JAIRO PĖREZ WINS COPA BALANCE NATURAL - 4th DATE OF CIRCUITO NACIONAL DE SURF DAYSTAR 2008-2009 PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA ZERO IN NOSARA THIS PAST WEEKEND
Ranking Leader Jason Torres Hits Podium Fourth Consecutive Time in 2nd Place
Jairo Perez - Photo by: Fabian Sanchez
Nosara, COSTA RICA February 9, 2009 – Jairo Pérez, the 18-year-old surfer from Jaco Beach, whose only goal yesterday was to be the best surfer of the Copa Balance Nature, accomplished that task when he clinched his first Open trophy by giving the public quite a memorable surfing show. In the fourth date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DAYSTAR 2008-2009 presented by Coca-Cola Zero, which took place at Playa Guiones in Nosara this Saturday and Sunday, Pérez beat the currently ranked 5th and 6th best surfers in the world (according to the International Surfing Association [ISA]), Jason Torres and Luis Vindas, respectively, as well as a newcomer to the Open finals, Josymar Fuentes (Jaco).
To be in the finals, Pérez needed to advance 6 rounds and pass a tremendous number of competitors who inscribed for this date of the Circuito. Heat after heat, from the first day of competition, his surfing remained solid, his legs forced an appropriate risk of maneuvers, and he made a wise selection of waves, all the way to the end. In that final, against Jaco’s Torres and Vindas, Pérez watched as in the last 15 minutes of the heat those two rocketed aerials and technical maneuvers of high scoring value. Nevertheless, Pérez had an ace up his sleeve, and with a noticeable array of bottom turns that helped generate aggressive water explosions in the critical part of the wave, as well as vertical snaps and his specialty round house full of technique and grandeur. It was a spectacle worthy of 1st place.
With the completion of the Copa Balance Nature in Playa Guiones, it is clear that the power of Costa Rican surfing is not in a few hands, but that there are many surfers who are hungry for the national championship, not to mention a place on the Costa Rican National Surf Team that will compete at the 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) Billabong World Surfing Games Costa Rica 2009 in Hermosa this August. Everyone is pushing their levels.
“To win in the Open category nowadays is something very difficult. There are surfers who participate in this Circuito that are not necessarily those that we know, but whose talent comes with a hunger to play a good role in the outcome of the winners. I felt very motivated to win this date also because the waves were incredible and level in the water from all directions was the highest,” Pérez said in his speech during the trophy ceremony.
On the other hand, Torres was satisfied this time to come in 2nd during the Copa Balance Nature, because in doing so, it added valuable points to his ranking leadership, and helped him on the road towards earning aNational title. With a good showing in the next date in Playa Carmen (5-star Torneo Day & Night Playa), and Playa Hermosa (6-star, 2,500 points Gran Final Terrazas Reef Playa), he would undoubtedly have that Costa Rican championship. Right now he is favored for the crown.
Nataly Bernold (Jaco), the ISA #6 female in the world, added the Copa Balance Nature as her 3rd consecutive win. She is positioned at 1st for the present season in the ranking, with Lisbeth Vindas (Jaco), the 6-time Costa Rican Women’s Surfing champion, at 2nd. With this win in Nosara, the 15-year-old surfer demonstrated many improvements in conditions for over 5-feet, where in the past only Lisbeth had ruled in waves of this height.
For the Juniors, the Quepos surfer of 18 years, Ariel Agüero displayed a style of surfing very similar to that of Jairo Pérez. In this date of the Circuito, he managed to beat Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos, the current Junior champion, by completing maneuvers that risked his humanity, so much so that it touched the judges for more points. Agüero happened to be chosen to travel with the Costa Rican National Junior Team that will go to (ISA) World Junior Surfing Games 2009 in Salinas, Ecuador between March 28 and April 5, 2009.
The next date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf 2008-2009 DAYSTAR will be the Torneo Day & Night Playa in Playa Carmen on March 7 and 8, 2009. It will distribute 2,000 points to the winners of each category and is a 5-star event.
The CNS DAYSTAR 2008-2009 presented by Coca-Cola Zero Sponsors are: 69 Slam, 911 Groovy Radio, Balance Natural, Banana Wax, Banzaii Surfboards, Billabong, Carton Surfboards, Christian Surfers, Coca-Cola Zero, Day & Night Beach Club, DAYSTAR, FCS, Gimnasio Platinum, Gorila, Hotel Backyard, Hotel Terraza del Pacífico, Ibarquero Design, Jass Surf Shop, Mango, Powerade, Quiksilver, Quique, Redbull, Reef, Roca Bruja, Surfos Magazine, Surftech, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, WOW Surf Shop.
For more information on the Circuito Nacional de Surf DAYSTAR 2008-2009 or the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica, please go to the webpage at www.surfingcr.net.
Results of Copa Balance Natural - Playa Nosara
Circuito Nacional de Surf 2008-2009 DAYSTAR - February 7th - 8th
