Costa Rica's crack surfing team yet again taught regional competitors a lesson, bringing home the winning trophy from the Central American Surf Championship over the weekend in Playa Venao, Panama – their third consecutive win in the tournament's three-year history.

On top of the team's success as a whole, individual strides were made, namely by Jason Torres and Nataly Bernold, both from Costa Rica's central Pacific Playa Jacó. Winners of the Open and Women's division respectively, Torres and Bernold this year managed to come in first after placing second in both 2006 and 2007.

“To tell the truth, I am very happy,” Bernold said in a Surf Federation press release. “I pursued this so hard, and after three years I made it. Now, I need to move ahead and get more international titles. That is my priority,” she said.

Costa Rican bodyboarder Jimena Calvo also won first place for her division.

Coach José Ureña did not hold back enthusiasm. “We achieved the number one objective and that was taking home the title ... that's why we came,” said Ureña, who is also the national federation's president.

Overall, host nation Panama finished second, followed by Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.