A Couple Resources for New Surfers

There comes a time in every surfer's life when they hear some unknown vocabulary, are in need of advice about boards, or want to figure out what all the measurements on Magic Seaweed are about. More often than not (and definitely in my experience), we hold back the question for fear of looking like a kook. Well fear no more friends. Here are some great resources that can help answer your questions:

• Surfing Forum: Features message boards on a wide range of surfing related topics including a beginners forum, board advice, surf shop deals and more. Check em out. 

• CRSI Surfing Dictionary: We've linked to this a couple times now but it remains a great resource. Not sure what that dude at your local shop is talking about? Someone call you something in the water and laugh, but you don't know what they meant? Look it up here. Knowledge is power. 

 Have another resource you'd like to add? Email it to Chris at info@costaricasurfinstitute.com

Vans EMEA Surf Vid

Cool vid to get you in the surfing mood courtesy of the Vans EMEA Surf Team. Via Magic Seaweed.

Vans EMEA Surf Team Trip from Vans Europe on Vimeo.

Brrr. Cool Vid. Cold Waves.

Badass video for the new Phantom Project jackets from Hurley. Makes you glad that the water temps in CR are around 80F!

Checkin' your credentials

There it is… that wipeout. It's usually nothing painful, just a normal slip. It takes some time to get used to a board, and us as surfers expect that we can automatically hop on any board and go out there and rip it up. So what do you do? You've spent the past few hours telling your friends or traveling companions about how much you love surfing, and that it's your favorite hobby. They're all sitting back on the beach watching you, and have been watching you for the 20 minutes it took you to paddle out. You're assuming that they're thinking "he must not be that good, and this isn't what surfing looks like in the movies"! The worst part is that cute girl that you promised you would teach how to surf, you just know that she's diverted her attention from you to the tall, dark and handsome dudes playing soccer on the beach. 

This has happened to the best of us, and will continue to happen. It's been said that it takes over 3,000 hours of a certain activity to command a mastery of it, and unless you've been surfing that long, you probably fall off your board or catch a wave wrong every once and a while. Morale of the story : RELAX! Surfing isn't a spectators sport, it's for your own personal enjoyment. Don't let your mind run crazy wondering who's watching or judging your moves when your in the water. If anyone gives you a hard time, laugh it off, and tell them the waves "are super mushy out there". Or grab a longer board and have some fun helping your friends catch some waves, they'll thank you for it and forget all about your wipeouts in the line up. As stated earlier, we as surfers sometimes forget the golden rule; surfing is meant to be fun, so never take it too seriously.

Keep shredding those barrels my friends, keep shredding

Scottito

Tico Talk

Tico Talk

If you ever happen to find yourself down in the beautiful paradise known as Costa Rica, you obviously will want to know enough spanish to get by. Some key phrases consist of: "Donde esta el bano?" or maybe even "cuanto por una cerveza?" Those might come in handy, but as a surfer, there's a totally different lingo.

No matter where you travel all over the world, surfers have their own verbal and non verbal languages. Most people have heard of stereotypical Southern California speak- "What's up brah?" or "dude these waves are wicked!". For those of us who are considered gringos (Americans), that can easily be replicated, and also mocked. When traveling to Costa Rica, you'll need to adjust your colloquialisms a bit. 

Ticos incorporate a bit of english and spanish in to their surf exclamations. For example, the word you'll hear the most out in the water is "mae" (pronounced like "my" in english). This means dude, and the typical way to say hello to a surfer is "que mae?". Say this and you'll definitely have the phrase reciprocated to you. Here's a list of the some jargon you'll hear on a regular basis out in the water:

• "Que Grande" - How big!
• "Psycho!" - Yes, somehow the english word is incorporated into their dialect
• " Tuanis" (Too-WAH-Nees)- Cool or Awesome
• "mal viento or buen viento" - Good or bad wind
• "Corrientes fuertes" - Strong currents 
• And the one you hope you'll never hear: TIBURON!!!! - Shark (just kidding)

Most of these are common words in spanish, but it's not like you're going to learn them in grammar class. Most Tico surfers have a constant smile, and love chatting with other surfers, so give it a shot. The most important phrase of all, of course, still is PURA VIDA!

Scottito

Capitan Suizo

Capitan Suizo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica

About dead center in between Playa Langosta and Tamarindo sits a little boutique hotel by the name of Capitan Suizo (Swiss), which isn't actual the focus of this article. The name somehow attached itself to a small stretch of beach on the southern side of Tamarindo bay. The waves break much differently than they do on the north side, so obviously someone saw it fit to give this section it's own identity, and it's stuck ever since.

Capitan Suizo has primarily been reserved for beginners, because of the less powerful waves and smaller sizes, in comparison to the Tamarindo rivermouth. But remember my friends, your grandma always told you that big things can come in small packages… or something like that. Anyways, Suizo isn't just a flat swimming pool with kiddie waves breaking, sometimes it goes off. 6 footers have definitely happened here during the wet season, sounds great right?

Because of the rocky floor about 150 meters out from the shore at high tide, the waves are somewhat consistent regardless of the tides, winds, and sharks (totally joking, there are NO sharks there as far as I know). What's great about Suizo is that it's a fun beach to bring the whole family to; sections of the beach are great for swimming, then obviously there's the surf zone. The break offers a bit of everything. For you big wave chargers, if the winds right, go check out the Capitans corner. For the rest of you beginners, go ride some white water in to the beach, your time for hit some barrels at the rivermouth will come. 

Casitas, Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Casitas, Tamarindo, Guanacaste

            A quick stroll north up the beach from the Estuary in Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica, sit’s a small beach break called Casitas, or “small houses” in the literal English translation. This spot is not known for particular big waves or cleaner swells, but has one claim to fame; there’s rarely anyone there. Those who’ve been to Playa Tamarindo knows that escaping the crowds is virtually impossible, so why is Casitas usually empty? Some say it’s the fact that you have to cross “El Estero”, which is known to have spectacled Cayman swimming in it. Other’s say it’s the fact that it’s not much better than the breaks directly on Tamarindo beach. Regardless, it’s your best bet for surfing a break that your not elbow to elbow with other surfers competing for a clean tube.

            The wave itself is what the surfing community refers to as an “A-frame”, meaning it breaks so that a left and right oriented wave is created. This hybrid barrel is perfect for both goofy and regular riders,(right foot forward= goofy, left foot forward= regular) making it a very desirable swell to beginners and experts alike. Being a part of Marino Las Baulas National Park also keeps the crowds at bay, because the entire beach (which is known as Playa Grande) is a nesting site for leatherback turtles. So technically, you don’t have the waves to yourself, you’re splitting them with all kinds of different sea creatures!

            My recommendation: go check it out. For those scared of the crocodiles, you’re in luck. There’s water taxis at the river mouth that will zip you across the estuary for a cool 4 bucks, quick and easy. Once across, you’ll feel like you’re in an entire different world from the swarming streets of Tamarindo. So forget your IPhone, purse, or any other things you’re tempted to bring to the beach (Don’t forget sunscreen though!) and go have fun. Who knows, maybe you’ll make Casitas your new home!