surf shops 68

PLAYA HERMOSA, COSTA RICA January 31, 2006 -- Waves Costa Rica, the only Quiksilver-Roxy surf instruction facility in the country operated entirely by National Surf Champions with staff who are surf instructors 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, has now added another service with an integrated physical training and surf contest development program.



The new curriculum was the idea of Waves CR Director Andrea Diaz, the Roxy, Banzaii Surfboards, Banana Wax-sponsored Costa Rican 1999 National Women’s Surf Champion, who has been a surf instructor for seven years. She utilized her challenges in the Tico competitions as well as knowledge from her Australian Surfing Coach certification to initiate this new idea. On board with the plan are Waves CR co-directors: 2001-02 Costa Rican National Surf Champion Gilbert Brown (Quiksilver, Adrenalina TV, DVS, Arnette, Arenas Surf Shop), and 2002-03 Costa Rican National Surf Champion Nino Myrie Medrano (Volcom, Adrenalina, Etnies, LQD, Arenas Surf Shop), both of whom have taken their extensive international surf travel/contest experience and contributed it to the program.





Waves CR's Gilbert Brown with clients on Playa Hermosa.



“It’s still very present in my mind what I did in my very first contest, that I did not have a single clue of what I was supposed to do, how I took off on the red flag, caught more waves than I was allowed to catch, all types of dumb mistakes,” Diaz recalls about the time when she and the first few Costa Rican young girl surfers such as Brooks Wilson and Lisbeth Vindas went into the all-boy contests. “With a little orientation, I could have saved a lot of trial by fire. No one helped us, we had to figure it out ourselves, which we did without complaining. But after getting the contests down, and discovering how much potential we had, it was heartbreaking. We could have gotten further, stronger, faster.



Yet, Diaz explains, 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 is not the time for her to forget the job she and the others started at the national contest level.







Waves CR Practice Heats instruction.



“That’s why now, I take it so personal, “Andrea continues. “I cannot allow all our efforts to go awash; I am still demanding respect for what it took us so long to build and I am not done. I have tons to give in and out of the water. That is why we are doing what we are doing now with the Waves Costa Rica program, which is about giving back to the community. We have spread the word that we are training those who are interested in doing things right.”



And this is not just a surf contest training program for women! Every morning at the beach in front of Waves CR in Playa Hermosa a co-ed mix of boys and girl Groms run, paddle, flex, and more.



Diaz: “We believe that surfing involves more than your performance in the water. We have set up an integrated physical, technical, tactical and mental surf program, passing on what each one of us are best at. Gilbert likes to focus on competitive and overall attitude.

Nino preaches a focus on technical strategy and style development. While I go for physical fitness and mental strength. So the kids that show up have the vision to take advantage of our experience.”

Already, the Waves Costa Rica training program is seeing results. In the rankings released after the 3rd date of the Costa Rica Circuito Nacional de Surf called Copa Mango at Playa Hermosa (which was won overall in the Open by Waves CR’s Nino Myrie Medrano!), , Waves CR has the following leaders: OPEN/Jason Torres #4 (Torres just became the 2006 Junior Pan-American Surfing Games Champion!); JUNIORS/Jason Torres #2, Waves CR clients during physical trainingBOYS/Carlos Muñoz #1, Danny Bishko #2, Derek Gutiérrez #6, Anthony Segura* #8; GROMMETSlos Muñoz #1, Danny Bishko #2, Anthony Segura #5, Alberto Muñoz* #8; MINIGROMMETS/ Alberto Muñoz #1; WOMENS JUNIOR/Lupe Galluccio #2, Malia Guccio #6, Andreina Samudio #10.



* Members of Rancho Coral Team sponsored by Tommy Bernsdorf.



Media and Press contact EllenZoe@aol.com





Ellen Zoe Golden
EllenZoe@aol.com
JLM PR
580 Broadway, Suite 1208
New York, New York 10012
212-431-5227; 212-431-6818--FAX

Russell Simmons & The Hip Hop Summit Action Network; Billy Idol; Program The Dead; Millions More Movement; Pro Surfer Federico Pilurzu

Also in Costa Rica as Bevy Media Corp (Call 011-506-837-57-02):
Costa Rica's Tourism Bureau (ICT); Hacienda Pinilla Golf & Beach Resort (www.haciendapinilla.com); Tamarindo Vista Villas, the Surfer's Paradise (www.tamarindovistavillas.com); Waves Costa Rica, real surf adventures from Costa Rica's National Surf Champions (www.wavescr.com); Pachanga Restaurant; Essence Day Spa; Sean Davis Photography; Costa Rica's Federation of Surf with the annual championship Circuito Nacional de Surf; Pro Surfers Lisbeth Vindas, Andrea Diaz, Isaac Vega, Gilbert Brown, Germaine "Nino" Myrie and others....