Delbert Bent tells us what surfing in the Caribbean was like in his time.

On June 9, 1962, a great surfer was born, a native of Puerto Viejo de Limón, who was part of a great group of true warriors who marked the beginning of Costa Rican surfing.

A remarkable, tireless fighter who started surfing at the age of nine and today has 48 years of experience in the sport that stole his heart in his native Caribbean.

Bent is one of those surfers of that era who fought tirelessly to be able to attend as many competitions as possible, even though he had to travel by bus and cover his own expenses.

Delbert currently lives in Tamarindo Beach and had to leave his hometown of Puerto Viejo in search of better opportunities. In this article, the Puerto Viejo de Limón native tells us more about his time as a competitive surfer and shares some anecdotes he still remembers with great pride.

How did you get started in the world of surfing back then?

I started because some friends of mine, Alberto Jiménez “Tosty” and Richard Chilene, introduced me to surfing in Puerto Viejo. Alejo Pacheco and Román Urbina also helped me a lot.

What was the Salsa Brava wave like in your day?

The wave at Salsa Brava used to be very different; it was better before, and I used to surf a lot with Kurt Van Dyke from the Puerto Viejo Hotel. We surfed giant waves there, and really, going in there wasn't playing around. After 6 feet, it's a bit dangerous, but now the wave has become even wilder, I think. You have to know how to read it very well and choose the right wave. Now it's a bit dangerous, and when it's very big, the rocks can peel away, and you can have some very bad experiences.

What difficulties did you have surfing back then?

There were so many of them, and getting them there was a bit complicated. Another big difficulty was getting surf wax, because unless some legendary surfer showed up—which was unlikely given the travel involved—very few people arrived. What we had to do was get boards, and the solution was to peel off the wax where it goes and apply paraffin wax to the board.

Any anecdotes from that time that you'd like to share?

There are plenty of anecdotes. Just leaving Puerto Viejo was a huge undertaking, because getting around was incredibly difficult, and I often had to cover all the expenses myself. But one great story I can tell you is about the time I got to surf with Alejo Pacheco and Fran Mora, the founder of ACOS. We managed to get him to go to Salsa Brava, and although it took a lot of convincing, we finally got him. The funny thing is, he almost drowned. He went out to catch some waves, had an epic wipeout, and had to get out. Another thing, which isn't really an anecdote but I want to mention, is that I spent time with Osvaldo Trejos, who was a huge support, even giving me a surfboard, and "Macho" Estrada. They were truly important to me.

How do you see the surfing community today compared to your time?

The surfing scene has changed a lot. Now, surfers who don't compete are all talk and no action. It's hard to find real surfers. Imagine, I'm not even training because I'm teaching at our Big Kahuna Surf Tamarindo school, and I'm sure I have more stamina than the ones I mentioned. But I do want to highlight those who compete in the National Surf Circuit, because that's a whole different ballgame. They have national and international experience, just like I used to.

What was it like to compete back then?

Competing back then was incredibly tough. We were up against top-tier surfers, like Pedrito Rangel, who once nearly wiped out all the locals at a tournament in Playa Bonita. But there were also many other athletes with a very high level of skill, such as Álvaro Solano, Gustavo Castillo, and further back, Mario Fuerzas, Carlos Rodríguez, Osvaldo Trejos, “Macho” Estrada, Diego Ugarte, Javier Hernández, Yuri Méndez, among many others who were also very talented.

You currently live in Guanacaste, why did you decide to make this change in your life?

I left Puerto Viejo because there was a real lack of work there, opportunities were very limited, and in Tamarindo an opportunity opened up for me, so I decided to come here. I'm very grateful to Dr. Evan Mackintosh for this great opportunity. I was also in Playa Jacó, but then I moved here.

What do you think should be more present in national surfing to encourage growth?

I believe there should be more national tournaments and more support for up-and-coming kids. I feel the key lies with the children, as they are the generation of tomorrow. There could be more sponsors in these categories, since many brands have seen that surfing generates revenue.

Do you have any message you'd like to give to the new generations who love surfing?

A message of encouragement for young people who love this sport: keep surfing and try to improve yourselves. Surfing isn't just about showing off; it's something spiritual. Get motivated and keep pushing yourselves to succeed.

Delbert Bent is currently 58 years old and points out that despite his age, he can still perform maneuvers and surf like many younger people do not.

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero