The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games 2009 will be hosted in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica this August 1-8, 2009. The event, which will bring together the best surfers in the world in an Olympic-style competition, is set to be the biggest surfing championship ever held in Central America. The honor of hosting the 8th ever World Surfing Games is expected to solidify Costa Rica’s reputation as one of the world’s best up and coming surf destinations.

Last year’s competition, which took place in Costa de Caparica, Portugal, saw a turn out of more than 200 competitors from 28 countries. The Costa Rican team shined with their highest ranking ever, coming in 5th place at the event. The number of surfers and skill level is expected to increase for this year’s competition, which was scheduled to correspond with Hermosa’s peak surf season with waves ranging from four to eight feet with perfect barrels. The team to beat is four-time ISA Surfing Games champion, Australia, who racked up Gold medals in the last three consecutive events.

In August, each country will be represented by up to four surfers in the men’s Open category, two surfers in the women’s Open category and two long boarders. Costa Rica’s national team of eight surfers will be officially announced two days before the competitions begin. They will be selected from a short list of the country’s best surfers that have already begun training for the event.

This list features Carlos Muñoz, the 16-year-old who just won his first national championship in the men’s open division at the National Surf Circuit finals that also took place at Playa Hermosa. Joining him on the list are Diego Naranjo, Gilbert Brown, Jairo Perez, Jason Torres, Juan Carlos Naranjo, Cristian Santamaría, Anthony Flores and Luis Vindas in the men’s Open and long board categories. Two of the following women will also have the honor of representing Costa Rica: current National women’s champion Nataly Bernold, Lisbeth Vindas and Mariana Samudio.

The Costa Rican team also racked up a Bronze medal in last year’s surfing games in a special tag-team event called “Aloha Cup”. After coming in 10th place in this year’s World Junior Surfing Games in Ecuador, it is clear that Costa Rica has a strong future ahead of it in international surf competitions.

The president of the Costa Rica Federation of Surf (FSC – the hosts of the event) Jose Ureña said “I’m really happy for the opportunity that ISA and Billabong have given to us. To be hosts of this event is a like dream, to have so many countries enjoying our waves. It’s a unique occasion for us.”

Ureña hopes the event will help to further promote Costa Rica tourism, and particularly surf tourism to the region by putting the country’s waves on display for the global press. He also commented that local press has not covered the country’s international competitions in the past, so hosting the Surfing Games will help to increase local exposure as well.

The fact that Billabong is sponsoring this year’s event for the first time was also a big break for Costa Rica and the surfing world. Brand representative Graham Stapelberg promoted the decision to host the games in Costa Rica, saying: “I believe it is vital to provide a platform for these emerging surf regions. It is the only event of its kind where you get such a large representation of so many different surf nations”.

Visitor Logistics

Playa Hermosa is seemingly endless volcanic sand beach set 5 minutes south of the popular tourist destination of Jaco, and about two hours from the capital city of San Jose and the country’s main international airport, Juan Santamaria (SJO). The town itself features low density development, with one side of the town’s only road left untouched. The nearby town of Jaco offers more plentiful lodging options, though reservations must be made in advance.

The cost of a taxi from the airport to Jaco can vary between $80 and $150. Private shuttles can be arranged in advance, or public bus tickets can be purchased in down town San Jose at the Coca Cola bus terminal.

The competition will take place on the beach break in front of Hotel Terraza del Pacifico, at the north end of Hermosa. August conditions feature southern swells with waves averaging 4 to 8 feet in the warm Pacific waters. The month is considered to be part of the Costa Rica rainy season, with sporadic rain showers expected throughout the week of competition.

Event Schedule:

• July 28-30: Team registration
  July 31: Parade of Nations/ Opening Ceremony
  August 1: Competition begins.
  August 5: Start of Open Longboard
  August 8: Contest ends/ Closing Ceremony

Past Competition Hosts and Winners

• 2008: Costa de Caparica, Portugal — Australia
  2006: Huntington Beach, United States — Australia
  2004: Salinas, Ecuador — Australia
  2002: Durban, South Africa — South Africa
  2000: Maracaípe, Brazil — Brazil
  1998: Carcavelos, Portugal — Australia
  1996: Huntington Beach, United States — U.S.A.

story via

Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards airs on ESPN 2 this Tuesday

Back again by popular demand, the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy are re-airing on the ESPN networks.  Known as the Oscars of surfing, the ninth-annual XXL show is scheduled for both the ESPN2 and ESPN2HD channels this Tuesday, June 9 at 10:00 P.M. Pacific Time, 7:00 P.M Hawaiian and 1:00 A.M. late-night on the East Coast.  Check your local listings for the correct channel in your area and set your TIVO or DVR now.

The hour-long television special features the biggest waves and most spectacular rides from around the world over the last year.  Highlights of the high-surf action include Californian Greg Long’s unprecedented paddle-in barrel at Dungeons in South Africa which earned him the $50,000 XXL Ride of the Year prize.

Long finished just ahead of a stellar list of other nominees including Australians Ryan Hipwood and James Hollmer-Cross at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Hawaiian Garrett McNamara at Teahupoo, Tahiti, and Californian Brian Conley’s point-of-view tube ride deep in darkest Mexico.

Topping out other categories were Grant “Twiggy” Baker for his 60-foot-plus XXL Biggest Wave bomb at Cape Town’s ominous Tafelberg Reef and Derek Dunfee’s Monster Paddle Award winner at Maverick’s in Northern California.

Also appearing in the ESPN show are Billabong Girls Best Performance Award winner Maya Gabeira of Brazil, Monster Tube champion Mark Healey of Hawaii and Surfline Performance winner Grant Baker.  In total, over $130,000 in cash and prizes — including a new Honda watercraft — were handed out at the gala presentation at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California.

As always, one of the most visually entertaining segments of the show is the Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year Award, which was determined for the first time this year by the text-in voting of the surfing public.  Winning by a wide margin was Australia Ross Clarke-Jones for his spine-bending detonation within the guts of a huge cavern at the newly discovered Pedra Branca break in the open ocean off Tasmania’s southern coast.

The list of presenters at this year’s XXL show was a who’s who in surfing from today and yesteryear. Celebrities announcing the prize winners with hilarious and heartfelt speeches ran the gamut from three-time ASP world champ Andy Irons and 1999 champ Mark Occhilupo to legendary big wave waterman Greg Noll to Maverick’s Pioneer Jeff Clark right through to Linda Benson, the first woman to ride Waimea Bay in 1959.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards show was produced and directed by David Stanfield.  Executive Producers are Mark Hall, Graham Stapelberg, Bill Sharp and Sam Pontrelli.  The XXL Awards are presented by Monster Energy Drinks.  Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider, Surfline.com is the official surf forecast and Honda the official watercraft of the XXL. Additional support for the event comes from Air Tahiti Nui, Surfing Magazine and High Surf Accessories.

Tune in to the show this Thursday night to see it all.  Until then, check out the highlight clips and still photos from the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards at BillabongXXL.com.  For more information on Monster Energy, please go to MonsterEnergy.com

The 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy is coming to the ESPN networks this week across the USA. Known as the Oscars of surfing, the ninth-annual XXL show is scheduled for the ESPN2 channel this Thursday, May 28, at 9:30 P.M. Pacific Time, 7:30 P.M Hawaiian (1:30 A.M. late-night on the East Coast). Check your local listings for the correct channel in your area and set your TIVO or DVR now.

For a preview of the show:

The hour-long special features the biggest waves and most spectacular rides from around the world over the last year. Highlights of the high-surf action include Californian Greg Long’s unprecedented paddle-in barrel at Dungeons in South Africa which earned him the $50,000 XXL Ride of the Year prize. Long finished just ahead of a stellar list of other nominees including Australians Ryan Hipwood and James Hollmer-Cross at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Hawaiian Garrett McNamara at Teahupoo, Tahiti, and Californian Brian Conley’s point-of-view tube ride deep in darkest Mexico.

Topping out other categories were Grant “Twiggy” Baker for his 60-foot-plus XXL Biggest Wave bomb at Cape Town’s ominous Tafelberg Reef and Derek Dunfee’s Monster Paddle Award winner at Maverick’s in Northern California. Also appearing in the ESPN show are Billabong GIrls Best Performance Award winner Maya Gabeira of Brazil, Monster Tube champion Mark Healey of Hawaii and Surfline Performance winner Grant Baker. In total, over $130,000 in cash and prizes — including a new Honda watercraft — were handed out at the gala presentation at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California.

As always, one of the most visually entertaining segments of the show is the Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year Award, which was determined for the first time this year by the text-in voting of the surfing public. Winning by a wide margin was Australia Ross Clarke-Jones for his spine-bending detonation within the guts of a huge cavern at the newly discovered Pedra Branca break in the open ocean off Tasmania’s southern coast.

The list of presenters at this year’s XXL show was a who’s who in surfing from today and yesteryear. Celebrities announcing the prize winners with hilarious and heartfelt speeches ran the gamut from three-time ASP world champ Andy Irons and 1999 champ Mark Occhilupo to legendary big wave waterman Greg Noll to Maverick’s Pioneer Jeff Clark right through to Linda Benson, the first woman to ride Waimea Bay in 1959.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards show was produced and directed by David Stanfield. Executive Producers are Mark Hall, Graham Stapelberg, Bill Sharp and Sam Pontrelli. The XXL Awards are presented by Monster Energy Drinks. Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider, Surfline.com is the official surf forecast and Honda the official watercraft of the XXL. Additional support for the event comes from Air Tahiti Nui and Surfing Magazine.

Tune in to the show this Thursday night to see it all. Until then, check out the highlight clips and still photos from the 2009 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards at www.BillabongXXL.com. For more information on Monster Energy, please go to www.MonsterEnergy.com.

story via