Costa Rica Surf Report for January 21, 2000

Brought to you each Friday 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

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

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

6) From Vida Verde Land Management & Sales (787-0116) in Dominical -
vidaverde@costarica.net

7) 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
** Full Moon January 20th with Lunar Eclipse **
VERY STRONG TIDES COMING THIS WEEKEND - Cuidado!

High tide (Friday) - Marea alta (viernes)
2:04 p.m. @ 8.9 ft. - 271 cm.

Low tide - Marea baja
8:39 a.m. @ -.7 ft. - (-21) cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific - A little sign of relief with a large low down by Chile pushing up some surf by Monday. Otherwise, a slight SW push with surf not getting overhead except on the sets. Strongs tides this weekend make "2 until dark" sessions a lot of fun!!

Caribbean - This weekend, expect there to be nice surf in the morning with afternoon rain from the tails of a couple of big lows that went off the US east coast. Now is the time to sit at Puerto Viejo and wait for the swell to come. GO!! Call Mel Baker at A.T.E.C. for conditions at Salsa Brava and check in Cabinas Casa Verde in Puerto Viejo (tell em Greg sent ya)


AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Patti at Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Winds are gone down making for some glassy waves, shoulder high to headhigh at SW breaks. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): Offshore winds to continue through the weekend. Waves SW shoulder high to headhigh + on SW breaks. New sw swell pulling in late Sat. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Playa Negra has headhigh + surf. Playa Avellanes coming in with shoulderhigh plus surf, midday with offshore winds. Boat trip to Oli's? Sat or Sunday....Playa Grande, 4'-6' on some sets. Sidewinds bringing in some closeout sets. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Total Eclipse Thursday night...Big Superbowl Party, Tamarindo-Vista Villas.....The Rock & roll of the Leatherbacks!!!!!Join in for the fun..

From Louis at Las Tortugas at Playa Grande -

(2) From Martine at Cafe de Paris in Nosara - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
3-4 FEET SMALL, OFFSHORE WIND, MUsHY. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
NOT REALLY MUCH SWELL SO I GUESS THE SAME THINK FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: OSTIONAL IS ALWAYS BIGGER WHEN NOSARA IS SMALL. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: TRY THE FAMOUS MOUSSE THE CHOCOLATE AT THE CAFE DE PARIS

(3) From Steve at Tropico Latino Lodge in Santa Teresa - LOCAL WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Same diet of fun chest high surf. waves were lining up well in front of the hotel this evening, v. clean. WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND: More of the same with only beachbreaks working. BEST PLACE TO SURF IN YOUR AREA THIS WEEKEND: Sta Teresa a.m, Playa Carmen p.m.

JACO & HERMOSA (JH)

(4) From Chuck at Chosita del Surf in Jaco: AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Here in Jaco, waves aint lookin so good ! Small clean and barely ridable @ 1-3 ft , good thing I have plenty of other things to do!!!!! WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): Many prayer sessions for a swell increase. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: HOW DO I ANSWER THIS ONE ?! NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Possible contest at Terrazas ! Swell permitting it could be good !

From Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa -

QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO (QMA)

(5) From Alacran Tours in Manuel Antonio - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: The surf has been fairly glassy lately, although that is most likely due to the lack of waves. I would hate to even to try to measure the front of the waves as I would have to exagerate to get a positive number! WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): With reports of a southwest swell over the weekend, we are expecting waist to chest high waves in the area over the weekend. The swell is showing signs of picking up this morning....The weather has been fairly rainy lately. Mornings have been generally cloudy with the clouds breaking by mid-morning and staying clear most of the day with possible late afternoon showers. BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: For the best surf this weekend, check out Playitas and Bajos at the north end of the beach. For the real adventurer, you can check out Playa El Rey just south of Manuel Antonio...however, this break can get closed out with the presence of a swell. Head to Playitas a couple of hours before high tide and a couple after. Bajos tends to get crowded with lots of spongers so beware! NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Alacran Surf Tours and Burro Surf Shop are organizing the Torneo de Surf Playitas 2000 on Feb 18,19 & 20. We will be giving away cash prizes, clothing and other gifts. Entry fees will be 5000 colones and entries are open....For more info or to sign up, call Alacran Surf Tours office at 777-1721. Updated 1-20!! "After checking out the surf personally this afternoon, things are not looking good. Although the wavefax is predicting a SW swell, you would not know it from looking out here."

From David at Escuela D'Amore in Manuel Antonio - ¿Hay alguna noticia o evento venidero ? Si, este 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)
(6) From Sean and Jimmy at Vida Verde Land Management - AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: 3-6 foot faces with early glassy sessions with no one out but us and a few turistas. NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS: Come check out music by the river at Jazzy´s river house every wed.and sat. evening. Located just behind gingo mikes in Dominical. Stop by and see whats happening with Vida Verde Land management and sales located in front of Thrusters. Check out seth for all you glass works- glass blowing- pipes,jewelery, vases and candle holders, or create your own

CARRIBEAN (C)

(7) AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: THIS MORNING EVERYTHING WAS A RELIABLE, SMOOTH 3-4 FT AT BEACHBREAK, NOW AT 5:30 WE HAVE A STRONG BREEZE BLOWING AND DARK SKIES AGAIN OVER THE SEA