surf schools18

ELCOME TO THE ONLY ROXY SURF RETREAT IN COSTA RICA

PLAYA HERMOSA, COSTA RICA February 8, 2007 -- Longtime Roxy team rider and Costa Rica's 1999 National Women's Surf Champion Andrea Diaz has been granted the rights for her Waves Costa Rica Surf School to become a Roxy/Quiksilver surf instruction facility. Now called Roxy Costa Rica surf Retreat, it will be located, for now, on the same campus of Diaz' Waves Costa Rica Surf Camp in Playa Hermosa, the Mecca of Costa Rica Surf, just south of Jaco on the Central Pacific.

The original Waves Costa Rica was founded by Diaz 3 years ago, to provide hands-on coaching and skilled instruction for those who want to learn to surf, having a good time in the waves, or for those who want to take their surfing to the next level. One of only three Ticas who seven years ago launched professional surfing for women in Costa Rica's all male field, Diaz joined forces a host of top riders and coaches to deliver some of the most comprehensive skills, rides and surf school/camps/retreats in Latin America. These professionals are all either accredited by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) with open water lifeguard, CPR, first aid, life-saving and water rescue certification, and have education in nutrition, physical education and more. Students use Banzaii Surfboards and Banana Wax, the two sponsors of Roxy Waves Costa Rica.

Diaz philosophy is based on her own personal experiences, and the understanding of what her students are feeling. "I was not a natural-born surfer; I had to make myself into a surfer. In doing so, I set myself onto one of the best rides of my life, one that changed all that I was, and made me all that I am," she instructs.

Throughout that journey, Diaz had Roxy/Quiksilver-the leader in women's surfing and the board riding lifestyle-at her side. It was Roxy's Danielle Beck who discovered her early on, and supported every move she made with contest inscriptions, magazine photo shoots, trips to exotic locations, clothes and the like. Andrea was a Roxy Girl when she became the first and only Costa Rican National Women's Champion, graced the cover of SURFOS (largest Latin American surf magazine), on ESPN, in Surfing Girl magazine, Surf Life for Women magazine, and the grand fashion magazine, W and a member of the Costa Rica National Surf Team, for the 2004 ISA World Surfing Games, where her surfing skills helped the team place 9th around the globe.

After becoming the mother of two beautiful girls-Lia and Sol-Diaz's, Waves Costa Rica flourished as the premier surf school in the country for boys, men, women and girls. However, it was the female surfer who she felt needed her attention the most.

After years of fighting for Costa Rica's Women's surf contest rights, and opening the door for future generations of young ladies to ride through, now became the time for her to forget the job she was doing in contests and to focus on her instruction.

Roxy agreed and the Roxy Waves Costa Rica Retreat was born.

"I take it so personal, "Andrea explains. "Roxy/Quiksilver has been so great to me and they are a great company that represents quality surfing. I have tons to give in and out of the water. That is why we are doing what we are doing now with the Roxy Waves Costa Rica Surf Retreat, which is about giving back to girls who want to get the best surf instruction, learn ocean safety, have the most qualified teachers, have the Costa Rican experience with native Costa Ricans, and have the blessing of the best surf company in the world."



SURF LESSONS
The surf lessons are 2 hours per session. They include surfboard rental, rash guard, fruit, water, hotel transportation. Learn to surf with qualified instructors who themselves are expert surfers and trained with life saving skills. Learn basic ocean knowledge - how to read the waves, the tide, the swell and the wind. Learn the fundamentals such as paddling methods, how to "duck dive," and how to get to your feet.



SURF GUIDES
At Roxy Waves Costa Rica, we also cater to the intermediate and advanced surfer. Why go through the headache of renting a car and trying to figure out the Spanish on the signs (if you can find a sign!) to the surf spots? Why stress trying to guess the correct swell direction to or where are the locations of the best breaks? Why do that when you can hire a Roxy Waves Costa Rica Pro Surf Guide to optimize your surf time and have a hassle-free stay?

You can contact them at askroxy@wavescr.com