CR Surf Report for 2-12-06

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 8, Issue 321
February 12th, 2006

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - Sunday has head high surf all day, with bigger sets fading out in the late afternoon. Monday is chest to head high, less consistent down south of Nosara. A WNW swell arrives Tuesday morning with head high waves and sets 1-2 foot overhead for Grande north. Fun overhead surf for the whole coast Wednesday, dropping to head high Thursday south of the Nicoya Peninsula. Chest high with head high sets for Friday and into the weekend with no relief until the following Monday from the first small SW swell of the 2006 season.

Caribbean - An entire week of big, fun surf. 1-2 foot overhead from the NNE Monday and Tuesday, switch direction from more ESE Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday drops down to head high with a couple of overhead sets, and Sunday is expected to bring more East swell from a big swell maker right now in the Atlantic.

To do your own forecast - use our links at http://www.crsurf.com/surflink.html

TIDES for 2/12/06

Low Tide: .72 ft at 8:41 am
High Tide: 7.96 ft at 2:57 pm
(add ~50 min. each day)

Full Moon - Tonight, New Moon - 2/27

TOP NEWS

Presential Vote Almost a Tie, Solis and Arias won't know for weeks who will win - by the Tico Times.

Dates for the Circuito Nacional de Surf tour -
2/11-12 - Dominical - Copa Mango (this weekend!)
3/4-5 - Nosara - Copa Mango
4/7-8 - Playa Hermosa Gran Final

TRAVEL SPECIALS

Pro-Am contest in Jaco to benefit local environmental groups - Go to www.costaricaexcursions.com for more details.

It's time to start planning for the 2006 Rabbit Kekai contest, June 15th to 30th. Go to www.4surfing.org for more info.

3 night - 2 day, all-inclusive surf trip on the central Pacific. Only $250! Contact Rodolfo at turdosmil@.... To see the rooms, visit www.cerrolodge.net.

Seven Day Yoga Retreat at the Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge in Puerto Viejo - only $1299.

** Surf Reporters **
John Lyman Photography- Tamarindo - lymanphoto@...
Samara Surf School (656-0055) in Samara jesse@...
Land Assurance (787-0291) in Dominical info@...
Coconut Harrys in Nosara www.coconutharrys.com
Diane at Pura Mar Surf School (653-1355) in Tamarindo disurfin@...
Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande surfegg@...
Roca Bruja Surf Tours (670-1020) in Playa del Coco rocasurf@...
Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco chucks@...
Rancho Coral (778-8648) in Esterillos surf@...

** Sponsors **
Teen Spanish and Surf Camps (1-800-765-0025) info@...
Cafe Playa Negra (658-8351) cafeplayanegra@...
Green Iguana Surf Camp (825-1381) in Dominical admin@...
School of the World (643-2462) in Jaco info@...
Third World Surf (643-1497)in Jaco thirdworldproductionscr@...
Ranchos Ituana (640-0095) in Mal Pais - peter@...
Tres Monos Lodge (640-0090, 825-1381) in Mal Pais - karla_malpais@...
Nature Cabina for rent near Dominical Beaches qpb@...
Villa of The Rock (653-0498) in Playa Grande villaroca@...
Kevin's Transfers (643-2604 / cell:(712) 361-9218) in Jaco comeeds@...
A Surfer's Dream House in Playa Negra info@...
Villas Rio Mar (787-0052 fax 787-0054) in Playa Dominical info@...
Tico Travel - Surf Trips (1-800-493-8426) info@...
Hotel Terraza del Pacifico (643-3222 fax: 643-3424) in Playa Hermosa terraza@...
Wayra Spanish School (653-0359) in Tamarindo info@...
Costa Paraiso Lodge (787-0025) in Dominicalito - info@...
Casa del Noche - House for Rent in Playa Guiones - gcarabelli@...
Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica www.surfingtravel.com
Pablos Picasso Hotel and Restaurant (658-8158) in Playa Negra pabloscr@...
Hotel Poseidon (Toll free:888-643-1242 or 643-1642) reservations@...
Hotel Mar Paraiso (240-4053, fax 236-6826) in Jaco info@...
Hotel Cafe de Paris (682-0087, fax 682-0089) in Nosara info@...
Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge (750-0256) in Puerto Viejo reservations@...
Cabinas Las Olas (658-8315 Fax: 222-8685) in Playa Avellanas olassa@...
*****************

AREA REPORTS (sent in on 2/11)

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: The waves have been excellent in the shoulder to just overhead range. in spite of the poor sand conditions in front of the hotel. The wind switched Friday to on shore in the early afternoon as the tide changed to go out and surprised everyone as we had been spoiled all week with consistent off shores.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Conditions are great for late morning sessions, but don't trust the wind after mid day.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Tamarind Estero mouth is catching some of this swell, so beginning there at the lower tides is agood way to start the day. Just take the 5 min. service road down to Villa Baula and head back this way as the tide fills in.

** From Diana at Pura Mar Surf Shop in Tamarindo (online surf journal)-

February is a "summer" month in Tamarindo, and what a strange summer we are having! After a lot of great surf and good wind in the beginning of January, the weather seems to have gone haywire. Right now there's a good north swell breaking, but the wind is on-shore. It's been switching on and off shore as if this were April or May and it's been doing this for weeks. The other day it clouded over and rained. RAIN in Tamarindo in February?! It wasn't enough rain to ruin anyone's vacation, but it sure was strange. That's like a snowstorm in May. It can happen, but it sure feels odd when it does. I should mention, by the way, that there IS something positive about the wind switching on-shore every once in a while: the water stays nice and tropical-warm!!

Even though this is generally a time when Tamarindo is crammed with people, this year seems to be an exception in that as well—at least so far. There are tourists here for sure, but the "crowd" isn't here. I don't know whether they've gone to another country or are just spread out all over this one. The result is that you can actually SURF, you can get a table for dinner, the supermarket has food in it!, and rental cars are available. You can also get a surf lesson pretty much whenever you want.

** From Coconut Harry's Surf Shop in Playa Nosara -

Solid chest to head-high set waves. Offshore wind to almost mid-day. Mid-mornings as the tide rises has been the best. Pura Vida from Coconut Harry

** From Sunshine at Samara Surf School -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - the surf in Playa Samara is minimal this week. We are hoping for a swell to hit with the full moon on Sunday. Come visit for beautiful sunsets and gorgeous days. Volunteer at the local turtle sanctuary and after school program. For more information contact us at 656-0055 Pura Vida

** From Chuck at WOW Surf Shop in Playa Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: Strange days are upon us , size is there but conditions are wierd at best , low tide dumpers with plenty of juice but almost unmakeable ! X-SPOT is breaking kind of fun for low tide and Jaco had a decent wave at mid day but windy ! Channel Islands are back on line and we have boards so if you want to ride the best come see us , or if you want a great board by other manufacturers we have some of the best shapers in the world in the shop ! ERIC ARAKAWA, CINO MAGALLANES , GLENN PANG ,ERIE PEEPLES,GREG WEBBER , TOMMY MOORE, MIKE DANIELS , and of course AL MERRICK ! No COPIES JUST PROVEN SHAPES and quality that you would expect from a real surf shop ! Come on in let us say hello , Chuck and the crew at W.O.W. surf .

** From Rancho Coral in Esterillos -

Local Climate: Overcast; Air Temp: 94F. Water Temp 87F; Direction & Height: Southwest 6ft., Sea Surface: Glassy, Winds: Offshore 0-5 MPH, Sunrise: 5:03 AM, Sunset: 5:36 PM, Current Condition- It's going off we have size and distance. Long lines off the west reef. The East peak os hollow and thick. The team is in Dominical for the CNS contest this weekend, good luck to our team, Pura Vida!

** From Brice at Land Assurance Tree Reforestation in Dominical -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: The swell report says that they should be small, but they are respectable, head high, hollow, and unfortunately a little closed out.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Looks like they should be even a bit bigger and with an event arriving from the west, the waves may have some peaks and some more run.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Well, there is a contest both Saturday and Sunday so if you are not competing, you will probably want to stick to the river mouth or go down to Playa Hermosa. Not big enough for the point.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales: Surf contest for Saturday and Sunday in front of Tortilla Flats.