Playa Guiones in Guanacaste is often considered to have the most consistent surf conditions in Costa Rica; however, that was not the case last week as the 2014 Olympus National Circuit rolled into town. Conditions were sloppy and less than ideal for a high-caliber surfing tournament, particularly for Caribbean power surfers such as Gilbert Brown. Notwithstanding, Brown’s experience prevailed in defending his supremacy of the Creatures Cup title.

This is what competing surfers had to deal with at Playa Guiones: Weak sets no higher than two feet and a considerable headwind that would have been more suitable at a kiteboarding competition. These are not the conditions that Mr. Brown is used to in the Caribbean province of Limon, where the sets at Salsa Brava and Playa Cocles require a physical approach.

Against All Odds

Low-quality surfing conditions at Playa Guiones did not deter the champ from surfing away with his third national title. According to Hugo Quesada Fernandez of Deportes Monumental 93.5 FM, the conditions actually favored Pacific Coast surfers such as Jair Perez and Angelo Bonomelli, who are known to prevail even when the swells are not cooperative. An interference call on Mr. Perez, however, was all it took for Mr. Brown to capitalize on and score 8.63 on the best heat of the tournament.

In an interview with Deportes Monumental, Mr. Brown explained that it was not an easy title for him to defend:

“I have competed in difficult conditions, but today was certainly a challenge for me because the moment the wind shifted the entire landscape of the competition changed. Still, I came to Nosara to win and I was able to.”

Mr. Brown channeled a bit of NBA star Lebron James of the Miami Heat when he explained that he is ready to win another pro surfing cup in Costa Rica:

“Of course I want [a fourth cup,] but not just that one; I want a fifth, a sixth and all the cups I can win. I have won three and have been very close in other occasions; so what you should expect from me is that I will always fight to reach the top.”

In 2012, Mr. Brown was profiled in the Costa Rica Star as filmmaker Saul Garcia featured a video biography on this 32-year old surfer:

When it comes to Costa Rica, Gilbert Brown is The Man. He’s the guy you call to find out the right tide, the right wind, the right spot… except he doesn’t ever answer cause he’s already out there. Getting the right wave. More than that, Gilbert is just a living embodiment of Costa Rica’s Pura Vida, climbing coconut trees, fishing with handlines and cooling in the shade even when he’s out surfing.