Forecast

Caribbean Coast – After the Northeaster’s drift off the coast of the United States, the fetch they create can slip south of the Antilles and pile into the Caribbean coastline. The pattern continues through the first part of April, but by the end of the month the flat spells start up, making it better for snorkeling than surfing.

Pacific Coast – April means crowded lineups and offshore mornings. The rainy season gets an early start in the Osa Peninsula while the rest of the coastline usually stays sunny and dry. Up north a few blasts of Papagayo winds remain, and combined with the first southern swells can form some dreamy lineups.

Full moon – April 9th New Moon – April 24th

Travel

Looking for a place to stay for the ISA World Surfing Games this July 31st to August 8th, 2009. Check out a list of our favorite Accommodations, with a satellite view of their location in relation to the contest. Our budget options are as low as $60/night for two people. How about a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in Herradura (5 km. north of Jaco) for only $700/wk.? Or a luxury private 2 bedroom villa at Club del Sol in Jaco for six people only $3000 for two weeks? Or a mansion on the beach in secluded Esterillos Este, only $300/night! Stay in style, but you have to make reservations early. Over 40 teams are coming and it’s one of the last weeks of summer for school kids.

Airfare special – American Airlines from Miami to San Jose for <$240 – select dates from Monday to Thursday until 5/28. With our partners at Tico Travel, one board flies free from Orlando or Miami. Also, JetBlue flies from Orlando started flying on 3/26 for ~$275 and up. ($50 per board each way) Contact us at travel@crsurf.com to help you find your flight.

*** To petition the high cost of surfboard charges on airlines, go to www-surfers-against-airline-fees.com.

Contests

There will be an area surf contest taking place in Playa Carmen, April 11th and 12th.
The final contest of the year for Circuito Nacional de Surf Costa Rica will be held behind Terraza del Pacifico in Playa Hermosa on May 1st – 3rd. This 6 star event will determine the overall champions in many categories, and also help in choosing who will represent the National Team.

Environment/Community

Find your favorite fruits, veggies, bread, cookies, oils, and grains from 9-2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at the Pura Vida Health Organic Market, located in Tamarindo in front of Witchs Rock Surf Camp

There will be a fundraiser on April 4th at Hotel Laguna del Cocodrilo in Tamarindo for the local Surfrider chapter. This will benefit Surfrider, the lifeguard program, and the recycling program. Their next meeting will be on April 30th at 7 p.m. at the Surf Club in Playa Langosta. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate.

CRSURF.com is supporting www.GreenJungle.org with their first TWEARTH Day, an event taking place on the River Saxiola (Southern Caribbean) and shared with the world using Twitter. Parents, teachers, and students are welcome to visit and participate in this event.
Go to www.twearthday.org to learn more.

Read about the proposed tuna farms near Pavones at – www.crsurf.com/news/environment/tunafarm3.html

Specials

The CRSurf Shop now has ECO-friendly HEMP boardbags for sale from WaveTribe. Check them out, and buy one to save a slice of the earth. As always, Free shipping in the continental U.S.

Everytime you purchase from www.ECOPAPER.com you can use the discount code – CRSURF – to receive 5% off your order. They have envelopes, sketch pads, notebooks, and writing sets with paper made from mango, banana, hemp, or coffee.

We have T-SHIRTS!! Only 100 have been printed, and only 80 are left. We are donating $3 from each shirt sold to the Surfrider Foundation, Boarding for Breast Cancer, and the Dominical Lifeguards. The Men’s shirts are made from a 50/50 recycled plastic and cotton mix. The Women’s shirts are Gildan soft cotton. Buy one online at www.crsurfshop.com.
Check out www.crsurf.com to see the latest daily pics, and get expert help planning your next trip.