Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report for January 23, 2003

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 6, Issue 178
January 23rd, 2003

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.

3rd Surf Contest of the National Circuit, January 18-19 at Salsa
Brava in Puerto Viejo! Signups tonight at Johnny's Place, 5-9 p.m.,
followed by pre-party! Check the website www.surfingcr.com for rules
and signup info.

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. There is a group in Jaco having monthly get
togethers.

Have a question? We have answers! Send a note to info@...
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 - 8.59 ft. at 7:02 AM
Low Tide - .07 ft. at 1:05 PM


NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - The Nicoya peninsula will see a slight build of wave height
from a near shore system by Monday, putting surf in the head high
range. That should last through Tuesday, but afterward nothing is
coming from any direction, so surf drops down to waist to chest high
through the weekend, with maybe a long reaching head head set. Early
morning glassy sessions will be the call, as well as a sunset surf.

Caribbean - The right coast is getting barraged by a NNE swell
pushing in overhead surf for the coast, with some bigger 2 foot
overhead sets. Expect this to last through Sunday, dropping a foot
for the beginning of next week. Another E swell is expected to arrive
by next Thursday from the NEer off the U.S. coast this week.


SPONSORS by Area

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

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

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

Tropico Latino Lodge (640-0062) in Santa Teresa
troplat@...

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


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

Fuego del Sol Hotel (643-2078) solsurf@... in Playa
Hermosa

Escuela D'Amore (777-1143) in Manuel Antonio
damore@...

(new sponsor) South Coast Realty (787-0005, fax: 787-0006) in
Dominical
info@...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones:
The consistent, and overhead, solid swell we enjoyed all last week
petered down to head high on the better sets on Thurs. Although the
very westerly swell direction was a little squared off with a lot of
unmakable waves, there were also many good ones. The clear water and
off shore sculpted conditions were inviting. The afternoon sessions
for the first part on the week were mini Puerto Escondito with our
decent sand conditions. On Wednesday and Thursday the daybreak
sessions were clean, but the wind came on shore for the afternoon
session warming the water temperature while slopping up the waves. It
then died by evening allowing rideable, messy surf.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) -Que va a pasar este
fin de semana (clima y olas):
The tides are right for the morning and should be small, but
rideable, at least until the swell hits. The evening window will
start to fade by the end of the weekend.The crowds have been thick,
but since the entire bay is lighting up, everyone is pretty spread
out.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a
surfear este fin de semana en su area: There are peaks from Ventanas
to the north all the way to Tamarindo to the south. Look for an
uncrowded spot.

** From Diana, the best surf instructor in Tamarindo (according to
the editor):

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones:
Waves are super-small right now--generally waist high. The dawn and
dusk high tides have light off-shore winds which pick up to a gale
during the day. Las olas ahorita estan pequenitas--generalmente a la
cintura. Las mareas altas del amanecer y atardecer tienen vientos
livianos off-shore los cuales se hacen fuertisimos durante el dia.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este
fin de semana (clima y olas):
Get your longboards! We could see a pick-up on Saturday from a north
swell, but north swells plus north winds make for formidable currents
so pay attention. Agarran sus longboards! Podemos ver un poco de
swell el sabado del norte, pero los swelles del norte con los vientos
del norte hacen corrientes fuertes. Ojo!

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a
surfear este fin de semana en su area:
The Tamarindo River mouth should be good if we get the push from the
north. Otherwise I vote for Avellanas with it's varios options like
the beach break, the estuary or the point to the north. You should be
able to find something there. La boca del rio en Tamarindo puede ser
buena si llega el pulso del norte. Mas eso, voto por Avellanas con
sus varios opciones como la playa, el estero o el punto al norte.

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS -
Surf has been small in the Tamarindo area, a bit bigger outside of
town at the south-facing beaches. Ollie's Point has been INSANE of
course, the swell that hit Tuesday was basically due south and
perfect conditions
for the point...

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) -
I'd hate to jinx it, but we're expecting a solid northwest swell to
hit on Saturday Jan 25. This swell is going to last a couple of days,
drop a bit but continue to push as the storm thats pushing it is
still very strong and constantly swinging further and further south
(and further and further into our swell window)

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA -
Witch's Rock will be the spot to surf on this swell. Perfect offshore
winds have been blowing daily. If you can't get on the boat, check
out the Tamarindo Rivermouth as its a no-brainer on any NWswell
lately.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS-
www.witchsrocksurfcamp.com/surfphotos.html to check out great Ollie's
Point photos of recent South swell. Don't miss the next one.

** From Marco at Tropico Latino Lodge in Santa Teresa (Mal Pais) -

This surf season looks good! Yesterday evening, in front of Tropico
Latino 2 mt. front tube perfect waves. I take one with my new
longboard. pura vida!


JACO & HERMOSA

** From Chuck at Chosita del Surf in Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones:
Thurs. afternoon about 3 ft faces with a nice glass off , Jueves
tuvimos olas de 2/4 pies pero bien bonitas

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este
fin de semana (clima y olas):
Swell is dropping so look for clean small conditions and we have
great tides too ! Oleaje a bajado un poco pero vamos a tenir buenas
condiciones con un buen marea para Jaco y todo !

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a
surfear este fin de semana en su area:
Jaco en la manana y hermosa en la tarde !

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales:
CR surf works , sold a 2 board package with all the goodies and put
the couple up here in the cabinas for 3 nites , and all because they
went to our links section on CRSURF.com.

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

Friday, Jan. 24, 2002 8:45AM Local Climate: Sunny, Air Temp: 95f,
Water Temp: 85f, Wave Height & Direction: SSW 1-3ft. (back of the
wave) Wind: Offshores, 0-5 mph Sunrise: 6:01AM Sunset: 5:41 PM Small
Surf! PURA VIDA!!!! Costa Rica Extended Forecast- Swells is supposed
to drop to 2-3 ft. for the end of the week Pura Vida!!!


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO
see the national report above


DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

** From David at Coldwell Banker / Dominical Realty in Dominical-

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones:
Big and closing out but the point is working. A bit windy mid day.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este
fin de semana (clima y olas):
A bit smaller but still fun waves

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

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS -
Congratulations to Jennifer Hinds for taking 3rd place at the contest
in Salsa Brava, and now she is in 3rd in the overall standings in the
country!


CARIBBEAN

see the national report above