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Crystal South Surf Camp Pueto Rico Surf Adventure Puerto Rico, the island of enchantment, offers adventurous surfers a variety of surf from cruisey long board walls to dicey slabs. Magical blue water waves wrap this island gem, enticing us to enjoy high performance surfing. I consider myself fortunate to be included in the cadre of local surfers, who welcome me and my guests. Our local guides share their favorite waves with us, steering clear of crowds. Cultural activities include visiting the Arecibo museum, which houses the world’s largest radio telescope, as well as an educational museum with meteorites and audio tutorials on the origin of the universe. The gift shop offers many keepsakes. In the surrounding hills, the karst limestone formations have created window caves, offering stunning views of the river valleys below. You may even notice evidence of the native Taino population. Old San Juan charms tourists with its old fort and Spanish colonial architecture. Nearby, rainforest El Junque provides hiking opportunities in its protected reserve. Other attractions include bioluminescent bays, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and diving. Food options include many culinary specialty restaurants supplied by local organic farmers, and local fishermen supply fresh seafood. Crashboats, a favorite beach frequented by locals and tourists, showcases vendor stalls selling and serving fish, chicken, and fresh fruit drinks. Jo’s Tips What to Bring: In addition to surf gear, sunscreen, flip flops, bring light weight clothing and a light jacket for cooler nights when the trade winds blow Also, bring a wetsuit vest or top just in case the 74 degree water seems chilly. If you plan to hike, bring appropriate gear. Surfboards: You can bring your own. I rent from several providers who offer and extensive array of long and short boards. El Salvador Surf Adventure Exploring Central America surf destinations for many years now, I am focusing on El Salvador, where high quality surf offers optimal performance benefits! El Salvador’s wave season extends March thru November, providing semisecret coves and beach breaks that my local friends welcome us to share. I collaborate with local providers to combine affordable lodging with photo and video packages of your surfing experience, accessing local wave knowledge of the experts who live here! Customized trips include transportation and lodging while in El Salvador, photo and video of your surfing, and coaching. Many point break and beach break opportunities exist, depending on swell angle and surfers’ ability. Because of El Salvador’s small geographic size and well maintained road system, cultural and outdoor activities abound. For example, after surfing a perfect point break all morning, travel by car for an hour to explore Mayan ruins, or hike up to a volcano, or visit a museum in the capital San Salvador (if you can tear yourself away from the coast!). En route, enjoy the city of Santa Tecla with its Spanish colonial architecture. Meet and converse with indigenous people (Nahuan), visit coffee plantations, zip line through the canopy, wander along the beach, watch incredible night lightning displays….you get the idea. Jo’s Tips What to Bring: light weight clothing for warm weather, a rash guard or t shirt that you can surf in, hiking shoes / sandals, flip flops, a flashlight or headlamp, a smile, and a few hundred dollars spending money. Should I bring a board and what kind: If you want to develop skills, bring your own board. I have access to a few short boards, fun boards, and long boards, but a limited selection. Please contact me about airline surfboard baggage fees. We will have opportunities to shop with local craftsmen: Niebla the painter (Salvador Dali style), local shamans with jewelry, hammock vendors and potters selling their wares. Also, local boat guides and surfers offer photo and video packages, using high quality equipment. Purchasing these media memories brings your trip home with you in a tangible way. Nicaragua Surf Adventure Stunning sunsets, offshore wind all day, waves of every variety…..for these reasons and more, I keep returning to Nicaragua. Travel by panga to several world class waves within 30 minutes of each other! Wave savvy boat captains, assisted by local mates, will choose the best swell and tide for optimum surf sessions. For seven years, I have focused on the Popoyo region in southern Nicaragua. I am expanding my territory, adding wave venues and accommodations providers to my repertoire. Nicaragua, known as “the land of lefts”, has many quality setups; combinations of offshore rock reef, headland, and rivermouth. Often, all three of these features create fabulous surf. Some breaks are hollow, others mellow. My favorite wave happens to be a right affectionately called “Beachies”, a fickle barrel that forms when swell funnels through an offshore slab, swings left toward a rivermouth, and then boomerangs right! Local surf guides school me on this wave. Because of the extensive amount of surf time on offer in Nicaragua, a trip to the local hot springs becomes necessary at the end of the day. In the village of Las Salinas, immerse yourself in nature’s own geothermic pool. Ladies doing laundry at the hot springs usually finish their chores before dark, and the surfers relax and soak, rejuvenating sore muscles. Within an hour’s travel, an island wonderland exists: Ometepe; two volcanoes joined together to form an island in Lake Nicaragua. The villagers thrive on tourism, selling pottery, paintings, and local food. Local guides will lead you as you hike up the mountainside. Fishing often combines with surfing when traveling by boat. Local pangas charter near shore excursions, targeting sail fish, rooster fish, mahi, and others. Fresh fish can be a staple part of your diet, as well as local produce and the delicious red bean grown here. Jo’s Tips What to Bring: light weight clothing, cheap flip flops and a nice pair, hiking shoes if you want to hike, sunscreen, bug spray, a rash shirt to surf in, a couple pairs of baggies or a few bathing suits, a hat, sunglasses. Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic 2013 On August 17 and 18, 2013, the Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic will continue a surfing tradition of camaraderie and competition. Female surfers, young and old, will gather at the south end of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, to surf and enjoy a weekend of collective surf stoke. Co-hosts Jo Pickett (www.crystalsouthsurfcamp.com) and Jack Viorel (www.indojaxsurfschool.com) are combining their skills and resources to produce a stellar event, attracting local surfers from our US east and west coasts and Puerto Rico. As the details of this event come together, www.crystalsouthsurfcamp.com will provide a forum for information, covering contest schedule, entries, judging, sponsors, awards, lodging, vendors, attractions, etc. More info to come! |
