For many years now, Costa Rica has been one of the top places for surfing. With a splendid beauty of the sea, pristine beaches lined with palm trees, safe breaks, amazing and mesmerizing feel of splashes of water and cool breeze of the sea, Costa Rica is one of the most visited places when it comes to surfing and having a memorable experience. But don’t know anything about Costa Rica or the surfing points there? Well, read on…

About Costa Rica:

Costa Rica’ as the name suggests means ‘rich coast’. It has an 11mile long coastline with a pleasant climate which is suitable for surfing. It also has numerous islands and 50 surf breaks that add to the beauty of the already beautiful city of Costa Rica in Central America. It has achieved the first position in the ‘happy planet index’ and is the world’s greenest country.

Why surf in Costa Rica?

As mentioned above, this place is declared as the greenest country worldwide and due to that it has one of the cleanest beaches and waters. Many tourists from the neighboring places as well as from far away flock here to enjoy the splendid water, sand reflecting the rays of the sun and to get indulged in these and enjoy the some surfing in the water.

It gives you absolute peace of mind and makes your vacation worthwhile with some amazing water sports as well as surfing. Also there are a lot of options for surfing as it has a vast coastline. There are surfing packages offered by some agents, which are inexpensive and makes Costa Rica a memorable experience.

 Which surf destinations are the best?

Surfing in Costa Rica is easier as Costa Rica is comparatively less crowded than other surfing destinations like Hawaii or Sydney, and also there a lot of places where you can go surfing. Some of them are-

•    Playa Hermosa
•    Playa Grande
•    Pavones
•    Witches Rock
•    Salsa Brava
•    Dominical
•    Playa Negara etc.

Which is the best time/season for surfing in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has an unusual cycle of seasons and so it is actually difficult to determine the season. But from May to June, the climate is slightly sunny though technically it is supposed to be the rainy season. The advantage during these months is that, the rates are low due to unexpected rains and the crowds are very less.

 How to get there and where to stay

You can do the booking yourself or through an agent. Several packages are available with the agents that offer you surfing according to your budget. You have regular air trips to Costa Rica, by numerous airlines that take you to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. The flight rates can start anywhere from $550. Also renting a four-wheeler from the airport to the accommodation is recommended for the long journey. Daily shuttle bus services are also conducted by companies like Gray line or Interbus. They might charge you an additional $10 for luggage plus the travel fare. And if you pay in US dollars, it is ok as US dollars are very much accepted in Costa Rica.

Accommodation in Costa Rica should not be a problem as there are a lot of budget hotels as well as some five star accommodations. You can choose whatever suits your budget while making the bookings from your agent. All the hotels will give you breakfast complementary and some may provide lunch/dinner too, depending on the rates. Make sure you review all the options and not choose something far from the place your going to surf at, as travelling is very time consuming and can make you tired and spoil your surfing trip.

What to carry when surfing in Costa Rica

Apart from your luggage and some cash, make sure you bring durable surfboards while surfing in Costa Rica. Do not bring multiple surf boards as they will obstruct your mobility. Also not all airlines allow so many luggages, so make sure you check if surf boards as luggage is allowed and that you follow the rules and carry not more than 2-3 surf boards. Also if some damage is caused to your surf boards, it will be quite difficult to fix it. Carry your own straps and soft racks to place the boards as many of the rental cars do not have them. If you don’t want to carry the surf boards with you, there are many rental shops that give you the necessary things on rent. Then, make sure you carry enough cash.

So go ahead and enjoy surfing in the pristine beauty of Costa Rica.

Riding within powerful waves have long existed by the time humans have learned how to swim in the ocean. Surfing as we know today is the sport or activity wherein we ride surf boards that helps us move along the power of the wave, “The stronger wind, the higher the wave, the better.” The earliest recorded history of surfing would be dated as far as 1778 were in a European explorer by the name of Captain James Hook was tasked to go to Hawaii. The captain was able to record a brief detailed description about surfing. The document that the captain has done actually became the earliest recorded event as far as the history of surfing is concerned.

According to his book, he saw men and women ages 20 to 30 years old surfing, using a flat oval object of their same size and width. They lay themselves flat, legs close with arms open in order to guide their direction. Instead of being afraid of the powerful waves, he saw the people await the biggest wave possible. By the time that they have ridden the wave, they start to move with a magnificent speed that only they themselves can easily control.

Upon seeing the dangerous acts, he thought that the act itself is not possible and that injuries of such could only be the result of their action. As the captain observes how the wave weakens, he noticed that the surfers got away from their planks and dove underneath the water in order to penetrate the wave and avoid any injuries from hitting the rocks near shore.

The dangerous wave that the captain saw was like a simple horse to the surfers because they can easily ride it without hesitancy. The Hawaiians looked at the wave; avoiding it if it was too strong then surfed, dived and swam if they find the wave bearable. Because of their magnificent feats, the captain of the ship even labeled the people living there as amphibious human beings. Men and women alike have tendency to jump off the ship and survive for half of the day in water. As the captain observes the activity of these people, he found the exercise itself as something pleasurable even for a person to watch.

During this time of 1778, you can observe that Hawaiians are already skilled in surfing as if it was already part of their lives. Even if no records were created, it can be deduced that the people who lived there have long learned and created the art of surfing itself.

The history of surfing according to the view point of Hawaiians, are far more complex than that of the European explorers. Surfing itself is not just a sport or an exercise but a form of prayer and a sign of strength and wisdom for the people who have lived there. Surfing itself is regarded as the sport of kings. It is as must for the people who live in their culture to know the basics of surfing, and it is also a must that the king or chieftain of the tribe must be highly specialized in surfing. As a form of prayer, it is believed that surfing itself harbors good luck where in deities of the unknown would harness or would bless the greatest surfer with the richness of the ocean.

The history of surfing also has its own bitterness especially when Christianity came in place. Since surfing is not just a sport but a form of religion, ignorant Catholics have banded surfing as it is because it is considered as the worship of demons. Any persons who have caught surfing would be punished accordingly depending on their Christian laws. The probable reason why surfing was not successfully eliminated because Hawaiians and other people who know how to surf still continued to hone their skills despite punishments. A lot of persons were able to surf without being caught, until such time that surfing is accepted once more.

Even though surfing itself almost died, its practice still remains today. It is a sport to some, but it is also considered as a way of life (religion, philosophy etc.) by some individuals. A lot of advancements have been made ever since surfing was accepted in public once again. Surfing boards, surfing techniques and surfing organizations are rampant today because of the advancements that came through.

 Surfing that was once regarded as a pagan belief or practice is now regarded as one of the coolest sport being done by celebrities and famous individuals alike. The history of surfing is so rich that even today it is still being practiced by a lot of people.

As compared to the ski/snowboard forecasts or weather reports, surf reports are quite technical, but they are definitely helpful and will be an asset to you when searching for waves, as long as you have the capability to read them correctly. With the help of our guide, we hope that mystery surrounding these reports will vanish and next time when you plan to head out for your spot, you will be armed with the equipment and knowledge you need about the conditions on that particular day.

                          The Basics

You should pay attention to four main factors when you are learning of ways on how to read a surf report, that is tides, swell direction, wind (air and water temperature are important, but won’t affect the conditions as much) and wave height.

1. Tides- Tides can change the depth of the water, and can either expose or hide the rocks, points or beach, or which of the waves break. Few spots work nicely at high tide, some at the low tide, while others are best at mid tide. However, this does not mean that you cannot surf during off times, as you can even enjoy at that times because water is less crowded! In reports, it is referred to as an ideal time of the day, when waves are mostly going off.

2. Swell Direction-When learning of ways on how to read s surf report, you should pay due consideration to the swell direction. As its name suggests, it is the direction from where swell is originating. A southwest swell coming from the southwest direction, a west swell from the western direction and so on. Few spots work better depending upon the orientation of swell on the coast. You can even research on your favorite local spots to ascertain which of them are affected by the swell direction, and where your best bet is depending upon the swell direction.

3. Wind- While the direction of swell determines the existence of waves at your local spot, the swell period and height determines its size, wind is the main factor that determines the quality of the waves. Therefore, when you are learning of ways on how to read a surf report, you should also understand the basics on how the wind affects the surf, as it is important in predicting the conditions.

Scientifically, winds are responsible for giving birth to the waves by successfully transferring the energy from air to the sea water. In other words, winds have the power to make or break the favorable conditions at your local spot. A swell can hit perfectly, and can churn big waves, only to see those nasty on-shore winds ruining the party. It is important for you to know as to what is an onshore wind and offshore wind.

•On-shore winds-They are really bad as they can turn a sweet swell into messy and choppy waves. They are exactly opposite to the off-shore winds. If you imagine yourself facing the water, these winds will blat you in face or blow onto the shore. So, if there is no wind….it is good,…off-shore winds…also good. And…on-shore winds…really BAD. Most of the buoys measure wind based on the compass reading and its speed.

•Offshore winds-They are usually good. You can imagine them as facing the water and offshore wind will hit you in your back or blow off the shore.

4. Wave Height-Most of the surfers are interested in just one thing before heading out, “how big are the waves today?” Now, the answer to this question depends on two factors, swell interval and swell height. For instance, many surf reports quote the wave height condition as 6 ft at 14 second. The first number signifies the swell height and second one the period. Both these numbers play a significant role in determining the conditions on that particular day. The bigger the swell, the larger the waves would be on that particular day.

Now you know of tools that can help you in reading the surf reports and make proper decisions about the conditions at the local spot. Some sites are fitted with the beach cameras to show you the live feed on the conditions of waves. This can give you a fair idea on what these waves look like in the real time.

The experts always say, there is no better fitness program for surfing than surfing itself! Whether you are a regular surfer, a weekend sportsman, planning to have a surfing holiday, or you just have a once-in-while tryst with surfing, boosting your surfing fitness ensures that you can surf longer and harder.

Surfing is a very demanding physical sport and your body needs to be prepared for it. Surfing fitness improves both the mental and physical focus that is required to surf well and improve skills and become successful. Surfing fitness can be enhanced by consistently training the body in the right manner and supplementing the exercise program with the right kind of nutrition and diet.

Surfing Fitness Exercises

These exercises can be incorporated into your regular workout program to make you functionally fit for surfing. Surfing fitness exercises ensure that:

•    You surf longer without getting tired or developing fatigue.
•    You become stronger and more flexible.
•    You end up with fewer injuries.
•    You find it easier to improve skills and move on to the next level of expertise.

It is also important that you do exercises to work the entire body and in the appropriate environment to realize the fruits of your efforts.

Surfing involves maneuvering, twisting and constant shift of weight in all directions on the torso.  Exercises should therefore be multidimensional and aimed at strengthening the core muscles, the upper and lower bodies, and improve flexibility as well. The joint motility can be improved with yoga and other stretch exercises.

Exercises that improve your stamina level are good enough to start with. Such exercises will help the endless paddling endurance that you require.  Running and jump squats to strengthen the leg muscles, swimming and push-ups for the upper body muscles, other exercises that tone your core muscles even in the standing position are all helpful. Running on hard sand near the waters impacts the joints less. It is a great cardiovascular workout too! Swimming uses just about the same muscles as surfing does. Swimming in the sea is strongly recommended.

You can get strong arms for paddling by training on weights. Using dumbbells improves upper body strength as well. It is recommended that you train on weights at least three times a week for optimum results.

Yogic exercises help you to develop joint flexibility, improve mental focus combined with clarity of thinking and enhanced breathing stamina, all of which greatly help surfing.

Improved Core Strength Aids Surfing Fitness

Core strength plays a very important role in providing balance for your body on the board. The core muscles are made up of the abdominal muscle wall, muscles of the lower back, and hip flexors, extensors and rotators. The abdominal wall guards the organs from injury, and helps to maintain posture. The lower back muscles improve both posture and balance that will keep you from falling and react better to sudden movements. They stabilize the vertebrae, and assist their rotational and extensional movements. Some important exercises for the core are squats, back extensions, exercises with the stability ball, one-leg squats, etc., being some of them.

Upper Body Exercises Help To Improve Paddling Strength

Paddling strength is indicative of surfing fitness. Surfers spend a lot more time paddling than riding waves. Paddle fatigue can be improved with upper body exercises. It is important to strengthen the shoulder muscles that include the trapezius, rhomboid and rotator cuff muscles. The shoulder is more stable when the scapulae are held together tightly against the rib cage and the rotator cuff muscles hold their contraction for longer times. Bench press, push-ups, pull-ups, posterior deltoid raises, rotation exercises for shoulder and the arm, bicep curls for the arms, tricep push-downs, etc., are recommended exercises for the upper body.

Lower Body Exercises Are A Must For Surfing Fitness

Lower body exercises help to increase strength of feet, thighs, and legs. These muscles help to maneuver twisting movements, improve ankle stability, etc. Your tibialis anterior muscle has to be strengthened. To increase strength of your lower body muscles, it is suggested that you do one-legged exercises, exercises with eyes closed, etc. In short, exercises that improve your balancing skills help you to learn the tricks of surfing quickly. Some exercises for the lower body include leg curls, hip extensions, reverse, lateral and front lunges, etc.

The Surfer’s Diet

Surfing fitness is also determined by the surfer’s diet. The diet should be one that provides energy, promote growth development and repair, and keep the body processes in check. Carbohydrates form the main source of energy, and complex carbohydrates form healthier options. Fats need to be of the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated varieties. Trans fats and saturated fats should be avoided altogether. Oils from fish and nuts are recommended. Lean protein is better compared to protein from animal sources. High-fiber cereal, eggs, soy protein, whole grain bread, yoghurt, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, tofu, etc., are some foods that can be combined to form a healthy meal menu. You can also add a good quality multivitamin and multimineral supplement to your healthy meal.

Last but not the least, any exercise that makes you feel like you are surfing is sure to increase your surfing fitness and will take your surfing to the next level.

Aside from the excitement and fun you can benefit from surfing, you can also take advantage of achieving a healthier body, because this sport is also an effective exercise routine. Just imagine, you get to maintain a healthy and fit body, and at the same time, you also get to enjoy yourself. If you are interested with surfing, do not despair because this sport is easy to learn. There are easy steps on how to surf properly.

Here are the easy steps that you can follow when learning how to surf properly:

•    Choose the perfect and suitable surfing board- Before you start learning how to surf, it is necessary that you are aware of the appropriate surfing board to use. Select a board that will fit your height and something that you can use comfortably. For kids, the perfect board is about 6 feet. For adults, the suitable board is about 7 to 9 feet. Choose the right board so that you can conveniently utilize it when surfing.

•    Find the perfect sea or ocean to start surfing- Since you are a beginner, it is essential to find a surfing area that is not too crowded. This way, you can easily and conveniently practice surfing because you get to surf alone, without someone interfering or disturbing you. Just ensure not to surf too far to prevent accidents.

•    Familiarize yourself with some few surfing basics- After you have the right board and you are in the perfect beach; start to acquaint yourself with some surfing fundamentals. Before surfing, place your board on the white sand and lay on the board while floating around, and then lie on your stomach and start paddling.

•    Sitting and paddling on the surfing board- The first thing that you need to do as soon as you are in the water with your surfing board is to sit and paddle without falling. It is necessary that you have a good balance to prevent from falling. This would be easy for you to achieve as long as you have the right and long board.

•    Try to catch a wave- If you have learnt to balance yourself in surfboard without falling from it, while feeling comfortable, you can start catching a wave. This is the most fun and exciting part because you are learning to catch the white water of the wave. The white water is easy to catch, as compared with an open face of big waves. As a beginner, catching the white water will be the perfect way to practice.

•    Try the knee boarding technique- After getting comfortable in paddling, sitting and catching a wave, the next thing to do is to practice the knee boarding technique. Now, before standing on the board, you should learn to ride the surfboard on your knees. This technique is easier to learn and master, and once you learn to get the hang of this, it would be easier for you to learn how to stand on the board.

•    Get to your feet and stand on the surf board- This could be the most challenging part of surfing, but as soon as you achieve this technique, you can now be called a certified surfer. This technique could be the common struggle for most beginners, but with continuous practice, this could be attained in no time. Focus with the right balance so that you can quickly achieve this technique.

Learning how to surf is just like learning anything in life. Just be reminded to know and be knowledgeable about surfing fundamentals so that you will not have a difficult time in learning how to surf. You might experience a bit of struggles and challenges at first, but eventually, you will be able to master surfing. As you practice this exciting outdoor sport, you will certainly have the utmost fun, excitement and thrill.

Wind surfing or sailboarding as it is also known is an aquatic sport that mixes the disciplines of sailing and surfing. This water sport was invented on Hayling Island, Hampshire in the United Kingdom in 1958. The sport was later introduced in California in the 1960’s and it continued spreading fast in other parts of the world. Sailboarding consists of a board that is usually 2-5 meters long that is powered by the wind pushing in a sail. This type of surfing includes disciplines such as speed sailing, course racing, wave sailing, super X, slalom and freestyle. The surfers can either travel on flat or rough water so long as there is wind. This sport is mostly done during the warm months. In this sport, people use a specially designed surfboard with an adjustable mast. Surfers use boards that have been customized for sailboarding which come in both short and long board designs. The size of the board and the sail is what determines the speed. The larger the sail, the faster you move. Similarly, the thinner the sailing board, the faster the speed.

There are various types of wind surfing boards including free ride, formula boards, wave boards, freestyle boards, slalom boards, racing long boards and fun boards. Free ride boards are mostly used for straight-line sailing and occasional turning. They are mostly used in recreational surfing mainly in flat waters or in moderately rough waters. Formula boards are short and they are used in formula wind surfing races. They are a meter wide, have a single fin and they carry sails of up to 12.5 square meters. Wave boards are smaller in size and they do not weigh much. They are used by surfers to perform high jumps while sailing against waves. The most common sizes of sails used together with wave boars are between 4-6 square meters depending in the weight of the surfer and the speed of wind. Freestyle boards are wider, higher volume boards that are designed to perform acrobatic tricks on flat water. Fun boards or beginner boards are almost as wide as formula boards. The only difference is that they have more volume to increase stability.

The sails used in this sport are made if mono-film, Mylar and Dacron. Delicate parts are reinforced with Kevlar mesh. The front edge of a sail is known as the luff. The rear edge is called the leech. The front bottom corner of the sail from which the mast protrudes is known as the tack. The rear bottom corner of the sail in which the boom is fixed is called the clew. The area between the clew and the tack is known as the foot.

 Surfing in the wind requires you to have above average physical conditioning. This is because there is a lot of strain on the stomach, leg and arm muscles and you can get very tired especially in high winds.  In order to perfect surfing in the wind, it is important for you to understand the fundamentals of both sailing and surfing. You should also know how to swim in case of an accident. For beginners, the lessons are offered indoors starting with the basics, after some time you are trained in rivers, lakes , bays and finally in the ocean. More advanced moves require a lot of practice to master, and to reach the sports fun level. Initial lessons can be taken at a windsurfing school. If you want to learn advanced maneuvers, there are training DVDs available.

Anywhere with water and wind is ideal for wind surfing. The type of equipment you use for the activity is governed by how much wind there is. In areas with less wind, wide boards with big sails are used. As the winds get stronger, you decrease the size of the boards and sails. Extreme caution is advised when surfing in shallow waters. You should also try to avoid falls in areas with submerged objects. If falling into the water is inevitable, it is advisable to avoid falling head first to prevent head injuries. It is not advisable to sailboard alone. Always inform someone where you are going and when you expect to return. You should also watch out for other water crafts particularly in congested water. Some of the best places for this type of surfing are Indonesia, Costa Rica, west coast of the United States, Hawaii and Australia.

Surfing is a sport that has its origins in Hawaii and gained popularity in California 100 years ago.Surfing in California is a great way to spend your vacation and free time. California has surfing beaches over 1000 miles of coast line. You will always see surfers that are finding ways to catch the waves and ride them. There are monster waves which surfers love to ride at Ghost Tree very close to Pebble Beach but also in Mavericks at the Half Moon Bay. If you are an experienced surfer that’s the best place to surf if you like huge waves with extreme size and force. Anyway few could possibly surf without been injured while trying so if you aren’t an experienced surfer it is not recommended to try.
Waves can vary on Californian beaches from small almost flat waves to swells that are reaching up to 12 feet and surfers travel around to catch the best waves. If you never tried to surf then you must try to attend some surf lessons that are available on the populated beach regions. Another option to learn how to surf is to begin with a body board to have an idea of how the sensation of the ocean. Surfing can turn a beginner into and surf addict.

California Surfing Beaches

There are many surfing beaches with different types of waves. In Capistrano Beach or in Doheny Beach you will find gentle waves near Dana Harbor and you will find many places where to spend your time over night. Great surfing waves can be found at Hermosa Beach and you can find many experienced surfers because here, surfing is a long time tradition. Huntington Beach is a place where you can find consistent waves that are 2 or 3 foot large or even greater. It is a place that you will enjoy if you like surfing events because the surfing events and contests are often in this place. A large beach can be found in Los Angeles at Dockweiler Beach and it’s Los Angeles’s largest beach and has lots of coasts on which you can surf. Laguna Beach is a beach where you want to go if you want to have a beautiful view. This zone is well known for its variety of rock formations and coves that amazes the visitors. Manhattan Beach is a beach that is very popular because of its surf culture and surfers of different ages come here to admire the waves. These are only a few of the Californian beaches that people like. There are hundreds of other beaches left so you have lots of places to begin with.

Surfing In California- Where To Start Surfing?

If you don’t have any surfing experience the best place where you could begin with is Sunset Point. The name of Sunset Point comes from the fact that the place is located at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard with the Pacific Coast Highway. This is a surfing spot that is preferred by many surfers. What will be a little hard at first is that you must get over a few rocks before entering the water but this is the zone that has the gentlest waves even when the weather is bad. The only disadvantage of going to this beach is that it can get very crowded. As a beginner it is recommended that you surf near the lifeguard tower when the tides are low. If you are planning to learn surfing you should also rent a surfboard and  a wetsuit. There are many places that rent such things near Santa Monica.
Santa Monica is a place where many people choose to learn how to surf because of the variety of hotels and because of the tourist attractions. If you are willing to come in a summer vacation you will often see beginners taking lessons.
Conclusion
Surfing in California will always be a great sport, especially for the Californian people for which surfing became a tradition and a symbol. Surfing is an activity that gives you the sensation of freedom and power. If you like Californian beaches and you have never tried to surf then you should try. Most of the people love surf since the first time they try it.