It’s “winter” time here in the Central Pacific! OK, perhaps it’s a little hard to describe Costa Rica, ever, with a word like winter, but it actually is. And, what does this mean? Well for us surfers it means swell, swell and more swell. This time of year tends to bring on a lot more rain, and that is a wonderful thing for the nature around us. The area is gorgeously green and fresh and foliage is receiving the well needed water that is sometimes lacking during our summer months. That being said, our waves tend to change a fair bit also. We are seeing a lot more current and a lot more size at all of the local breaks. There will be days where from Esterillos to Jaco, a surfer will see a fairly standard 3-4ft forecast, and then boom… we jump to 5 to 8 feet! Perhaps this may get a little large for many of us, but this is the time to go watch those that do go out and spin their magic on these amazing waves. A great place to watch is over breakfast at Las Olas in Playa Hermosa.
We are lucky to be hosting some great competitions over the next few months, so if you are in the area, it’s really an absolute must to go and watch!
The ALAS Latin American Circuit for 2015 comes to two beaches in the upcoming months. ALAS stands for Asociacion Latinoamericana De Surfistas Profesionals, and these tours always bring out the best surfers from Costa and neighboring countries. The first to come and see is at Roca Loca from August 20-30. Roca Loca is 3 minutes south of Jaco Beach. Bring your lawn chair, snacks and drinks along with an umbrella to watch some truly big wave surfing. Roca Loca can get epically large, and if we have swell, the surfing will not disappoint. The second on the circuit is hosted at Playa Hermosa and is situated in front of the Backyard Bar. This event runs from Oct 15-18, and usually there are a lot of fun evening activities also occurring during these days. Backyard usually has some great live bands, and Jaco bars usually offer up something fun in celebration of this event. You can check out the ALAS Facebook page for more information on both dates.
So, check your swell charts – see where it’s right for you. Quepos and Barranca are always awesome options if it’s just seeming a bit too much.
Tina Wallace
Del Mar Surf Camp