HOWLER
SURFING August 2018
COSTA RICA
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SURFING COSTA RICA
INS Youth Cup June 23-24, 2018
August 4 3rd Quarter
Jair Pérez - Men's winner
COMPETITION RESULTS
Source: surfingcr.net
J
air Pérez and Valeria Ojeda became the 2018 INS Youth Cup champions at Jacó the weekend of June 23 and 24. This penultimate event of the Kölbi National Circuit, presented by INS Joven and Adrenaline Rush, closed the regular championship season that will culminate next month with the Grand Final REEF de Hermosa at Playa Hermosa.
Results: Open - Men • • • •
Jair Pérez (Jacó) Manuel Mesén (Jacó) Leonardo Calvo (Barranca) Ramón Taliani (Mal País)
Open -Women • • • •
Valeria Ojeda (Jacó) Rubiana Brownell (Avellanas) Emily Gussoni (Jacó) Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó)
Coral Wiggins
Boys • • • •
Sam Reidy (Dominical) Darshan Antequera (Jacó) Ethan Hollander (Dominical) Aarón Ramirez (Jacó)
August 11 New Moon
Girls • • • •
Valeria Ojeda (Jacó) Rubiana Brownell (Avellanas) Auxiela Ryan (Puerto Viejo) Rachel Agüero (Jacó)
Grommets • • • •
Tosh Talbot Ethan Hollander Axel Castro Leonardo Apreda
Manuel Mesen Diaz
August 18
Minigrommet -Boys • • • •
1st Quarter
David Monge (Jacó) Ethan Hollander Leonardo Apreda Keshan Allen (U.S.)
Minigrommet - Girls
Anthony Fillingim
• Rachel Agüero (Jacó) • Bree Smith (Bejuco) • Ericka Berra (Puerto Viejo)
Junior - Boys • • • •
August 26
Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) Aarón Ramirez (Jacó) Sam Reidy (Dominical) André Chacón (Jacó)
Full Moon
Junior - Girls • • • •
Rubiana Brownell (Avellanas) Valeria Ojeda (Jacó) Coral Wiggins (Avellanas) Auxiela Ryan (Puerto Viejo)
Andy Chacon
Ojeda - Womans winner 2 Valeria | #search findhowl| online
Photos courtesy of Jorge Russell
AUGUST 1 AUGUST 31
5:29 AM 5:30 AM
AUGUST 1 AUGUST 31
6:02 PM 5:48 PM
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TIDE CHART
AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 31, 2018
DAY
HIGH TIDES
LOW TIDES
HIGH TIDES
LOW TIDES
HIGH TIDES
1 Wed
5:42am 8.78 '
5:42am 8.78 '
5:55am 8.42'
11:58pm 0.69'
2 Thurs
6:20am 8.70'
12:23pm 1.10'
6:33am 8.14'
3 Fri
12:36am 0.91'
6:58am 8.59'
1:05pm 1.23'
7:15am 7.84'
4 Sat
1:16am 1.15'
7:40am 8.46'
1:51pm 1.36'
8:03am 7.57'
5 Sun
2:02am 1.38'
8:30am 8.35'
2:45pm 1.46'
8:59am 7.38'
6 Mon
2:56am 1.56'
9:26am 8.31'
3:45pm 1.44'
10:01am 7.36'
7 Tues
3:58am 1.61'
10:28am 8.39'
4:49pm 1.26'
11:09am 7.57'
8 Wed
5:06am 1.46'
11:34am 8.65'
5:53pm 0.88'
9 Thurs
12:13am 8.03'
6:12am 1.10'
12:36am 9.06'
6:55pm 0.36'
10 Fri
1:15am 8.64'
7:14am 0.59'
1:36am 9.52'
7:51pm -0.20'
11 Sat
2:09am 9.30'
8:12am 0.05'
2:30am 9.95'
8:43pm -0.70'
12 Sun
3:03am 9.88'
9:08am -0.40'
3:22am 10.22'
9:35pm -1.02'
13 Mon
3:53am 10.28'
10:00am -0.67'
4:12am 10.29'
10:23pm -1.11'
14 Tues
4:41am 10.44'
10:50am -0.70'
5:02am 10.12'
11:11pm -0.95'
15 Wed
5:31am 10.34'
11:40am -0.49'
5:52am 9.72'
11:59pm -0.55'
16 Thurs
6:19am 9.99'
12:30pm -0.08'
6:42am 9.14'
17 Fri
12:47am 0.03'
7:09am 9.47'
1:22pm 0.46'
7:34am 8.48'
18 Sat
1:37am 0.72'
8:01am 8.87'
2:16pm 1.03'
8:30am 7.83'
19 Sun
2:31am 1.40'
8:59am 8.30'
3:16pm 1.51'
9:32am 7.32'
20 Mon
3:31am 1.96'
9:59am 7.86'
4:20pm 1.81'
10:40am 7.04'
21 Tues
4:37am 2.30'
11:01am 7.64'
5:26pm 1.87'
11:44am 7.04'
22 Wed
5:43am 2.36'
12:01am 7.64'
6:24pm 1.72'
23 Thurs 12:42am 7.26'
6:41am 2.20'
12:55am 7.82'
7:14pm 1.43'
24 Fri
1:30am 7.61'
7:29am 1.88'
1:41am 8.09'
7:56pm 1.09'
25 Sat
2:12am 8.00'
8:13am 1.50'
2:23am 8.38'
8:34pm 0.76'
26 Sun
2:50am 8.39'
8:51am 1.12'
3:01am 8.64'
9:10pm 0.49'
27 Mon
3:26am 8.72'
9:27am 0.78'
3:39am 8.81'
9:44pm 0.30'
28 Tues
4:02am 8.96'
10:03am 0.54'
4:15am 8.87'
10:18pm 0.22'
29 Wed
4:36am 9.10'
10:39am 0.41'
4:51am 8.81'
10:52pm 0.25'
30 Thurs
5:10am 9.13'
11:15am 0.39'
5:27am 8.63'
11:28pm 0.38'
31 Fri
5:46am 9.06'
11:53am 0.49'
6:05am 8.37'
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SURFING COSTA RICA
‘The Endless Summer’ was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the best movies of 1964.
AUGUST ODYSSEYS
The Endless Su mmer Lifestyle by Jessie Rowan
H
is effortless ease and relaxed style make for a true longboarder. Pair his surfing with his witty, laid-back humor and you get one of the world’s most famous surf pioneers — Robert August. Growing up in Seal Beach, California, Robert was surrounded by waves from the very start. His father, Orral (Blackie) August, was an original California waterman and had Robert surfing by the age of 6. Robert later went on to become a successful contest surfer. He competed in various contests preceding an invite to surf in the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational. Not just a pretty boy, class president and stylish surfer, Robert had a sharp mind to match. He attended Huntington Beach High School and was enrolled in all accelerated classes, planning to attend dental school. Then quickly after high school graduation, he was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Together with filmmaker Bruce
Brown and Mike Hynson, Robert set out to travel the globe in search of the perfect wave. Their quest would be turned into the famous film “The Endless Summer.” Robert was selected to be featured in the film over other more popular surfers at the time, not just because of his smooth surfing ability, but also his positive outlook on the importance of a healthy — sometimes crazy, but always fun — surfing lifestyle. Upon the film’s debut, “The Endless Summer” screened all over the United States and was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the best movies of 1964. This recognition allowed Robert to live out his own “Endless Summer” life. At the same time, he helped put Costa Rica on the global surf map. Back in the early 1990s, Robert and Bruce Brown filmed “The Endless Summer II” at what are now considered some of Costa Rica’s most famous surf spots: Witch’s Rock, Ollie’s Point and Tamarindo. Photos courtesy of Robert August
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Leaving his mark The film’s popularity also opened up profitable business opportunities and has molded Robert August into the individual he is today: a shaper, business owner and surfing icon, but most importantly a father. Since 2011, Robert has resided in Tamarindo, where he raises his daughter, Christine. She is carrying out the August family tradition as a strong and competitive surfer. Robert’s son, Sam August, is also a powerful surfer and former professional baseball player. “My son played for the Houston Astros. I couldn’t believe that was my son when I would go to watch him pitch. I remember saying, ‘Thats my little boy.’ He put his mind to baseball as I did with surfing.” Upon moving to Tamarindo, Robert became a key representative of the Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. There, he teaches the history of surfing and does surfboard shaping seminars, while greatly influencing the surfing culture in and around the country. Robert’s surfing achievements were recognized and honored at the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, California, on Oct. 21, 2017. Family first That family is the central focus of Robert’s life is evident when he considers Christine’s future opportunities. “My daughter just graduated high school. I would sell everything for her to go to her dream university. I don’t want to limit her, I want her to be able to go wherever she wants. I want what is best for her.” Since the “Endless Summer” movies, Robert has kept generating positive surf vibes around the world, leaving a mark everywhere he travels.
Robert and his daughter Christine currently reside in Tamarindo.
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Robert at the airport with his surfboard during the filming of "The Endless Summer."
Robert (far left) taking a surf break with his buddies while filming "The Endless Summer."
Robert at Huntington Beach, where he grew up and was known around town as a surfing hotshot.
Robert is still very active, hand shaping boards every week.
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 5
SURFING COSTA RICA
by Ellen Zoe Golden
PROFILE
CARLOS MUÑOZ
C
arlos Muñoz grew up winning contests. From the age of 10, this Esterillos Oeste surfer was racking up national surf titles. In doing so, he perfected airs — so much so that observers always saw him flying high and rarely missing a landing. Indeed, his global fame was kickstarted with a Superman maneuver at 2014’s Hurley Pro in Trestles, California, where Muñoz was the wild card after winning a landslide online vote by fans. (As the first Tico in a championship tour, he even beat the then No. 1 world surfer, Gabriel Medina, in their first matchup.) Breaking records is what Muñoz does best. At 16, he made national history with open and boys division year-end championships in the Circuito Nacional de Surf here. During his many runs in the nationwide tournament, he would score multiple category wins, once even making the finals podium for three
Photo: Autumn Hays
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— boys, junior and open. On the international stage, Muñoz (known as Cali) has been working his air and rail game progressively and has been in the Top 50 of the World Surf League Qualifying Series rankings since 2013. With the 2018 season “regular but going better” so far, he’s already nailed a fifth place at Chili’s Maui and Sons Arica Pro Tour and 13th place in Hawaii’s Volcom Pipe Pro. There, the press called him “spectacular,” a moniker earned, in part, by his perfect 10.00 threading a backdoor wave in an early heat. With his ranking already 59 with half the year to go, Muñoz is ahead of last year’s trajectory, as he heads into the allimportant Vans US Open in Huntington, California. In 2017, Muñoz astounded everyone by finishing fourth there. In addition, Muñoz has two gold medals this year that he picked up at the Olympics-sanctioned Central American Sports Games in Nicaragua — one for winning the open and the other as a member of the first-place Costa Rican national surf team. This bodes well for his being selected as one of the national team for the Tokyo 2020 Athlete: Carlos Muñoz Olympics, where surfing will make its debut. Sport: Surfing “I’ve been training a lot, working out, working Age: 25 on my strategy, on my surfing, on my surfboards. About: This is a great year also because I’m a father too. Carlos has the most surf titles I’ve been growing up a lot,” says Cali. “I’ve been in Costa Rica, and the most progressing a lot in terms of power surfing, putting longevity on the World Surf more weight on the board and surfing more rail to League Qualifying Series. rail, and trying to do a lot of combos. I’m getting better in my airs and also my barrel skills. I feel my Sponsors: Red Bull, FCS , surfing is very mature compared to other years. Superbrand, Ricante Sauce I just need to put in the right mind and the right frequency. The most important thing about surfing is you need to feel confidence. My surfing is at my highest level and I’m still working to jump to the Photo: World Surf League/Freesurf/Tony Heff next level. I feel very confident, so I hope to qualify for the CT this year.”
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Cali is comfortable in a wedgy barrel Photo: World Surf League/Diaz
oane
Photo: Edward Sl Sprays up when working on his rail game Photo: World Surf League/Poullenot
Carves and spray all da Photo: Alfredo Barqu y long ero
seisplayashotel.com • +506 2653 6818
Spending many winters in Hawaii has paid off with big scores there for Muñoz Photo by World Surf League/Freesurf/Keoki Saguibo
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HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 7
SURFING COSTA RICA
by Jenn Parker
SURF SPOT
PLAYA HERMOSA W
hile Costa Rica has several beaches named Playa Hermosa, only one is home to the most powerful and consistent beach break in the country. That Playa Hermosa is a seven-kilometer stretch of black sand and punchy peaks on the Pacific coast just south of Jacó. The waves here draw surfers from all around who are looking to get shacked and shaken. Aside from the allure of scoring barrels, Playa Hermosa is a charming stretch of beach that exudes tropical beauty and has nearly everything you could want in the ideal oceanside vacation.
How to get there
Playa Hermosa is an easily accessible place to visit and surf, about an hour and 45-minute drive from San José. Once you are on the coastal highway 34, simply head south, drive past Jacó, and your next stop is Playa Hermosa. If you are coming from the south, just head north on 34. Another option is to take a Sansa flight to Quepos, then travel by shuttle or taxi about an hour north to Playa Hermosa.
very small. It is also typically unsafe for swimming due to strong rip currents and mighty swells. However, if you are at least an intermediate surfer, welcome to the wave garden! There are surf spots up and down Playa Hermosa, including Terrazas, Backyard, The Tree, The Curve, Turtle Farms and Tulin. You will almost always find other surfers in the water and can
If you are at least an intermediate surfer, welcome to the wave garden!
choose your own surf spot just by observing the waves from the beach. While you can surf at any tide here, it is usually best on the higher side. Be careful when it’s big, though; a lot of the waves close out and are definitely powerful enough to snap your board like a toothpick.
Local companies
There are plenty of accommodation and dining options in Playa Hermosa. Surf Inn Hermosa, The Backyard Hotel, and Mares Brava Resort and Hotel all offer
Where to surf
Playa Hermosa is not a beginner-friendly break unless
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Photographer: Jorge A. Russell About: A native of Spain, Jorge has been an avid photographer since he was 14 years old. He has been making a living as a professional photographer in Costa Rica since 2004. spectacular ocean and surf views, as well as inviting and cozy rooms. Staying at any of these three places will definitely make you feel like you are on vacation. There are over a dozen restaurants in Playa Hermosa. Vida Hermosa Bar and
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Restaurante, Falafel Hermosa, Arenas Restaurant and Rancho Tipico come with top recommendations from locals and past visitors alike. If you are looking to go to surf camp, Soul Surf and Del Mar Surf Camp can help make your surf dreams come true.
Based in Jacรณ 8836-6475 jorgerussellphotographer@ gmail.com @fotografodeaccion
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 9
SURFING COSTA RICA
Photographer: Marcel Freitez Company: Shaka Media About: Venezuelan-born Marcel has been in Costa Rica since 2010. Nature and surfing are his primary interests. Northern Guanacaste. Office at Shaka Foods, road to Tamarindo 8330 5436 shakamediainfo@gmail.com @shakamedia @Shakamedia
Secret Spots - South Guanacaste July 11, 2018, Juan Diego dropping in on a sweet, little overhead right hander
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Witch's Rock Pealing lefts go empty on July 11, 2018, at Roca Bruja. The sea was perfect, giving a perfect session for those few who were in the water.
by Jenn Parker
WAVES
YOU'VE MISSED
T
he middle of June to the middle of July definitely did not disappoint on the wave front. There were plenty of overhead waves to be found up and down the Pacific coastline. While some spots maxed out, others held the perfect shape and sized waves; you just had to be in the right place at the right time. This month’s surf photography highlights Rocas Bruja and Avellenas, both of which fired on multiple occasions with offshore winds early in the morning, as well as a few glassy sunset sessions and even several all-day offshore wind days. This season of south-southwest swells has been pretty consistent and a special blessing to more exposed spots.
Photos Jorge A. Russell #s earchf indh owl
HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 11
WAVES YOU'VE MISSED ... cont'd Avellanas, Guanacaste
Photographer: Jorgelina Agramunt Company: Avellanas Surf Photos About: We are out there every day documenting your surf sessions so that you can go home with incredibly rad images. Your photographs will be wall art worthy! Take your stoke back home. Based in Avellanas (506) 8879-9612 info@avellanassurfphotos.com avellanassurfphotos avellanassurfphotos.com
Ula going down the line in front of Lola's June 27, 2018
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Photos Jorge A. Russell
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SURFING COSTA RICA
Otto Vargas Murillo at Purruja July 9, 2018
Plenty of unridden waves July 9, 2018
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HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 13