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Author Topic:   costa rica
trigga
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Posts: 58
Registered: May 2001

posted 21 October 2002 13:40     Click Here to See the Profile for trigga     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
going to rica (tamarindo) in february. i know i should expect consistent head high +, which i am fired up for, but what i was wondering was how the waves are compared to head + in new england. any comparison on wave type there to here?

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byrning turns
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Posts: 158
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 21 October 2002 14:13     Click Here to See the Profile for byrning turns     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
look for the tamarindo tokers. beautiful spiral shells that are perfect for ....well toking.

Definitly would not hang around tamarindo too long... I am goofy foot. If your gonna be in tamarindo....near by Tam is a consistently overhead beach break called TULIN. The tree, or pigfarm are other little nooks nearby. A Little ways North go to Boca Barranca unreal left handers...you cross a bridge where all the crocs are. People will be pulled over checking it out....that is near the river mouth where BB is at. If you want the real deal and you don't want to travel much. Just hang out in Dominical. Locals are chill and decent lodging and food within the small town. San Clemente mikes....great MAHI MAHI filets. The beach break is unreal three CR kids drowned while I was there....and if you do some exploring I think there is a sickass reef point break near by too. Good luck and get some.......

[This message has been edited by byrning turns (edited 21 October 2002).]

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W
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Posts: 225
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 21 October 2002 16:02     Click Here to See the Profile for W     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Been to Costa Rica and here is what I have to say. First off, Tamarindo is not that close to Tulin, Hermosa is close to Tulin. Tamarindo is like an hour away, the way the roads are down there it may be longer. In Hermosa and IN TAMARINDO you will find consistently head high + beach break that is VERY powerful by East Coast/Northeast standards. I would compare it to surfing a strong hurricane swell, not THAT BIG , but definitely more juice. Waves tend to jack up fast at the beach breaks and you should look for ones with sloping soft shoulders, these will have better shape and give you a GOOD chance of getting out of the barrel. The early mornings and afternoons are best because it tends to be offshore. I found surfing here very challenging at first. After a while you get comfortable and can manage well. I also found that bringing a shit board to a beach break is your best bet, I almost broke a board and have seen many snapped like twigs even on smaller days. As for Boca Barranca, this place is great. It is a rock/sand point that reals forever. I only surfed it chest-shoulder high and it was fun but I have heard that when it is bigger it goes forever and on rare occasions can barrel a little. I would definitely check this place out. ALSO make sure that if you head to a reef/point you are comfortable with the size, swells can increase in size in minutes down there and you can get caught in a nasty situation. I met one guy who jumped off his charter boat at one reef and found out that the slightly overhead waves were just the "small in-betweeners" and that the sets were double overhead and sucking dry. As for the people they are the nicest in the world, treat them with respect. ALSO Dont leave without trying an ice cream sandwich that they call a "TRIT", these things are insane, I would have brought cases of these back if I could have. Its a great place, have fun. I cant wait to go back myself.

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handsomepete
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Posts: 43
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 21 October 2002 17:12     Click Here to See the Profile for handsomepete     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will second the Trit comment. Those things rock.

Oh yeah and the waves are powerful as f*ck. Still have flashbacks from getting pushed down to the bottom opening my eyes and seeing nothing but black (black sand beach) at Hermosa.

[This message has been edited by handsomepete (edited 21 October 2002).]

[This message has been edited by handsomepete (edited 21 October 2002).]

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trigga
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Posts: 58
Registered: May 2001

posted 21 October 2002 18:47     Click Here to See the Profile for trigga     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
hey, thanks for all the advice. i just want to get an idea of the differences. i dont feel like getting my ass completely kicked for a week, ya know. but a good digga is always a good time now and then. how was the adjustment from here to there? i figured i'd be alright once i figured out the different waves down there.

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Johnny99
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Posts: 3
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 21 October 2002 19:56     Click Here to See the Profile for Johnny99     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
bud of mine was down there last Feb. at Wingnut's surf school..said it was heavy...a beginner surfer who found the waves really heavy...great postings &advice here though!..met a guy at Matunuck last fall who lived there,owned a resteraunt there at one time but said he still thinks Rhode Island...Matunuck,Pt.Judith,Gansett are still his favs...anyhoo the trip there sounds great!

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flipper
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Posts: 3
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 22 October 2002 08:48     Click Here to See the Profile for flipper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Let's say you're staying in the Jaco/Hermosa area and the waves are too big/too heavy for you -- what spots around there might you check out for smaller-sized, less-pounding, more beginner-friendly waves?

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handsomepete
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Posts: 43
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 22 October 2002 09:11     Click Here to See the Profile for handsomepete     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If your in Hermosa and it is overwhelming, then head south to a town called Esterillio Oeste. It is much more mellow. Breaks better at high tide, or it did when I was there. Kind of a weird spot, forms random peaks all over the place. The town is a cool little fishing village. Oh its only 20 minutes away too.

[This message has been edited by handsomepete (edited 22 October 2002).]

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W
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Posts: 225
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 22 October 2002 09:59     Click Here to See the Profile for W     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I really dont want to give this away but there are two spots north of Hermosa where you can get sick lefts when Hermosa is huge. If its a big south swell then there is a spot called "The Island" which is a pretty good mellow left reef/point that can give great rides, when it gets big this can be a great wave. Its a bit of a paddle from the shore but its well worth it. Also there is a small village north of this spot (I forget the name) but a left breaks in this small bay, has to be huge to break but when it does its also pretty good. Has to be a huge southwest swell. Its a quick jacking wave over a reef that empties into a bay. Its has been known to barrel here when absolutely huge (a local told me that only happens every one time every five years). I know some who have caught it after a huge southwest and said it was barreling and head to overhead on sets. Sorry I cant remember the name. Try heading to Boca Barranca when its huge, should be breaking well although it takes more of a south swell to get there. IF YOU NEED MORE INFO JUST ASK.

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W
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Posts: 225
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 22 October 2002 13:55     Click Here to See the Profile for W     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Also Here is a description of Esterillos Oeste. It is a beach break that tends to be a peaky reform wave. It starts to break way out (almost 1/4mile or more off the beach) then it reforms further toward shore. The best way to surf here is to take the bigger ones and use the beginning white water to push yourself into them, they tend not to pass you by if you dont. Also there is a hotel down the beach to the south that has a nice peak in front of it. It can be a pretty good wave. The waves here are not as powerful as Hermosa but they still have some juice on a swell.

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flipper
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Registered: Oct 2002

posted 22 October 2002 15:39     Click Here to See the Profile for flipper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
W: Excellent stuff, thanks much. More ?'s to follow, I'm sure, as time draws near...

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Spanks
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Posts: 189
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 22 October 2002 16:19     Click Here to See the Profile for Spanks     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Trigga\Flipper have guys you boughten any of the Costa Rica guides yet? If not, pick up the one by Mike Parise and a Spanish -> English dictionary before you go down. Enjoy

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