Naranjo Beach in the Gulf of Nicoya will host the first edition of the O'Pacífico Paddle Challenge.

After a pause in SUP competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the excitement of paddling races will return on November 22nd.

The first version of the O'Pacífico Paddle Challenge will take place in Playa Naranjo in the beautiful Gulf of Nicoya and will feature the categories for men and women of recreational race (6km), 12'6 feet race (12km) and 14'0 feet race (12km), in addition there will be a mixed category, called touring and will have a distance of 6 kilometers.

The activity will be carried out under all health protocols, after the approval of the Minister of Sport, Hernán Solano, enabled competitions in this modality.

“This event will pave the way for the hopeful reactivation of competitive surfing and its various disciplines, and will be a tool to promote safe economic recovery along our coasts, lakes, and rivers. In addition to promoting health and healthy activities among the inhabitants of these areas, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) can also be sustainably developed as a tourist attraction, benefiting hundreds of families. It is a starting point for positioning the country as a world-class destination for this sport, thanks to its natural landscapes and tourism infrastructure,” stated the Minister of Sport, Hernán Solano.

The Costa Rican Surfing Federation organized the competition in conjunction with the Minister of Sport and his office, and despite having a protocol for the return of surfing competitions, they opted for SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding). The current president, Randall Chaves, provides an explanation for this decision:

“ An analysis was conducted with the Minister of Sport, and we determined that the best course of action is to hold SUP races in controlled environments. Meanwhile, the Federation's technical committee is helping us identify potential venues for upcoming surf tournaments. By controlled environments, I mean spaces where we can manage the number of people entering, ensuring they are the competitors and preventing spectators from creating crowds. We are following the guidelines provided by both ICODER and the Ministry of Sport, which is to hold competitions in controlled locations. Therefore, we will hold the first event at Playa Naranjo, and then another event in December at Playa Hermosa, Místico .”

These dates do not correspond to the National Circuit, however, they are of great importance to paddleboard racing enthusiasts as they represent a return to the competitive modality of the discipline.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero