Published on Wednesday, June 18, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A "Tica" surfer (a term used for a native of Costa Rica)  Leilani McGonagle earned second place at the 2025 Krui Pro, part of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000, held Tuesday in Ujung Bocur, Indonesia.

McGonagle, a native of Pavones Beach in Puntarenas, competed in the women’s Final Heat 1 scoring 12.13 points. She narrowly lost to Japan’s Anon Matsuoka, who claimed the top spot with 12.60 points. Australia’s Jahly Stokes placed third with a score of 9.83.

“Winning second place at the WQS 6,000 in Krui, Indonesia, was so much fun and one of my favorite tournaments,” McGonagle wrote on social media after receiving her prize.

According to the WSL, surfers faced choppy, wind-affected conditions on Finals Day but still delivered standout performances.

“Leilani McGonagle was one of the in-form surfers, winning her heats in convincing fashion to book a spot in the Final,” the WSL noted in its event recap. “Her sharp forehand turns in critical sections set her apart, but she was outsurfed by Matsuoka in the Final.”

The 25-year-old McGonagle, whose parents are British citizen Sean McGonagle and U.S. citizen Jamie Marie Cada, is regarded as one of the most promising surfers of Costa Rica’s new generation. Her strong showing at the Krui Pro keeps her hopes alive for qualification in the WSL Challenger Series.

In other sporting competitions, Sherman Güity-Güity recently won two gold medals at the Cali Para Athletics Grand Prix in Cali, Colombia.

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