Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report for February 3, 2000

Brought to you each Thursday evening 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

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

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

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

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

3) Tommy at Fuego del Sol Hotel (in Playa Hermosa)

Chuck at Chosita del Surf (643-3328) in Jaco
chucks@sol.racsa.co.cr

4) Todd at Alacran Surf Tours in Manuel Antonio (777-1721)
alacran@sol.racsa.co.cr

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

Vida Verde Land Management & Sales (787-0116) in Dominical
vidaverde@sol.racsa.co.cr

Paco at Hotel Rio Lindo (787-0078) in Dominical hotelriolindo@sol.racsa.co.cr

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 - February 5th, Full Moon - Febraury 19 **
High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)
3:19 p.m. @ 8.3 ft. – 253 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja
8:23 a.m. @ .7 ft. – 21 cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – A fairly strong NW is developing this weekend around El Salvador and should push nice surf to the West and NW facing beaches. It should amplify any remnants of a swell from Argentina, bring bigger afternoon conditions.

Caribbean – The great surf hitting the Caribean coast has dropped some, but should resurface by next Wednesday. This will bring more overhead surf to the whole coast. Overall, February is the month for this coast.

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)
(1) From Patti at the Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: NW swell slowing making it in. 3'-5', with some overhead sets. Winds variable.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): Light swell push from the NW, with a chance of a changeout to SW by Monday. Winds variable with onshore/offshore flow.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Grab a fun board or a long board and catch some fun waves at Playa T-Bay. Witch's likes the NW push!!!!

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Spring Break T Bay - check it out in the Rolling Stone....

(2) From Martine at Hotel Cafe de Paris in Nosara -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: VERY GOOD CONDITIONS- 6 FEET AND 7 FEET FURTHER OUT. CHOPPY CURRENT FROM THE SIDE BUT VERY NICE WAVES.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): HOPEFULLY SAME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: THE BEST PLACE TO SURF WILL BE GUIONES BEACH

JACO & HERMOSA
(3) From Tommy at Fuego del Sol Hotel in Hermosa - Monday 1/31/00
It's a great day in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. We have surf coming out of the south, four to six feet. Up to double overhead on the face of the waves at Tulin. Midday high tide going low through the afternnon. Killer surf outback all day long the winds are holding off so the water is calm. Check the video at www.fuegodelsol.com/page3.html


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

(4) From Alacran Tours in Manuel Antonio – NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
The contest in February is set for Feb 18, 19 & 20 th in Playitas. We will be giving away some small cash prizes as well as other gifts from various local businesses...entry fees are 5000 colones and all entries must be in before Feb. 18th (or on that day)...
The contest in June is also set for June 23, 24, & 25th in front of Terraza and once again organized by Alacran Surf Tours and Hotel Terraza del Pacifico...SERIOS SURFERS..we have increased this year's total purse to $20,000 making it one of the largest events in Central America's history. Check out the blurb on SURFERMAG.com...

(5) From David at Escuela D’Amore in Manuel Antonio - 1. Tamaño y consistencia de las olas esta semana en:
- Playa Espadilla: suaves, tranquilas, limpias, consistentes y su tamaño ha estado entre 2,50 y 3,20 pies en marea alta.
- Playa Playitas: tranquilas, un poco fuertes, inconsistentes, limpias, de dirección tanto derecha como izquierda y su tamaño aproximado es de en marea alta.
2. ¿ Cuál es el mejor lugar para surfear en su área el próximo fin de semana? El mejor lugar para surfear en el área de Manuel Antonio es sin duda alguna playa Playitas; esto por sus fuertes y grandes olas. Pero la mayoría de los surfeadores van a playa Espadilla, pero no presisamente por sus olas sino porque hay muchas personas observándolos realizar movimientos en sus tablas.
3. ¿Qué esperan el próximo fin de semana con respecto al tiempo y las olas? Las opiniónes que dieron muchas personas con respecto a esta pregunta fué: estamos en verano por lo tanto tendremos mucho sol el próximo fin de semana. y con respecto a las olas, los surfeadores esperan que sean iguales de buenas como hasta hoy.
4. ¿ Hay noticias o eventos venideros? Sí, se nos acerca la fecha del festival que se realiza anualmente (Festival del Mar). En el próximo reporte les informaremos acerca de esto.

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC
See National Report

CARRIBEAN
See National Report. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: II Festival of the South Caribbean Coast, at the Playa Chiquita Lodge (south of Puerto Viejo)