The “Kölbi” National Surf Tournament will have its third date this weekend in Santa Teresa de Cóbano, Puntarenas.

Some of the best surfers in the country participate in this competition with the goal of being called to be part of the National Surfing Team that will represent the country in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Championship which will take place in France this May.

The event at Santa Teresa is expected to be the best date of the Circuit so far, because of the level of competition and because this site delivers great waves as big as 2 meters high (close to 6 feet).

Jair Pérez, from Jacó, is leading the tournament so far with 2,595 points but will have to bring his best skills into the game this weekend as locals usually dominate in Santa Teresa; Pérez will measure up against locals of the level of Anthony Fillingim and Ramón Taliani who both have taken the podium in several occasions, Fillingim is the defending champion.

“Anthony is a great competitor, especially at home. I will just be focused on my strategy to make it to the final and get good points. Anthony’s surf is powerful and strong, but each of us holds its own, we will have to wait and see what happens during the competition, each of the dates is different, different heats, different waves, I am excited because Santa Teresa always brings great waves, I am ready for whatever comes”, stated Jair.

“This will be the last event before we give out the list of names that will be part of the National Team, both in the female and male categories; they will represent us in the World Open that will be held May 20 -28 in Biarritz, France; this weekend the competition will be of a very high level”, explained Carlos Brenes, from Costa Rica’s Surf Federation.

The female category is dominated right now by Coral Wiggins, from Avellanas, with 2,415 points, the second slot belongs to Valentina Rosano from Nicaragua with 2,385 and in third position Rubiana Brownell with 2,205 points; they will have to measure up against experienced Emily Gussoni who has confirmed her participation for this date but currently seats in the ninth position after missing the second date of the tournament.

The fourth date of the “Kölbi” National Surf Tournament which was originally scheduled for May 20-21 in Nosara, Guanacaste, had to be rescheduled for May 13 -14, just a few days before the ISA World Championship.

The list of the surfers that will be representing Costa Rica in France will be disclosed the first week of May.