Friday, November 15, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report for November 15, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 5, Issue 171
November 15th, 2002

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

1st Surf Contest of the National Circuit, November 16-17th
in Playa Negra! Check the website www.surfingcr.com for
rules and signup info.

SURF CONTEST benefiting homeless kids at the Hotel Arenal
Pacifico in Jaco organized by Cabinas Las Olas. Contact
643-3687 for more info. The contest doesn't have any cost
of inscription, the surfer that wants to compete has to
help us to spend a day on the beach with 45 kids between
the ages of 13-18 years. We have softboards which we are
going to use to get kids in the water and teach them how to
surf.

Send me a note if you are interested in working on a Costa
Rican chapter of the Surfrider Foundation - Protecting the
World's Oceans, Waves, and Beaches.

Have a question? We have answers! Send a note to
info@crsurf.com before your next trip to get the info on
waves, boards, and places to stay.

TIDES *for Friday - add 50 min. each day after

High Tide - 7.16 ft. at 11:46 AM
Low Tide - 1.81 ft. at 5:50 PM

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - The nice SW swell that arrived Wednesday will be
fading out by Saturday, leaving surf up in Guanacaste chest
high and further south waist to chest high. No relief is
expected Sunday, but by Monday a NW swell will hit the
beaches of the Nicoya peninsula, pushing surf back up to
headhigh with some overhead sets. This won't be seen in the
central Pacific but a few headhigh sneaker sets show up in
the southern zone. NW'er stays on the scene through next
Thursday and further ahead another SW swell will push in
head high surf for next weekend.

Caribbean - Saturday the surf stays knee to waist high but
clean. Then on Monday a ESE arrives with surf chest to head
high with the biggest sets hitting Wednesday. Swell expires
Thursday afternoon leaving waist to chest high surf for
next weekend.


SPONSORS by Area

Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande
surfegg@cool.co.cr

Robert August Surf Shop (653-0114) in Tamarindo
rasurfshop@yahoo.com

Witches Rock Surf Camp (670-1138) in Tamarindo and Playas
del Coco
witchsrock@hotmail.com

Tropico Latino Lodge (640-0062) in Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Hotel Cafe de Paris (682-0087, fax 682-0089) in Nosara
info@cafedeparis.net

Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco
chuck@sol.racsa.co.cr

Fuego del Sol Hotel (643-2078) solsurf@sol.racsa.co.cr in
Playa Hermosa

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

Adventure Education Center (787-0023) in Dominical
*tell em crsurf sent ya (aecdominical@sol.racsa.co.cr)

Hotel Diuwak (787-0087 fax 787-0089) in Dominical
www.diuwak.com or diuwak@racsa.co.cr

Villas Rio Mar (787-0052 fax 787-0054) in Playa Dominical
www.villasriomar.com or info@villasriomar.com

Third World Productions Surf Camp, Trips, & Photography
thirdworldproductionscr@yahoo.com (643-1064)

Tico Travel - Surf Trips (1-800-493-8426)
info@ticotravel.com

Roca Verde Hotel (787-0036 fax 787-0013) in Dominical
http://www.hotelrocaverde.com or info@hotelrocaverde.com

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.cabinascasaverde.com or
info@cabinascasaverde.com

(new) Century 21/ Dos Hermanos Realty (787-0138 / FAX:
787-0139) in Dominical
http://www.dhrrealty.com or james@dhrrealty.com

Dominical Homes / Dominical Realty (787-0116) in Dominical
email: daveed@dominicalrealty.com

Gold Coast Realty (654-4447) in Playa Grande
demyen@racsa.co.cr


AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

** From Diane at Robert August Surf Shop in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
We've had a week of small surf as predicted. Waves in
Tamarindo have ranged from waist to chest, smaller in the
beginning of the week. Each day starts with off-shore
winds, but today is the first day that they've held into
the afternoon. Looks like we've got a bit of west swell
coming in that's causing Henry's point and the central area
of the beach to break. Las olas esta semana han sido
pequenas como pronosticaron. El tamano es de la cintura al
pecho, mas pequeno al principio de la semana. Cada dia
empieza con el viento off-shore, pero hoy es el primer dia
que ha seguido hasta la tarde. Parece que tenemos algo de
un swell oeste que esta haciendo olas en Henry's point y la
parte central de la playa.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
A swell from the south/southwest is predicted to arrive
here on Friday, winds expected to be off shore, so it could
shape up to be a great surf weekend in Tamarindo. Un swel
del sur/suroeste es pronosticado para el viernes y el
viento lo esperamos off-shore asi que podra ser un fin de
semana perfecta para surfear en Tamarindo.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA -El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
It looks like it's could be great anywhere, especially
Langosta. Depending how much west is in the swell, the
Tamarindo rivermouth could be a good spot as well. Parece
que podra ser buena donde sea, especialmente en Langosta.
Depende en cuanto del oeste tenga el swell, la boca del rio
en Tamarindo puede ser buen lugar tambien.

** From Carrie and Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa
Grande -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
Thursday saw waves at a solid head high with some sets well
overhead. It was offshore throughout the day, making for a
long mid-morning to early afternoon session. Lots of
barrels! Playa Grande at it's best!

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
The swell seems a bit junkier today, Friday, with plenty of
size but a bit more mixed up than yesterday. Who knows,
though, as the tide fills in it could certainly clean up
and we could have a repeat of yesterday. This weekend looks
good for Grande as we seem to be locked into an offshore
weather pattern and there's plenty if swell in the water.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA -El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Grande!

** From Marco at Tropico Latino Lodge in Santa Teresa -

Surf area- Mal Pais y Santa Teresa. Tamano - small,1 to 1,5
meter on the front. Best spot - In front of Tropico Latino!
Playa Carmen! Puravida, Marco


JACO & HERMOSA

** From Tommy at Fuego del Sol in Playa Hermosa -

Local Climate: Slight Overcast, Air Temp: 91f, Water Temp:
85f, Wave Height & Direction: SW 2-4 feet, Wind: Very
Still, 0 mph, Good Morning! The Surf came up a bit,
overnight. It's looking real good with the incoming tide
this instant. We have 2-4 foot conditions (that's from the
back of the wave for all you Wallys) and, No Wind, PURA
VIDA!!!! Costa Rica Extended Forecast. 2-3 feet for the
next week or, so.... Pura Vida!!!


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

see the national report above

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

** From Greg at the Adventure Education Center in
Dominical-

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:

Surf is chest to head high, clean in the morning - choppy
in the afternoon. Not much rain during the day, only at
night.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):

Wave size will decrease down to waist to maybe a chest high
set for Saturday and Sunday. Not much expected next week.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:

In front of Tortilla Flats. A nice peak has been formed by
the sandbars there.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales:

Good luck to Ronnie, Jose, and Jenny at the contest in
Negra! Check out www.adventurespanishschool.com to sign up
for a place to stay and get to practice your spanish with
the locals in the water. Email aecdominical@sol.racsa.co.cr
for more info.


CARIBBEAN

see the national report above

Friday, November 8, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report for November 8, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 5, Issue 170
November 8th, 2002

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

Have a question? We have answers! Send a note to
info@crsurf.com before your next trip to get the info on
waves, boards, and places to stay.

1st Surf Contest of the National Circuit, November 16-17th
in Playa Negra! Check the website www.surfingcr.com for
rules and signup info.

Next SURFRIDER meeting in Dominical - November 14th,
4:30p.m., at Thrusters! Beach cleanup at 3 p.m. Send me a
note if you are interested in working on a Costa Rican
chapter of the Surfrider Foundation - Protecting the
World's Oceans, Waves, and Beaches.

TIDES *for Friday - add 50 min. each day after

High Tide - (-.87) ft. at 11:05 AM
Low Tide - 9.36 ft. at 5:23 PM

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - Swells arriving from all directions this week.
Surf will be in the chest high range for the weekend and
then slowly increasing up to 1 foot overhead by Tuesday.
Surf stays bigger Wednesday and then drops slowly back to
stomach to chest high for next weekend. Morning high tides
should help the form at the beachbreaks.

Caribbean - The eastern coast looks small for the weekend,
maybe some waist high surf at the beachbreaks. Then on
Monday afternoon a slight increase will be noticeable and
by Wednesday surf should be chest high with some nice sets
flowing in from the ESE. It starts dropping Thursday and is
back to waist high by Friday.


SPONSORS by Area

Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande
surfegg@cool.co.cr

Robert August Surf Shop (653-0114) in Tamarindo
rasurfshop@yahoo.com

Witches Rock Surf Camp (670-1138) in Tamarindo and Playas
del Coco
witchsrock@hotmail.com

Tropico Latino Lodge (640-0062) in Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Hotel Cafe de Paris (682-0087, fax 682-0089) in Nosara
info@cafedeparis.net

Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco
chuck@sol.racsa.co.cr

Fuego del Sol Hotel (643-2078) solsurf@sol.racsa.co.cr in
Playa Hermosa

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

Adventure Education Center (787-0023) in Dominical
*tell em crsurf sent ya (aecdominical@sol.racsa.co.cr)

Hotel Diuwak (787-0087 fax 787-0089) in Dominical
www.diuwak.com or diuwak@racsa.co.cr

Villas Rio Mar (787-0052 fax 787-0054) in Playa Dominical
www.villasriomar.com or info@villasriomar.com

Third World Productions Surf Camp, Trips, & Photography
thirdworldproductionscr@yahoo.com (643-1064)

Tico Travel - Surf Trips (1-800-493-8426)
info@ticotravel.com

Roca Verde Hotel (787-0036 fax 787-0013) in Dominical
http://www.hotelrocaverde.com or info@hotelrocaverde.com

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.cabinascasaverde.com or
info@cabinascasaverde.com

(new) Century 21/ Dos Hermanos Realty (787-0138 / FAX:
787-0139) in Dominical
http://www.dhrrealty.com or james@dhrrealty.com

Dominical Homes / Dominical Realty (787-0116) in Dominical
email: daveed@dominicalrealty.com

Gold Coast Realty (654-4447) in Playa Grande
demyen@racsa.co.cr


AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

** From Diane at Robert August Surf Shop in Tamarindo -

SIZE AND CONDITIONS:
The waves have been small all week--around waist high in
all of Tamarindo. Last Sunday was a gorgeous blue
summer day with off-shores all day long. The week has been
more a mix of summer and winter with inconsistant winds,
patchy rain and blue skys in between. At the moment we have
the wind on shore and a lot of chop. Las olas eran pequenas
toda la semana--a la cintura en todo Tamarindo. El domingo
pasado era un lindo dia azul de verano con vientos
off-shore todo el dia. La semana tuvo una mezcla de verano
con invierno con los vientos cambiandose, lluvias cortas
entre cielos azules. Al momento, tenemos el viento on-shore
y mucha desorganizacion.

THIS WEEKEND:
I don't mean to be always predicting gloom and doom, but
virtual bouy reports for us for this weekend have the set
waves rolling in at about waist high. The good news is they
should hold up fine in the predicted off- shore wind. No
quiero siempre estar trayendo malas noticias, pero un bouy
virtual cerca de nosotros esta pronosticando un fin de
semana con los sets a la cintura. La buena noticia es que
tendran buena forma en los vientos off-shore que
pronostican.

BEST PLACE TO SURF:
Hmmm. Best TIME to surf will be mid incoming tide as the
high tides are far too high for the lack of swell. I
recommend Avellanas and Playa Grande, especially as what
swell we have is coming from the south. El mejor HORA para
surfear sera a la media marea entrante porque las mareas
altas son demasiado altas para tan poquito swell. Yo
recomiendo Playa Avellanas y Playa Grande, especialmente
como el swell que hay viene del sur.

** From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
Small and clean with the tides falling in the morning and
late afternoon making for some nice glassy sessions.
However, the waves are pretty small though there is an
occasional decent chest high wave that comes through.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
The word is that we may have a new swell coming. That would
make for some fun weekend surf and doublesessions at
Grande.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Tha main peak at Grande as that's really the only place the
swell is getting in right now.

** From Joe at Witches Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS -
This has been the first week of crap surf in quite a while.
Not much to report here boss.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) -
As the weather report shows a slight increase this weekend,
everyone is watching the GIANT freaking NW swell off the
northwest coast of the US....dont' know if this is too
north to make it here, if it is Witch's Rock will be off
the hook.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA -
Playa Grande or Witch's Rock for the high tide, Ollie's
Point on the low. Ollie's Point, by the way, has actually
had fun chest-high surf despite the flat spell thats taken
over the rest of the Costa Rican world. If you can get to
Ollie's, you'll have fun.


JACO & HERMOSA

** From Chuck at Chosita del Surf Shop in Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
Hey Dudes ! It was fun and around chest high on sets with a
nice evening glass and yes Jaco likes extreme tides !
Cierto, era bonita y bastante , Olas del Pecho y bien
bonitas !

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
Maybe next week a bit of something wierd and good ? Talvais
esta semana un poco de algo bueno y bonito ? Watch for next
week or even if its possible for the contest next week at
Playa Negra ? Vamos a ver si hay olas para el torneo de
circuito la proximas fin de semana en Playa Negra !

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Come surf with me but bring your longboard ! Venga a
surfiar con migo ,pero traiga "el longboard" ! Ciao y
Gracias por prestando mi esta tierra por esta tiempo ! Su
Amigo , CHUCK !!

** From Tommy at Fuego del Sol in Playa Hermosa -

Local Climate: Slight Overcast, Air Temp: 91f, Water Temp:
85f, Wave Height & Direction: SW 1-3 feet
Wind: Very Still 0 mph Good Morning, Waves are up and we
are surfing! Costa Rica Extended Forecast-
Clean and Perfect little Waves. Pura Vida!!!


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

see the national report above


DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

** From Greg at the Adventure Education Center in
Dominical-

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:

Waves are in the waist to chest high range, with a bigger
set every twenty minutes. Finky conditions with a big tide
change.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):

The weekend should clean up a little and get a little
bigger. Hopefully the winds will stay offshore alittle
longer in the morning.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:

Bring a longboard whereeveryou go to catch the most surf.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales:

Good luck to Ronnie, Jose, and Jenny at the contest in
Negra! Check out www.adventurespanishschool.com to sign up
for a place to stay and get to practice your spanish with
the locals in the water. Email aecdominical@sol.racsa.co.cr
for more info.


CARIBBEAN

see the national report above

Friday, November 1, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report for November 1, 2002

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 5, Issue 169
November 1st, 2002

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

THE NEWS! New Surfos mag out with contest dates - next one
at Playa Negra on November 23. Send me a note if you are
interested in working on a Costa Rican chapter of the
Surfrider Foundation-Protecting the World's Oceans, Waves,
and Beaches. Website of the week - www.leatherback.org -
Learn about projects that the protect the turtles visiting
Playa Grande!

Have a question? We have answers! Send a note to
info@crsurf.com before your next trip to get the info on
waves, boards, and places to stay.

TIDES *for Friday - add 50 min. each day after

Low Tide - 1.08 ft. at 5:29 PM
High Tide - 7.76 ft. at 11:25 AM


NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - West-southwest swell sticks around for the
weekend up north, but down south it stays smaller, in the
chest to head high range. Dawn patrols at point breaks and
p.m. sessions at the backyard beachbreaks are the call.
Swells fade out by Monday leaving waist to chest conditions
until a straight South arrives next Wednesday pushing surf
up to chest to head high with maybe a sneaker overhead set.

Caribbean - No wave-relief for the weekend, but it appears
a small groundswell is setting up for Monday with small
surf, waist high, growing to some chest high sets by next
Thursday.

SPONSORS by Area

Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande
surfegg@cool.co.cr

Robert August Surf Shop (653-0114) in Tamarindo
rasurfshop@yahoo.com

Witches Rock Surf Camp (670-1138) in Tamarindo and Playas
del Coco
witchsrock@hotmail.com

Tropico Latino Lodge (640-0062) in Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco
chuck@sol.racsa.co.cr

Fuego del Sol Hotel (643-2078) solsurf@sol.racsa.co.cr in
Playa Hermosa

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

Adventure Education Center (787-0023) in Dominical
*tell em crsurf sent ya (aecdominical@sol.racsa.co.cr)

(new) Hotel Terraza del Pacifico (643-3222 fax: 643-3424)
in Playa Hermosa
terraza@racsa.co.cr

Remax/Gold Coast Realty (654-4919 fax 654-4184) in Playa
Flamingo
salescostarica@sol.racsa.co.cr

Hotel Diuwak (787-0087 fax 787-0089) in Dominical
diuwak@racsa.co.cr

Villas Rio Mar (787-0052 fax 787-0054) in Playa Dominical
www.villasriomar.com or info@villasriomar.com

Third World Productions Surf Camp, Trips, & Photography
thirdworldproductionscr@yahoo.com (643-1064)

Tico Travel - Surf Trips (1-800-493-8426)
info@ticotravel.com

Roca Verde Hotel (787-0036 fax 787-0013) in Dominical
http://www.hotelrocaverde.com or info@hotelrocaverde.com

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.cabinascasaverde.com or
info@cabinascasaverde.com

Century 21/ Dos Hermanos Realty (787-0138 / FAX: 787-0139)
in Dominical
http://www.dhrrealty.com or james@dhrrealty.com

Dominical Homes / Dominical Realty (787-0116) in Dominical
email: daveed@dominicalrealty.com

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

** From Diana at Robert August Surf Shop in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
Our waves are small right now but have nice shape when the
wind stays off them. Winds have been shifty, especially
since this last part of the week we've had rain at dawn and
throughout the day. With the westward shift in the swells,
the rivermouth has had waves rolling all over the
place--small, but beautiful and everywhere! Las olas aqui
estan pequenas ahora pero con buena forma cuando los
vientos permitan. Los vientos se cambian mucho,
especialmente en esta parte final de la semana cuando ha
estado lloviendo al amanecer. Con el swell mas del oeste,
la boca del rio tiene olas por todas partes--pequenas, pero
lindas y tantas!

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
Predictions don't show much of a size increase, but they
show the wind switching steady off-shore on Sunday so let's
cross our fingers! El pronostico no tiene olas mas grandes
pero dice que el viento se hace fijo off-hore el domingo
asi que cruzemos los dedos!

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Old Man's and Henry's--spots near the Tamarindo
Circle--break on a west swell so we might see some waves
there. Best will likely be the Tamarindo estuary with that
sandbar set by the winter's south swells. Old Man's y
Henry's--lugares cerca del centro de Tamarindo--tienen olas
en los swelles oestes asi que pueden haber olas alli. Lo
mejor probablemente sera el estero en Tamarindo con el
sandbar puesto por los swelles sur del invierno.

JACO & HERMOSA


** From Tommy at Fuego del Sol in Playa Hermosa -

Local Climate: Sunny Air Temp: 83f, Water Temp: 85f, Wave
Height & Direction: South 2-3 feet, Wind: 0 mph,
High Tide: 10:18 AM / 7.67 ft, Buenas, It is low tide clean
and Perfect. Costa Rica Extended Forecast - Small Waves.
Pura Vida!!!


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

see the national report above


DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

** From Greg at the Adventure Education Center in
Dominical-

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y
condiciones:
Waves are waist to head high and chunky, but not with much
form.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a
pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas):
It is expected to clean up in the mornings with more
offshores, but the low tide might make the set waves close
out.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor
lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Make a boat trip up in Guanacaste. The beachbreak will be
fun, but smaller.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales:
Election day in the states is November 5th. Check your
reps. environmental record and vote for the planet!
Surfrider meeting at Thrusters - November 14th, 4:30 p.m.

CARIBBEAN

see the national report above