Costa Rica Surf Report for January 7, 2000

Brought to you each Thursday by local surf businesses throughout Costa Rica. See http://www.crsurf.com/links.html for pics., forecast links, and tide charts.

FEATURES

National Stats:
Tides
Swell Direction

Area Reports:
Wave Heights & Conditions
Forecasts & Best Spot
Upcoming Events / Contests

SPONSORS by Area

Patti at Best Western - Vista Villas & The Monkey Bar "Guanacaste's Surf Connection" (653-0114) in Tamarindo - tamvv@sol.racsa.co.cr

1) Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0458) in Playa Grande - nela@cool.co.cr

2) Martine at Hotel Café de Paris (682-0087) in Nosara -cafepari@sol.racsa.co.cr

3) Steve at Tropicos Latino (640-0062) in Playa Santa Teresa troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

4) Chuck at Chosita del Surf (643-3328) in Jaco

chucks@sol.racsa.co.cr

Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa (643-3737)

cybersurfer@fuegodelsol.com

5) Todd at Alacran Surf Tours in Manuel Antonio (777-1721)

alacran@sol.racsa.co.cr

6) From David at Escuela D’Amore (777-1143) in Manuel Antonio – damore@sol.racsa.co.cr

7) Paco at Hotel Rio Lindo (787-0078) in Dominical hotelriolindo@costarica.net

8) Mel Baker at A.T.E.C. (750-0191) in Puerto Viejo atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo

http://www.greencoast.com/casaverd.htm or atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

TIDES (for Puntarenas) – Mareas

** New Moon January 6th, Full Moon January 20th **

High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)

3:42 p.m. @ 8.3 ft. – 253 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja

9:24 a.m. @ .4 ft. – 12 cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – A far reaching SSW west will bring overhead surf to S and SW facing beaches for the weekend afternoon sessions. Look for great morning conditions next Tuesday – Thursday.

Caribbean – Nothing powerful hitting the points and beaches now, but watch NE’ers going off the U.S. coast and new storms in the Bay of Campeche to bring surf.

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Loius at Las Tortugas at Playa Grande - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: We've been enjoying a strong southwest swell for about a week now. It has been slowly fading out for about three days and today dropped to the shoulder to head high range. The form throughout the entire swell has been exceptional with the last three days in the misto category. Today the off shores blew all day. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): The wind should hold through the weekend with the tides moving to the late afternoon and early morning. With a swell, conditions are perfect for good surf. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: All the points are working if it has the size. Stick close to the hotel if the swell stays small. Tamarindo river mouth has been sketchy with the sand in the northern part of the river mouth facilitating some surfing at outgoing tide.

(2) From Martine at Hotel Café de Paris in Nosara - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Playa Guiones, 4-5 feet, small glassy and offshores. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): Windy and probably off shores until the end of the week. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Playa Guiones and Ostional. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: We have few marriages on the beach this week.

From Steve at Tropico Latino Lodge in Santa Teresa - LOCAL WAVE HEIGHTS & CONDITIONS: Surf small and clean ranging from waist to head high. Plenty of offshore with afternoon sessions possible most days. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND: More clean fun surf - hope that it picks up a bit. BEST PLACE TO SURF NEAR YOU THIS WEEKEND: Santa Teresa has been working best and should continue to do so, evening sessions at high tide at Carmen.

JACO & HERMOSA (JH)

(4) From Chuck at Chosita del Surf in Jaco: AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Just got out of the water, it was a fun 2-3 ft glassy and fair form, not to crowded but expect the crowd to grow as the weekend comes! WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): PEOPLE , SURF, plenty of parties ! Jaco rocks on the weekends! BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Unless something changes , for those looking for small clean waves that we will have, want something bigger go to Hermosa ! My guess is 3-4ft for Sat. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Terraza Del Pacifico contest Jan. 22-24th, be ready- the team from "LA CHOSITA DEL SURF" will be there to give a challenge to those who want it!! Thanks

QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO (QMA)

(5) From Alacran Tours in Manuel Antonio – AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Last Thursday we had a swell come in with some nice overhead to double overhead sets coming in down in Playitas and Bajos. By Sunday it was completely dead with waist high waves at best. This trend continued through the week, with some head high sets. Heavy onshore winds haven't helped, but the winds did shift a couple of times in the late afternoon. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): This weekend we are expecting conditions to worsen, with waist high sets hopefully coming in. The weather on the other hand has been incredible with sun, sun and more sun! BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: The best bet is going to be Playa el Rey on the incoming low tide and Playitas a couple of hours before and after the high tide. Perhaps Boca Damas will receive some head high surf, but I imagine most sets will be closing out. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: The annual Festival del Mar in Quepos is coming up, starting the week of the Feb. 15th. We will be hosting a local surf tournament on the 19th and 20th for those interested. Prizes (and perhaps money) will be awarded to the top finishers. More to come of that in the following weeks. . .

(6) From David at Escuela D’Amore in Manuel Antonio - 1. ¿Cuánto miden las olas y cómo son sus condiciones? En playa Playitas las olas han estado midiendo entre 4y5,30 pies en marea alta; sus condiciones son muy buenas,suaves, tranquilas y consistentes. En playa Espadilla la situación ha estado similar, con la diferensia de que en esta playa las olas han estado midiendo aproximadamente 2o3 pies en marea alta. De por mas les cuento que en este momento tenemos muchos turistas por aquí y la mayoría van a la playa todos los días, así que por esta situación la playa esta llena todos los días. No se lo pierdan!. 2. ¿Qué esperan este fin de semana con respecto al tiempo y las olas? Esta fue la pregunta que le hice a algunas personas en la playa esta mañana, a la cual cási la mayoría contestaron positivamente, diciendo que este próximo fin de semana habra mucho sol tanto por la mañana como por la tarde. Con respecto a las olas contestaron que es muy posible que la marea continúe igual; y si la marea continúa igual también las olas continuaran iguales. 3. ¿Cuál es el mejor lugar para surfear en su área este próximo fin de semana? Bueno, si ustedes lo que quieren es olas grandes y fuertes, pero pocas personas obsertbandolos, el lugar más adecuado es playa Playitas; recuerden que esta playa tiene las olas más grandes de todo Manuel Antonio. Pero si ustedes lo que quieren es olas no muy grandes y muchas personas viendolos realizar asañas con su tabla de surf el lugar adecuado es playa Espadilla; a esta playa asisten la mayoría de las personas, para bañarse y conseguir un bonito bronseado, espesialmente en este tiempo. 4. ¿Hay alguna noticia o evento venidero ? Si, por dicha si tenemos notícias nuevas para este reporte; y es que el próximo viernes comienza una super bonita fiesta en Quepos, en donde habra comidas típicas, juegos mecanicos, monta de toros, etc. Los esperamos!.

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC (D)

(7) From Rio Lindo Hotel - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Surf has been good a couple of hours before high tide with waves in the head high range with some 2’ + overhead sets. It’s coming in from the SW, but looks like the swell might be dropping. The sunsets have continued to be amazing for the evening surf sessions. Pura vida !

CARRIBEAN (C)

(8) From Mel Baker of A.T.E.C. in Puerto Viejo - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Beach break- 2ft., Salsa- flat, Intermitant rain showers