A ring of another kind for Olympic medalist Gretchen Bleiler

Gretchen Bleiler, pictured at left after winning a silver medal in the halfpipe competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics, will be tossing a different kind of bouquet and/or a garter in June.

The snowboarder's agent, Amy Stanton, told me Thursday that Bleiler will be married on June 19 "somewhere in Costa Rica" to longtime boyfriend Chris Hotell.

Bleiler, a multiple X Games medalist, and Hotell, a marketing specialist at Oakley, became engaged shortly after buying a house together last year in Carlsbad.

Therefore, when the 2010 Vancouver Olympics roll around, Gretchen Hotell will be among the favorites to win the gold.

Or will the pride of Aspen/Snowmass -- where she also has a home -- keep her name, which is catchier and more familiar to fans?

Or will it be Bleiler-Hotell? I forgot to ask but presume Bleiler will remain Bleiler by profession. And I'm not going out on a limb by predicting she'll end up on the podium again, hoisting another flowery bouquet.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Gretchen Bleiler (left) and Hannah Teter celebrate winning the silver and gold medals, respectively, during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. Credit: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Costa Rica: Surfline unveils new pocket guide

Picture yourself on the wave in the photograph. But first, picture yourself on an airplane bound for Costa Rica, site of this zipping right-hander, and many others like it.

This is your first or possibly second journey to the sun-drenched, surf-blessed Central American paradise, and your sense of adventure is soaring.

If this is or will soon be you, do yourself a favor and pick up Surfline’s new “Costa Rica Surf Guide” ($14.95, Surfline.com). It’ll help you get more out of the experience.

It’s not intended to be the most comprehensive surfing guide. In fact, it’s pocket-sized and features only a few dozen spots and, as Surfline founder Sean Collins states, “We avoid pointing out the exact locations of some of the more sensitive frontier spots so you may continue on that tradition of surf exploration.”

But the guide does transport you to each prime region and highlights many premier surfing breaks. It notes the best means of access and optimum times for each season and swell direction. It describes what kind of board you’ll want for each spot, and explains which spots are suitable for beginners.

It also touches on the local vibe and hazards to watch out for, in some cases crocodiles!

It will assist greatly during your adventure, but extensive odysseys in rugged realms almost always call for detours and ad-libbing.