CR Surf Report for 5-14-06

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 8, Issue 333
May 14th, 2006

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - Monday surf in the south is still a foot overhead and only the two foot overhead sets disappear on Tuesday. Same for Guanacaste coast, but without the big sets. They show up for the whole coast Wednesday afternoon with the rising tide - 2-3 foot overhead and double overhead sets by Thursday midday. This SW swell closes out most beachbreaks, so check the points Thursday and Friday. Friday afternoon the swell shifts to the SSW, so head south to some dream lefts for the weekend as the swell fades back to 1-2 foot overhead. Consistent overhead surf from the SSW all next week!

Caribbean - Knee high until Wednesday when a few waist/stomach high waves breka up the monotony. Then back to flat for Thursday until Saturday. On Saturday afternoon a few chest high sets roll in from the ESE and by Sunday the chest high surf sticks around and grows a foot for Monday.

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

TIDES for 5/14/06

Low Tide: .84 ft at 9:18 am
High Tide: 9.05 ft at 3:35 pm
(add ~50 min. each day)

New Moon - 5/26

TOP NEWS

Tuna Farm planned for waters near Pavones, By Rebecca Kimitch - in the Tico Times
rkimitch@...

New surfing in Costa Rica site tracks the national contest circuit - www.surfingcr.net

Tico Travel Pro-Am coming up June 18th-25. See the details and signup info on the CRSURF homepage.

Central America Surf Contest at Playa Esterillos - July 13th -15th, with $14,000 in prizes. Countries Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panamá y Costa Rica will be participating in the 3 day event.

Contact info@... to get your trip package reservations.

TRAVEL SPECIALS

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

** Surf Reporters **
Hotel Totem in Playa Cocles (750-0758) - totem368@...
Manuel Antonio Surf School (777-4842) - info@...
Witchs Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo - stephenmonticone@...
John Lyman Photography in Playa Negra - lymanphoto@...
Samara Surf School (656-0055) in Samara - jesse@...
Land Assurance (787-0291) in Dominical - info@...
Coconut Harrys in Nosara - www.coconutharrys.com
Witchs Rock Surf Trips (670-1020) in Playa de Coco - rocasurf@...
Diana at PuraMar Surf School (653-1355) in Tamarindo - puramartamarindo@...
Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0423) in Playa Grande - surfegg@...
Chosita del Surf (643-1308, fax 643-3328) in Jaco - chucks@...
Rancho Coral (778-8648) in Esterillos - wearesurfing@...

** Sponsors **
Hotel La Dolce Vita (778-7015 ) in Esterillos - info@...
La Sirena Hotel (1-800-493-8426) in Quepos - 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@...
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@...
Costa Paraiso Lodge (787-0025) in Dominicalito - info@...
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 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@...
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@...
Roca Bruja Surf Tours (670-1020) in Playa del Coco - rocasurf@...
*****************

AREA REPORTS (sent in on 5/13)

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: The swell has been constant, but smaller now, and just overhead. Dawn Patrol is pretty good right now and improving every day with calm, or off shores, in the early morning and good surface conditions. Some afternoon
sessions have been rideable or good, but not off shore.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Dawn patrol and late afternoon possibilities.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: It's hitting best at the main peak in front of the hotel.

** From John Lyman Photography in Playa Negra -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: The surf has been small with strong onshores the last few days. A low pressure hanging over southern Costa Rica brought the first rains of the season.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): The surf will be picking up out of the southwest with headhigh to a couple feet overhead. Look for it to back down the first part of the week and pick way up on Wednesday and Thursday. Should be some great long period ground swell through Friday.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: With the tides at mid going low this week, check out Playa Negra early and Avellanas or Little Hawaii later in the morning.

** From Jesse at Samara Surf School -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: smaller swell so far 3-4 foot, super soft peak. Great for beginner and intermediate surfers. choppy conditions, with nice glassy waves after the rainstorms.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Swell expected to rise after Saturday's full moon. With the rainy season being upon us, chop for the rest of the season, with the glass following rainstorms.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: The best surfing spot in Samara is right in front of the Las Brisas Del Pacifico hotel. No crowds or localism, with the waves breaking a little farther off shore.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales: The conditions in Samara are good for all surfers to come and enjoy!! So if you've always wanted to learn surfing come on down or over! Always great conditions for beginner to intermediate lessons! Pura Vida - www.samarasurfschool.com

** From Brice at Land Assurance Reforestation Service in Dominical:

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones:
Small, peaky waves but a bit windy during the mid-day high tide.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): Looks like tomorrow we should get a bump in the height. We are expecting head high waves with some occasional overhead action. 4:00 pm should be a good time to target your session as the wind may be subsiding and there will still be enough tide to keep the beach from closing out.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Rumor has it that the point was working on the last 4' swell we had so it may work this time too. Of course, the beach was also fun on the last swell and Hermosa is always like the beach, so take your pick.

General Information for Dominical surfers

· Dominical is getting more crowded with each passing season. However, there is still plenty of room and plenty of waves for everyone. Be courteous and save your aggression for driving the bumpy roads where you'll need it.
o Playa Dominical is known as the most consistent surf spot in Costa Rica. There is almost always a wave worth riding.
o It is also known as a powerful break. I've been on much bigger waves at other breaks, but I've never been hammered quite as hard as by a big, mid-tide wave at Dominical.
o It is almost impossible to surf at dead low tide as the waves close out into very shallow water. I recently broke my back at a lower tide by doing a head butt into the sand.
o The mid-tides are great for more advanced surfers. The waves at mid-tide are faster and hollower and always less crowded.
o The high tide wave is the most popular but on smaller days is too mushy and frustrates short boarders. This is a good condition to pull out the long board and frustrate the short boarders even more.
o The bigger the wave, the more you should focus on high tide.
o On big wave days the current can be strong. It is usually best to walk to the end of the beach at the foot of the current and let it push you up or down as the case may be.
o The beach runs from the south east to the north west. Looking straight out to sea perpendicular to the beach you are looking at an angle of 210 degrees south west. This means that a swell coming from 210 degrees is most likely going to be closing out, where a swell coming from under 200 degrees or over 220 (rare) will have better form.
o Usually, but not always, when the waves come from less than 210 degrees the current flows south to north.
o When it rains, the river can act up and dump some pretty nasty, cold and muddy water. So, if it is raining, most people tend to stick further south near the cell tower.
o It may be my own bias because I am goofy, but the beach seems to favor left rides over rights (say 3 lefts for every 2 rights?).
· I'll try to expand this repeated portion of the report as time permits.

** From the Totem Hotel in Playa Cocles (Caribbean Coast) -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: 2 pies. Two feet
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): sol y 2 pies. Sun and two feet.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: beach break at playa cocles
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales: nada