Surfing
- Thread starter FretDancer
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i caught my first wave yesterday in the Phils, its amazing... but also very tiring paddling out. I was sore from working out my arms the day before, plus being semi hung over... you have to be in shape if you wanna seriously put in a few hours of learning to surf
Wow I'm late to this party. Surfing is a life choice transcending all else. Fortunately lots of other great things come with it. Spent a couple of years in Costa Rica. If you're new anything less than a solid year of surfing will still have you ranked a beginner. That's the appeal though -tough to master.
If I were you I'd book a trip with Witches Rock Surf Camp. Tamarindo is a cool party town and the surf resort is great even if you're going Dolo. Take lessons and flirt with the broads trying to learn.
Surfing Avellana DOH, Ollies OH+ and finding Labarinto on a rumor are memories seared into my mind forever. Although my last trip to the garden island is fighting for space.
If I were you I'd book a trip with Witches Rock Surf Camp. Tamarindo is a cool party town and the surf resort is great even if you're going Dolo. Take lessons and flirt with the broads trying to learn.
Surfing Avellana DOH, Ollies OH+ and finding Labarinto on a rumor are memories seared into my mind forever. Although my last trip to the garden island is fighting for space.
faznine15
Sparrow
Im with you willy. It takes a year to get decent and not be complete kook.
Mr. Aloha and these socal locals are pulling everyones chain. Those waves are easily overhead and would require serious fitness and skill to paddle out in. I haven't surfed in a year - there's no way I'm making it out in 6 foot surf.
Surfing is hard just ask Roosh. But it's worth it. Gives your a great reason to travel to warm nice places.
Mr. Aloha and these socal locals are pulling everyones chain. Those waves are easily overhead and would require serious fitness and skill to paddle out in. I haven't surfed in a year - there's no way I'm making it out in 6 foot surf.
Surfing is hard just ask Roosh. But it's worth it. Gives your a great reason to travel to warm nice places.
If you went nearly every day for three months you'd get your pop-up down and probably wean yourself off the longboard. On a fun shape or fish you'd probably be able to manage rudimentary pumps and be able to angle down the wave on least your front side. You'd be comfortable in head high surf and could handle a little bit of a drop. You won't be hanging with the good guys but you'll know how and when to stay out of the way. At three months your frustration would be much lower. You'll be able to read waves, know the right spot to be and possess the strength to surf non stop for 3-4 hrs. If the fever hits you, begin to see the spiritual aspects of it. You will loose most of your insecurity as a beginner. You'll be in excellent mental and physical shape and your abs, chest and upper back will be much better defined than they are now.
Being free from the entangles of a schedule the routine you establish is incredibly satisfying. Wake up a little early catching the morning session before it gets too bright. Eat a massive breakfast, find shade and a hammock to read, write, (toke) and nap till late afternoon. In between sessions you'll have time for email, Yoga, Guitar, or whatever suits you. The evening session would call and I'd surf till dusk while while chatting up a few girls and making plans for later. If its a happening night I'll grab a bite, a beer and wait till the music starts. You should have no problem pulling at least one new quality bang per week on this routine. Months will melt away like days.
I spent numerous chunks of my 20's this way. Although I live on one of the best stretches of California (CC), my travel expeditions are limited to 3-4 weeks at a time .... but I'll be back at it soon enough. I've had escapades like being dropped off from a boat 100 yards from shore with all my stuff in a thick plastic bag atop my boards, swimming in and making camp for a week living on rice, canned meats and fish we caught - praying those guys in the boat come back to pick us up as promised! (Santa Rosa Nat'l Park) Or sleeping in my board bag in the town square because we were unable to hitch a ride back to town quick enough to make the last bus out. (Cuyagua, VE). Or directing the boatman to an odd shaped feature of land based on nothing more than the tell-tale whisp of mist off the back of a wave and finding a quality break.
The world of travel and experiences it opens up to a person with circumstances to follow it is invaluable. You'll find yourself jaunting to parts of the world you'd otherwise not consider while meeting truly interesting characters. Although a secondary pursuit, you'd most likely be fucking some of the nicest looking babes on the planet along the way.
Roosh, I mentioned this to you about a year or so ago. You should definitely explore it.
Two beginner friendly spots you should consider that are great summer (May-Sept) destinations are:
Nosara, Costa Rica
This spot is nice for a few reasons. First off it is one of the most consistent spots in Central America -it's almost never flat. Summer time especially is good with swells from the roaring 40's keeping things interesting this time of year. The very few times it is flat you will probably welcome as a nice break for your arms. Most times it will be shoulder high to overhead and the bay is typically kind to beginners yet challenging too in places. It's a beach break too so you don't need to worry about rocks or reefs. There are amble quality rentals so you can get a nice longboard to start and experiment with fun shapes, fish and performance shortboards depending on your progress.
I've stayed for months at a time there on many occasions over the past 10 years. Word has started to get out on this place and I fear it will become like Tamarindo or Jaco. It's still a small town and it can be a little slow but it does perk up and parties occur weekly among the transplants and locals alike. There's a Yoga institute where chicks come for 30 days to receive an instructor certification. They're away from home, in great shape and easy to engage. yoga is a great compliment to surfing too so for me this is a plus. The nightlife is decent. It's not big city but there a mix of spots that are usually hopping with tourists (American, European and a few Aussies), semi locals who come down for a few months (teachers, yogees and college students) as well as local girls who like North Americans and are typically slim young and delightful.
There are other spots in Costa Rica that offer similar surf quality, are not too crowded and retain a friendly vibe surf. Dominical and Mal Pais/Santa Theresa come to mind. They might be a little cheaper too however I like Nosara because of the mix of local and foreign chicks it attracts on a semi-long term basis.
Florianopolis, Brazil
It too has an excellent swell window this time of year. For wave quality it probably edges Nosara because there are a wide variety of quality breaks within a relatively shot distance. In Nosara you have to catch a ride (which is usually no problem when it's pumping). If you're new though this isn't going to be an issue either way. It's a popular beach destination for Brazilians too so you'll get a lot of them on vacation too.
One downside is Brazilians, in my experience, are annoying to surf with, often not respecting universally accepted surf etiquette. If you're not good a pack of two or three can shut you out of a spot. If you are good you'll have to get aggro just to catch your share. This only applies to the quality breaks. Beginner breaks shouldn't be an issue so I wouldn't let it stop you.
Other summer spots that come to mind are:
Boca's Del Toro, Panama - Sleepy but exotic.
Azuero Peninsula, Panama - Out there!
San Juan Del Sur area, Nicaragua - Sleepy but Cheap!
Gold Coast, Australia - Modern and lots of slender beach blondes.
Personally I'd stay far away from Mexico. I stopped going to Baja when they beheaded the chief of police of Tijuana, Rosarita and 6 of their deputies the week I was down there. It has changed for the worse in the past 5 years.
FretDancer
Ostrich
Shit, great post Willy. What are your thoughts on Puerto Viejo - Limon at Costa Rica?
FretDancer said:
Hey Fret,
I only surfed there once at Salsa Brava near PV. It's not a beginner spot by any stretch. I loved that wave but it will chew you up if you're not on your game so for a newer guy I can't recommend it. There are mellower options in the area I'm sure. The town itself is has a cool artsy, reggae vibe. Crime is more of a problem. A friend of mine and his new wife were lifted of their valuables by a group of teens wearing t-shirts over their faces in the park near Cahuita. They tied them to a tree too! While it shook them up pretty bad (they since had their wedding bands tattooed) they were really just low grade punks looking for a buck. I've seen (and experienced) worse. But it happens a little more frequently in that neck of the woods. Additionally I'm not a big fan of the girls on the Caribbean side. Not to offend but I'm usually not into black chicks and they are more prevalent there. Having said that I did see a black chick from PV with a smokin hot bod the last time I was in CR. It was as if a horny cartoonist drew her body and she later materialized. She was selling it though. Ending that story
Don't go to Limon after dark if your a Whitey (hell any color for that matter).
I don't have any experience in Southeast Asia. I can only give you second hand info.
The swell angle is not ideal but it has it's moments. For a beginner this is not an issue. You don't want it big till you get good. If you already have plans for that part of the world peruse this site and try a few spots. Once you figure out the swell season and secret spots you are likely to find your nirvana. If it's a well known spot there will be other surfers who have the region dialed, so just go there and feel out the scene. You can likely find good surf, cheap eats and digs, and the girls typically love American guys. They are thin and from what I hear age differential is not a stigma (if that's important). Pollution and cleanliness can vary widely from country to country. A good friend of mine bought a lot a 3 min walk away from Cloud 9 break in the Philippines in 2001 for $11,000! He's pieced together a enviable surf bungalow and will likely spend bigger chunks of time there. He gets a new hot-body, young twenties local gal every time he goes (he's 40). They tend to fizzle due to the long distance and intervals but he's not complaining. They aren't selling it either as this place is off the normal tourist trail.
I'll be tagging along with him this coming fall and I give a full report when I get back.
RE El Salvador, I haven't been but a friend of mine has. It has a few good things going for it; Lots of rights, cheap, and undiscovered. It is likely to have evrything you'd ever want but you have to go find it (not a bad thing). I think you'd have to have well worn shoes before making a serious go of it. Can you speak almost fluent Spanish? Can you make your boards rideable after they fell off the top of the bus? Do you know what to do when you drive up on a flaming pile of branches stretched across the road? Now if you want to just go to a surf camp go for it, they'll take care of you. But if you are contemplating a weeks/months long trek into unknown territory I'd go with someone who know the lay of the land a little better.
All in all I'd probably try Nicaragua first then talk to guys there about ES. You may never leave Nica, it's way underrated.
Willy - Can I buy you lunch someday when we meet. I really appreciate your detailed posts. I loved reading the 2 posts of yours.
Then again, as I enjoyed it, I also come out a little confused as to making a choice.
Can you share some more light as I post the following questions? Maybe you can share some "$ numbers" if you have some ideas? I am guessing to live at such a place for 2/3 months my rent might be the most expensive component?
Learn Surfing: Where? Cheap long term stay, Lessons & Boards
I want to take 2-3 months off, maybe more and go somewhere in the world where:
GOAL:
- Learn to Surf...& spend time focused on learning surfing only..
- Enough / to get to decent skill level to be able to get back to REGULAR surfing
- Once I get a day JOB and get started with REGULAR life, I don't want to have to come back to US/Europe and again have to take lessons
INEXPENSIVE LOCATION: (A good $ to local currency ratio)
- Learning / Lessons/ Boards would be relatively cheaper
- Long term Living would be cheaper (in terms of dollar exchange rates)
- Waves & Location are good for newbies/ Learners, helping them pickup a decent skill level
AND:
- Is hopefully safe (Don't get kidnapped, mugged, messed over Turistas style)
BONUS: (Not critical as I want to focus on surfing)
- Can find a similar Peer Group who would help to learn surf, make friends, do other things when the days Surf & energy is over.
- Chics
PLEASE SUGGEST:
- The best places to go based on above stuff
- Good Beginner & Learning Locations & Cost info (Lessons & Boards, Long term Stay etc)
Again, my focus for 2/3 months would be to START from ZERO and MAXIMIZE my SURF learning.. (I've always had a Spiritual thing for the Ocean .. and for surfing for years.. but always been too busy to do it.. so this time I want to LEARN enough (FULL-TIME) to become a BEGINNER.. whose surfing skill can grow PART-TIME later on)
(I am guessing Asia / Latin America would be cheaper? I am also told South Africa/ around Cape & towns)
Then again, as I enjoyed it, I also come out a little confused as to making a choice.
Can you share some more light as I post the following questions? Maybe you can share some "$ numbers" if you have some ideas? I am guessing to live at such a place for 2/3 months my rent might be the most expensive component?
Learn Surfing: Where? Cheap long term stay, Lessons & Boards
I want to take 2-3 months off, maybe more and go somewhere in the world where:
GOAL:
- Learn to Surf...& spend time focused on learning surfing only..
- Enough / to get to decent skill level to be able to get back to REGULAR surfing
- Once I get a day JOB and get started with REGULAR life, I don't want to have to come back to US/Europe and again have to take lessons
INEXPENSIVE LOCATION: (A good $ to local currency ratio)
- Learning / Lessons/ Boards would be relatively cheaper
- Long term Living would be cheaper (in terms of dollar exchange rates)
- Waves & Location are good for newbies/ Learners, helping them pickup a decent skill level
AND:
- Is hopefully safe (Don't get kidnapped, mugged, messed over Turistas style)
BONUS: (Not critical as I want to focus on surfing)
- Can find a similar Peer Group who would help to learn surf, make friends, do other things when the days Surf & energy is over.
- Chics
PLEASE SUGGEST:
- The best places to go based on above stuff
- Good Beginner & Learning Locations & Cost info (Lessons & Boards, Long term Stay etc)
Again, my focus for 2/3 months would be to START from ZERO and MAXIMIZE my SURF learning.. (I've always had a Spiritual thing for the Ocean .. and for surfing for years.. but always been too busy to do it.. so this time I want to LEARN enough (FULL-TIME) to become a BEGINNER.. whose surfing skill can grow PART-TIME later on)
(I am guessing Asia / Latin America would be cheaper? I am also told South Africa/ around Cape & towns)
Willy said:
Glad I searched surfing on here and found this. I found this Witches Rock Surf Camp browsing online. They are offering free room and board from OCT-NOV, you still have to pay like $600USD for the surf school but its cheaper then when you have to pay for everything. Apparently OCT-NOV are the "green" months in Costa Rica where it has the potential to rain a lot. The school sounds legit tho, I'm gonna book a week there around the first of Oct.
Anyone else have any info about this school or town? I'm trying to find a short term rental there but everything on Airbnb is pretty pricey. Seems like Oct-Nov things would be cheaper since its pretty much off season there...
I would have thought this thread would have more posters. Seems like surfing beautiful exotic locations and banging beautiful exotic girls would be a popular discussion amongst men of our lifestyle.
Kingsley Davis
Ostrich
Cr33pin said:
Feel free to divulge all the info you come across.
oilbreh
Woodpecker
Cr33pin said:
ill explain why its not all paradise
-Surfing takes a long time to get good at which means you will have to spend a significant amount of time at:
a) Good spots in nice locations that will be packed, making it hard to surf, even more so for beginners, most such locations will be total sausage fests minus all the unfit people and betas.
b) Good remote spot that you can enjoy to yourself will have zero women
-dont know what you mean by exotic girls, most surf spots getting close to equator are not known for attractive locals. They are known for being conservative. Regarding other tourist chicks read a and b
- Few places are surfable more than a few times a week, and then you still have to deal with a and b
Its still a really fun sport, there is a reason people put up with all the shit (waking up 4 am, surfing in -30C weather, going to a remote place with no pussy, wipeouts/hold downs/paddling out and eating shit) but its not just check into hotel, go to beach and shred for a couple hours, then go to bar and pick up a chick.
A lot of places in Central America will have american surfers living there that are happy to give lessons, I think that's something you should consider as well, gives you more mobility to travel. Hope my post helps you understand why some people dont get sold on surfing/travelling/bitches. Become a pro then you can have the cake and eat it I guess.
I've been on surfing trips to Costa Rica twice (one time of which Tamarindo, and I hanged out at the Witches Rock a couple nights).
Where I learned it was in France, I've been there a couple of weeks also.
Can't wait to do more surfing, and Costa Rica is great to learn how to surf.
Where I learned it was in France, I've been there a couple of weeks also.
Can't wait to do more surfing, and Costa Rica is great to learn how to surf.
DChambers
Woodpecker
If anyone is heading down to Costa to surf you can PM me and I'll let you know about some of the good spots I've surfed.
Also, if I were going down to learn to surf, or just wanted to try it out, check out the boards the place teaching you offers. You'd be better off renting a real longboard from a local surfer than getting stuck on some giant soft foam top longboard. Anyone can ride the latter ones and they are absolutely terrible. It will probably take a few weeks of hardcore surf sessions before you learn how to turn the board.
Also, if I were going down to learn to surf, or just wanted to try it out, check out the boards the place teaching you offers. You'd be better off renting a real longboard from a local surfer than getting stuck on some giant soft foam top longboard. Anyone can ride the latter ones and they are absolutely terrible. It will probably take a few weeks of hardcore surf sessions before you learn how to turn the board.
http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-40133.html
Is RAIN in SEPTEMBER going to be an issue for some of the following locations.. to LEARN SURFING? Which places would have issues/ and which wont?
Is RAIN in SEPTEMBER going to be an issue for some of the following locations.. to LEARN SURFING? Which places would have issues/ and which wont?
xmlenigma said:
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