By: Greg Gordon – www.crsurf.com

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast – El Caribe lights up this month with East swells filing in for the first week. There should be new swells each week throughout the month, with a few days of waist high waves in between each. The surf can reach 3-4 foot overhead on the reefs, so bring your step up board.

Pacific Coast – The North Pacific has already been cranking surf, so expect a few head high to overhead sets from the WNW right after the new moon. As the Southern ocean calms down there will be fewer South swells, but plenty of chest to head waves for the central and southern Pacific beaches.

New moon – December 2nd Full Moon – December 17th

TRAVEL

All November I have been traveling around Costa Rica, visiting old friends and making new ones while surfing from Pavones to Ollie’s Point and most breaks in between on the Pacific coast. There are truly some hidden gems for waves, boutique hotels, tours, and tasty restaurants, and the only way to find them is to visit the CRsurf.com website. Plus you can receive low season discounts at over a dozen spots just by mentioning CRsurf. In December it can get busy, so wouldn’t you want to know where and when to go?

For example, I met my friend Kevin, his son Justin, and Joe at the newly opened SPROUT restaurant in Tamarindo at 5:00 a.m.We made it to Avellanas and surfed the rivermouth with no one else out for at least an hour, with light offshores and head high sets when everywhere else was waist to chest.

Del Mar Surf Camp is hosting 2014 get fit camps with Four-Time World Champion, Five-Time Surfer Poll Winner & Certified Instructor – FRIEDA ZAMBA! The Sea Escape Surf Camp takes place in Playa Hermosa (north of Santa Teresa) at Casa Kalafken, a beachfront villa with six rooms, swimming pool, private chef and more. There are 7 day retreats planned for January through March. Also, Vista Guapa Surf Camp has three YOLO SUP camps planned for early 2013.

Best flights*: I found an Orlando to San Jose flight on Copa Airlines for $347 roundtrip (January 14th-26th), with a short stop in Panama City. Boards fly for $75 each way. Or take a non-stop JetBlue flight for $373.00. Find your seat and then email us travel@crsurf.com or by phone 877-SURF-007. (877-787-3007) *all prices listed cannot be confirmed until a reservation is made.

CONTESTS

Maikol Torres from Jaco won the second stop on the Puerto Viejo Open Pro. Isaac Vega from Tamarindo took first place in the inaugural contest on the Guanacaste Surf Circuit. The next event will be held in Tamarindo on December 7th-8th. Both events are partially sponsored by CR Surf Travel Company.
CRsurf team riders are also getting in some great results internationally. Noe Mar earned a runner-up finish in the Independence Pro in Barbados, and Leilani took 3rd in the ASP Soup Bowl Junior Pro. And both represented team Costa Rica in the Central American Surfing Games in Panama, held the weekend before Thanksgiving, and both made the finals. Results to come in the next report.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

Villas Las Tecas is hosting a mission group from the U.S. to help build a small living area for a family and making repairs on a widow’s home in Nosara. They offer discounted rates to those coming to the area to help make a difference in peoples’ lives.

CR Surf Travel Company is offering to plant a tree for each trip purchased by a B-Corps member or anyone! Book a hotel or rental vehicle for a week or more in Costa Rica by the end of 2014 and they will donate $25 to Community Carbon Trees, a non-profit group that empowers women by teaching them about the environment and planting native species of trees for reforesting projects in Costa Rica. The money goes to purchase the tree, having the women plant it, and maintain it until it reaches maturity. This helps offset the carbon burned on the travelers’ flight. Just mention ‘Plant a Tree’ when making your reservations. You can now reserve vehicles online through U-Save and Adobe through this link – http://www.crsurf.com/rent-now-adobe-usave.html..

CR Surf Travel Company is a member of the Surfrider Foundation and 1% for the Planet, donating one percent of their proceeds to environmental causes. We are also a certified Benefit Corporation, pledging sustainability in all of our business decisions.

If you want to find out everything happening in Costa Rica, and get the latest specials from hotels and surf camps, sign up for the report at – http://www.crsurf.com/subscribe.html
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