COSTA RICA’S LONGBOARD AND BODYBOARD DIVISION COMPETITORS HIT THE WATER ON THE 1ST DAY OF THE 2008 ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES

IN PORTUGAL

COSTA DE CAPRICA, PORTUGAL October 12, 2008 Evening – Nearly half of the Costa Rica National Surf Team hit the water today in Costa de Caprica, in the province of Almeda, Portugal, kicking off their part of the competition in the 2008 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG). Today’s program include the surfers who were in the Longboard and Bodyboard (male and female) categories. Of the four athletes who started in primary competition, three went to second-chance repercharge. Only Jimena Calvo, the female bodyboarder remains in the main rounds of the World Surfing Games.

Diego Naranjo, who in 2006 competed in both Open and Longboard, this year had action in front of the main podium with sole focus on the Longboard. In his first heat, #3 in Round 1, he was 2nd to the Salvadoran champion Wilbert Alvarenga, who came in 1st. The heat was completed by Puerto Rican Miguel Feliciano, and Mexican Pablo Bonilla, 3rd and 4th place, respectively. In Round 2, however, Naranjo fell to 3rd place against the excellent level of Phil Rajzman, the Pan American Champion from Brazil, and the Porteguese Miguel Ruivo, who were 1st and 2nd consecutively. Diego, of course, will now have a chance to participate in the Repercharge

Round 2.

In the male Bodyboard category today, both Richard Marin and Walter Gatgens were left behind from their Round 1 heats, and will see the rest of their participation in the World Surfing Games from the repercharge rounds. In his first Heat, Gatgens suffered liabilities and did not find his waves in time, a situation that cost him. He was passed by 1st place Manuel Centeno of Portugal, 2nd place Marc Jucker of Switzerland, and 3rd place Nicolas Chiara of Argentina. Also in this division, Richard Marin faced the same fate of 4th place. He suffered at the skills of 1st place Hugo Pinheiro of Portugal, 2nd place Emiliano Tabare of Argentina, and 3rd place Dorian Staheli of Switzerland.

As to the female bodyboarder, Jimena Calvo obtained 2nd place in her heat and passed to Round 2 of the discipline for tomorrow morning.