CR Surf Report for 5-28-06

Costa Rica's Weekly Surf Report
Volume 8, Issue 335
May 28th, 2006

TOP NEWS

From InsideCostaRica.com - Costa Rica draw Germany in opening match if the World Cup

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.

NATIONAL FORECAST

Pacific - Two pulses to watch out for this week. For Monday and Tuesday it's the calm before the South swell, chest to head high with an overhead set every half hour, a foot smaller up around Tamarindo. Then Wednesday, sets 1-2 foot overhead arrive from from south with an 18 second period. Thursday they pile in at 1-3 foot overhead with double overhead sets and a 14 second period. This first pulse stays until Friday midday, and then fades back to a foot overhead for Saturday. On Sunday, the second south pulse files in with long period ground swell lasting until Tuesday of next week, 1-3 foot overhead. Left point breaks are the call.

Caribbean - Monday morning sees dropping surf from head high down to a few chest high leftovers from the East. Tuesday through Thursday is hit and miss knee to waist high surf mostly, and a rare chest high set showing Thursday morning. Another small ESE swell is brewing but will not see landfall until next Sunday.

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

TIDES for 5/28/06 (add ~50 min. each day)

Low Tide - .44 feet at 9:15 a.m.
High Tide - 9.57 feet at 3:32 p.m.

Full Moon - 6/11

** 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 5/27)

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: Against all odds with the afternoon high tide and the partially cloudy conditions, we enjoyed 4 hours of off shore, just overhead, beautiful surf on Fri. after a week of mostly disapointing, although rideable, conditions.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): It's up to the wind and surface conditions since the small swell is perfect for here.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a
surfear este fin de semana en su area: Look for an unpopulated peak. The right
at the main peak is working perfectly if you want to compete.

** From Diana at Pura Mar Surf Shop in Tamarindo:

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: Longboards only! Surf in Tamarindo today is smaller than other days this week, sets being waist high. It's a great time to learn and the water is very warm. The wind has been off shore on rainy afternoons and onshore during the day. Solo longboards! Las olas en Tamarindo hoy son mas pequenas que en los otros dias de esta semana, los sets llegando hasta la cintura. Es perfecto para aprender y el agua esta calientisima. El viento viene off shore en las tardes cuando llueve y esta on shore durante el dia.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): The weekend is going to look a lot like this according to reports. Be patient and rest up for next week! El fin de semana sera asi segun los pronosticos. Tenga paciencia y descanse para la semana que viene!
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Playa Grande to the north and Langosta to the south are both picking up the small swell a little better. Playa Grande al norte y Playa Langosta al sur estan un poco mejores.

** From Harry at Coconut Harrys Surf Shop in Playa Guiones:

Friday, May 26th brought clean, head-high waves with fun sets rolling through every 20 minutes or so. Winds have been light and variable most of the day - the clouds and rain storms keeping the hard onshores from gathering any strength. New order of BIC surfboards now in stock - call or click my website to contact me: www.coconutharrys.com

** From Jesse at Samara Surf School -

The swell was up, today was the New moon and the waves backed down. Real choppy conditions due to the rain. Nice white water during mid tides and some nice 3 to 4 foot waves an hour before and after high tide. Come over and surf with us. www.samarasurfschool.com

** From Chuck at Walking on Water Surf Shop in Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: Surf in Jaco is small and clean right now , dont have a forecast for you but its been fun and variable conditions with waist to double overhead in the last 10 days with a few overhead standout no closeout sessions and lots of glass ! JACO LIKES THE RAIN! Thanks Chuck !

** From Tule at the Manuel Antonio Surf School:

For the coming week-end the waves in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area will be about 2-3 feet en Playitas and about 1 foot at Manuel Antonio. The best conditions at Playitas will be found at half of the increasing tide. The best conditions in Manuel Antonio can be found at 3/4 of the increasing tide and of the decreasing tide.
The above described conditions will be maintained throughout the week-end. The days will be sunny and after 2 pm rains and off-shore wind are probably to expect.
The best spots in the area to surf during the week-end will be at Playitas and Playa del Rey which will have consistent waves and a beach brake.
News from the area is that as the marina soon to be will be constructed the Quepos bay unfortunately will lose its left.

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: Small, shoulder to head high waves are peaky and fund. Best at mid-tide.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): We are expecting the same waves through the weekend but we have a little bump coming on Monday that should bring the waves up to head high.
BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: Any of the beach breaks.

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?).

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

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS - Tamano de las olas y condiciones: 5-7 pies norte -este
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves) - Que va a pasar este fin de semana (clima y olas): clima lluvia ..

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA - El mejor lugar a surfear este fin de semana en su area: Baba yaga ....Cafe' Viejo ....Totem

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS- Noticias y dias especiales: Viernes (friday) reggae night at Baba Yaga