaker in the World Junior Surfing Games offered a huge ovation at Muñoz’s valiant attempts in the water.

“Luck was not on our side during the last two days of this event, but we were able to accomplish the reason why we came here, which is to put Costa Rica among the best 10 countries in the world. I feel very proud of my team,” expressed José Ureña, Technical Director of the national selection and President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has, in fact, continued it’s improved trajectory in the rankings with their participation in the ISA World Junior Surfing Games Ecuador 2009. The Ticos were #22 in 2005 in California, #14 in Portugal 2007, #12 in France 2008 and finally, #10 in Ecuador 2009. On the other hand, it was the highest country in the table with an incomplete team, as they were short one girl.

The Costa Rica National Junior Surf Team are: Under 18: Danny Bishko/Esterillos, Maykol Torres/Esterillos, Ariel Agüero/Quepos and Carlos Muñoz/Esterillos. Under 16: Carlos Muñoz/Esterillos, Anthony Fillingam/Malpais, Jordan Hernandez/Limon and Noe Mar McGonagle/Pavones. Girls Under 18: Nataly Bernold/Jaco, Anatasia Patterson/Limon, Elisa Bonomelli/Jaco.

Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Games ends all intrigue tomorrow with Hawaii in the lead. Australia has won the crown for the last three years.