COSTA RICA’S NATIONAL SURF TEAM DONATES TICO BEACH SAND AFTER THE PARADE OF NATIONS IN COSTA DE CAPRICA, PORTUGAL YESTERDAY AS PART OF THE KICKOFF OF THE 2008 ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES.

COSTA DE CAPRICA, PORTUGAL October 12, 2008 Morning – As is tradition in the International Surf Association World Surfing Games, Costa Rica’s National Surf Team joined all of the 30 present National Selected international teams in the Parade of Nations yesterday in Costa de Caprica, in the province of Almeda, Portugal. At the end of the march, the tricolor’s Nataly Bernold and Jason Torres were entrusted with placing sands from Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica into the glass case, mixing with the sands of the other countries.

The selection of the sand from Playa Hermosa was symbolic in more ways than one, as this is the location of the 2009 ISA World Surfing Games. That event is being prepared for at this time by all of Costa Rica, and the technical board of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica are currently in Portugal with the Costa Rica National Surf Team to promote the 2009 World Surfing Games right now.

At the same time, the Costa Rican’s took advantage of the morning to enter the water once more and sharpen their skills and work on the technical details in regard their surfing, particularly as it relates to the cold water of Costa de Caprica. In the morning, near 10 a.m. local time yesterday, the breeze was blowing perfect waves, and this bode well for the event itself today. Some of the Tico Team were hoping for the production of waves of good size with continued offshore wind.

Today begins with the Longboard and Bodyboard categories. Diego Narango competes in Heat 3 of the 1st round of Longboard against the Puerto Rican Miguel Feliciano, who is noted for his skills, as well as the Canadian Glen McDuff and the Central American champion from El Salvador, Wilbert Alvarenga. This division is programmed for action at the main podium.

Bodyboarders (male) will enter at podium 2. Look for Walter Gatgens and Richard Marin, who will see action today. Gatgens is in Heat 1 of the 1st Round against the World Champion from Portugal Manuel Centeno, Switzerland’s Marc Jucker and the Argentinean Nicolas Chiara. Marin will enter Heat 8 against Dorian Staheli of Switzerland, Emiliano Tabaré and Hugo Pineiro, two locals favored for the title.