Jason Torres from Jacó and 12-year-old Valentina Resano from Nicaragua are the National Surfing Champions 2017.

The Reef Final of the “Kölbi” National Surfing Tournament took place this weekend at Hermosa Beach, Puntarenas and left two new National Champions, Valentina Resano and Jason Torres in the open female and male categories respectively.

Torres and Resano took the titles that until today were held by Anthony Fillingim and Leilani McGonagle.

Torres went up against Jair Pérez and Leonardo Calvo that had classified to the semi–finals on Saturday, while
the rest of the winners in each of the categories were: Malakai Martinez Boy’s; Zulay Martínez Junior Female; Sean Foerster Junior Male; Candelaria Resano Girls and Mini grommets, and Samuel Reidy Grommets and Mini Grommets. (Complete results at the end of the article)

This year the tournament had less participation, going from 229 in 2015 to 196 in 2016 and 179 this year; this obeys to the costs involved for the athletes and the lack of sponsorship. Surfers have to find a way to finance their transportation, accommodations, food, etc. in the different locations where the tournament takes place, which is why the competition goes to different points of the country, the North, South and Central Pacific and the Caribbean, with hopes to attract as much participation as possible, the tournament also remains open during each of the dates except in the final, were competitors must have participated in at least one other date.

According to information by the Costa Rica Surf Federation, surfers that participated in the five dates of the national tournaments originate from five main beaches, Jacó (Puntarenas), Nosara (Guanacaste), Puerto Viejo (Limón), Santa Teresa (Puntarenas) and Dominical (Puntarenas); however there was participation of athletes from Tamarindo, Sámara, Pavones, Hermosa, Herradura and Quepos.

Finals Results:

Open
Jason Torres
Jose López
Leonardo Calvo
Jair Pérez

Open Femenino
Valentina Resano
Emily Gussoni
Eva Woodland
Zulay Martínez

Junior
Sean Foerster
Malakai Martínez
Sebastián Mora
Josia Knapp

Junior Femenino
Zulay Martínez
Emily Gussoni
Rubiana Brownell
Paulina Summers

Boys
Malakai Martínez
Gabriel Córdoba
Cedrick McCrakin
Darshan Antequera

Girls
Candelaria Resano
Valentina Resano
Rubiana Brownell
Auxiela Ryan

Grommets
Samuel Reidy
Isauro Elizondo
Axel Castro
Leo Apreda

Mingrommets
Samuel Reidy
Isauro Elizondo
Axel Castro
Leo Apreda

Minigrommets Femenino
Candelaria Resano
Valeria Ojeda
Auxiela Ryan
Rachel Agüero
Maxima Resano