Costa Rican surfer Carlos Muñoz was unable to beat Jack Freestone in the quarterfinals of the first QS 10.000 of the year, the Ballito Pro, but with fifth place he achieved the best result of the season and the third best of his career, which brought him to seventh place in the ranking.

Muñoz added 12,43 (7,50+4,9) which was not enough to beat the 14,23 (7+7,23) made by the Australian. The Costa Rican spent 20 minutes trying to improve his second best wave, but he did not succeed.

The 5.200 points corresponding to the fifth position gave him a total of 10890 points that put him in seventh place in the ranking, in the CT qualification zone. Muñoz will have to reach approximately 17500 points to qualify, considering the discards, he has to add about 8500 more points.

This is definitely the best start to the season for the Costa Rican in recent years.

“Thank God for the opportunity to surf in his name,” Muñoz wrote on his Instagram. “It’s been a long year, but this gives me confidence to continue pushing my limits in the sport of surfing, which is at a very high level,” he added, referring to his seventh place in the rankings. “Thanks to Ballito for the love. Pura vida,” he concluded.

The event was once again won by a Brazilian, CT member Deivid Silva took home 10.000 points and moved up 120 positions in the ranking, to fourth place.