Costa Rica is a legendary country when it comes to surfing. Every year thousand of surfers travel to the costal nation to ride some of the world’s most famous waves. It is here, a region that most surfers just see as a place to party and ride, that Hanna Rico sees a place to reach out.

Rico is one of the country’s top surfers. She recently won the National Longboarding Championship, beating out not just the area’s best female riders but also the top male competitors. The co-ed contest victory is just one example of Rico’s clout in the country where surfing is practically the national pastime.

Hanna Rico came to the country years ago in a study program with the Young Life organization. While there she developed more than just a love for the killer waves and tropical climate; she developed a passion for the people of Costa Rico. She saw a pattern of drug use and heavy drinking in travelers and surfers that would come through town leaving a negative mark on the local youth of the area. It was a scene that spoke to Rico’s surfer heart as well as her heart for the lost.

“When I left Costa Rica my heart kind of stayed there,” Rico said. “I had to return.”

Hanna Rico is now a full resident of the Costa Rica, and her surfing isn’t the only thing that is getting attention. Rico is a part of the Christian Surfers organization that reaches out to other surfers by showing them the positive impact that having a relationship with God can make on their lives.

“Our vision is to be a presence and a witness in the surfing community,” Rico told Jake in his recent interview.

With her easy-going nature, quick wit and natural ability on a surfboard, Rico is leaving more than just a fresh impression of pro surfing; she’s making an impact on the country that she loves.

By Jesse Carey