Luis Corella tells us what surfing was like when he started and the whole story of how the Mango Surf Shop chain of stores was born.

A surfing lover at heart who has practiced the discipline for approximately 40 years, a native of the city of Alajuela, but who from a very young age managed to practice the sport that would steal his heart.

When he started surfing things weren't as easy as they are now, and despite the limitations, his love for the sea and the waves helped him establish himself in the national surfing scene.

Luis Corella, better known in the Costa Rican surfing community as "Puppy," is the founder of the Mango Surf Shop chain. In this article, he tells us all about how he got started in surfing and where the idea of ​​creating a surf shop came from, at a time when the sport was just taking its first steps in our country.

Who is Luis Corella and in what year did you start surfing?

I am passionate about surfing and live it every day, whether surfing or at work, which is related to the sport and surf culture. I'm originally from Alajuela, and since I was five years old, we had a house on the beach in Jacó, where my love for the sea and the beach began. I started surfing in 1980 and have been active in the sport ever since.

How were things back then compared to today in surfing?

 Back then, everything was more rustic. We surfed Boca Barranca, Tivives, Valor, and other spots in that area, or we surfed Jacó or Hermosa. There was no road between Puntarenas and Jacó; the coastal highway didn't exist yet. The road to Jacó was full of potholes, and access was more difficult. These were the beaches we frequented most. We also surfed Guana, Pavones, Limón, and others. It was harder to find surfboards and gear. At first, we couldn't even find sunscreen; we used baby diaper cream for sun protection. We traveled in pickup trucks with 1200cc or 1000cc engines, and sometimes there were four or five of us crammed in the truck bed.

What was your favorite beach to surf back when you were competing, and what is your favorite beach to surf today?

I had several favorite beaches for surfing, like Roca Bruja, Playa Negra, Pavones, Limón, and a few others. Right now, my favorite is the one I surf most often, Playa Escondida.

Where and how did the idea to create the Mango chain of stores originate?

In 1986, I took a surf trip to California, surfing several beaches in the southern part of the United States. These were beaches we'd seen in magazines and wanted to experience and surf. We also visited various surf shops in Newport and Huntington, buying boards, accessories, and clothing. It was there that I got the idea to open a California-style surf shop in Costa Rica, because at that time there weren't any surf shops where you could find California brands like Quiksilver, Billabong, and others. In 1988, the first Mango Surf Shop opened in San Pedro.

What have you been most passionate about in surfing throughout all these years?

Surfing is a very complete sport that helps us a lot, both physically and mentally. It involves a lot of contact with the sea, and that's my passion. It's a zero-pollution sport and is in complete harmony with nature. More than a sport, it's a lifestyle.

 

Do you have any anecdotes from those times that you still remember and would like to share? 

I have so many stories. Once, when the news was announcing that the sea was overflowing in Limón because of the huge waves, we went surfing at Playa Bonita. A massive set came in and everyone was yelling "Run!", but I turned on a wave and went for it. I had a hard wipeout and it dragged me all over the beach, snapping my leash and throwing me towards the shorebreak . Some friends had to help me. I remember that back then at Playa Bonita, when the waves were big, the ambulance would park outside. Thank God I came out unharmed in the end. The things you do for surfing.

Do you have any advice for the new generations, as a surfing enthusiast and successful national businessman, regarding fighting for their dreams?

 We are living in very difficult times, times we never imagined would come. My advice is to keep fighting and pursuing our dreams and passions; life isn't always as planned, and we must keep going and never give up.

I want to thank God for the opportunity He has given me to be able to surf and to live this lifestyle that I have had.

Good waves and long live surfing!

 

Writing and media: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero