He can fly: Jason Torres has lift off of a wave at Manuel Antonio's surf competition.

Photo courtesy of Philippe Demarsan

A week since returning to Costa Rica as the Central American surfing champion, Jason Torres captured another title over the weekend, winning the first-ever SOL Surf competition. The contest took place at Playa Espadilla in Manuel Antonio, near the national park of the same name on the central Pacific coast.

In the finals, Torres trailed Luis Vindas most of the heat, but in the final minute, both surfers caught the final wave, with Torres going left, and Vindas right.

On that wave, Torres scored high enough to pass Vindas and win the championship.

Torres won $1,500 for his first place finish and was awarded a $200 gift certificate at Olas surf shop in Quepos.

His victory in the SOL Surf contest comes only a week after Torres won his second Central American championship in El Salvador. In the World Surfing Games in August in Jacó, Torres finished seventh overall.

“This was an incredible finale,” Torres said after leaving the water. “I couldn't let me guard down for one second.”

Vindas, who is a teammate of Torres on the Costa Rican national surfing team, took home $500 for his second place finish.

On the women's side, Nataly Bernold finished first, winning $500, while teammate Lisbeth Vindas came in second, earning $250.