FERNANDO GIACCAGLIA
Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician,
Swiftwater Rescue

Fernando comes from the beautiful city of Mar del Plata in Argentina. A background of working as a life-guard on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, competitive swimming and Triathlon stood him in good stead for the rigors of being an Adventure Guide.  Fernando was the Argentinean junior swimming champion and competed professional in Triathlon for 4 years from 1986 –1990.  He traveled extensively throughout South America and the USA adding international victories to those achieved in Argentina. Fernando has been working with Coast to Coast Adventures since arriving on Costa Rican soil in 1994.  His interests range from woodwork, skiing, cooking and learning about the neo-tropics.

ERIC CANO
Wilderness First Responder, Switfwater Rescue

Eric was born in San Jose, Costa Rica.  With family dotted around the countryside he had the perfect playground amidst rivers, caves and mountains to develop his love of adventure and sport.  In 1998 he spent a year studying in New Zealand where he was introduced to the sport of Adventure Racing.  Upon returning to Costa Rica, his skill in outdoor adventure had progressed sufficiently to join Coast to Coast Adventures.  In his spare time he is completing his studies at the University and competes in the Adventure Racing Series in Costa Rica.  He also entered the Camdex Adventure Race in Mexico in 2001 and was privileged to be asked to act as a judge in this year’s Global Extremes challenge, televised by the OLN Network.

URSULA JENSEN
Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue

Ursula was born in Caracas Venezuela.  She is currently the National women’s champion in kayaking and has been Adventure Racing for the last 4 years.  She and her team won the Spirit Award in the 2000 Eco Challenge in Borneo and achieved 28th place.  She has over 15 years experience in horse riding and taught in Costa Rica’s largest riding club for 5 years.  She has been working with Coast to Coast Adventures for 6 years.  She acted as a judge in this year’s Global Extremes challenge, televised by the OLN Network.
 

 

JUAN CARLOS NELSON
Wilderness first Responder, Swiftwater Rescue

Juan Carlos has been with Coast to Coast Adventures, man and boy!  He joined us when the company was in its infancy and has therefore had the benefit of considerable on-the-job training which is one of the best ways to develop as a guide.  Having worked in our warehouse for some years he was encouraged to test his skills on the river and went into a training program which has resulted in his being one of the best river guides in the country.  He is also qualified in Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness First Responder.

Shopping trips and continued exposure to English speaking people progressed his language skills while his sense of humour and personality needed no help at all!  He was born on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica but moved to San Jose as a child.  

He has matured from that boy in the warehouse to an extremely responsible guide with a wife and two children.  At one time he had the chance to follow in his father’s footsteps and possibly become a professional soccer player, but thankfully for Coast to Coast, he decided that his heart lay in tourism where he has the opportunity to excel at a variety of sporting activities.