By: Greg Gordon – www.crsurf.com

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast – Already there have been some double overhead days this season, so this month I expect more waves reaching that height or bigger (at least 8 days out of the month). Another two weeks will be at least overhead. That combined with sunshine and an influx of international tourists, many who don’t surf but just like the Reggae vibe, make it a good time to drive over.

Pacific Coast – There’s some logic to the waves being bigger around the New Moon and Full Moon and this month is no different, some overhead surf will hit around the 2nd of January and then another swell looks to arrive near the 17th from the Southern Hemisphere. The North Pacific is starting to heat up, too, so Aleutian ground swells will amplify the sets and make some A-frames for the New Year.

New moon – January 1st Full Moon – January 15th

Get ALL the tide charts for 2014 on CRsurf.com!

TRAVEL

Del Mar Surf Camp is hosting 2014 get fit camps with Four-Time World Champion Frieda Zamba. The Sea Escape Surf Camp takes place in Playa Hermosa (north of Santa Teresa) at a beachfront villa with six rooms, swimming pool, private chef and more. There are 7 day retreats planned for January through March. Vista Guapa Surf Camp has three YOLO SUP camps planned for early 2013. And Surf Inn Hermosa is offering Reboot Retreats at Hermosa Surf Inn with Amanda Mason, March 8th-14th and March 22nd-28th. Packages starting at $1250 for six days, seven nights. For any of these, you just need to email us at travel@crsurf.com to get on board.

Some other fun events to come see are JUNGLE JAM 2014 with Slightly Stoopid, Dumpstaphunk, The Expendables, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and more at the Hotel DoceLunas – January 16-19, 2014. Then the 4th annual Envision Music, Art and Sacred Movement Festival will take place February 20th – 23rd on the Southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Best flights: If you are traveling light, then Spirit Air has flights from Orlando to San Jose for $353 roundtrip during the last week of January. Otherwise, JetBlue is priced at $403 (with one checked bag free = better deal) Mid-February looks better, with Spirit Air flying to SJO for $323 and Jet Blue running $353 for a non-stop roundtrip ticket.

CONTESTS

Maykol Torres, an Esterillos local, won the first stop on the National Surf Tour in overhead perfection at Playa Bejuco, while 10x champ Lisbeth Vindas earned the women’s top prize. The next stop will be in Puerto Viejo on January 25th-26th, in front of the Isla Inn. February’s contest will be the 15th and 16th in Nosara, so be prepared for a crowded lineup that weekend.

The Puerto Viejo Open Pro returns to Salsa Brava on January 18th. This is the 3rd stop on their circuit and with $3000 in prizes it should bring the top talent from around the country. International competitors are welcome, too. This is the 4th year CRsurf.com has sponsored this series, hoping to elevate the surf talent on the Caribbean coast.

ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY

The Robert August Surf and Turf Charity event, raising money for the non-profit kids group CEPIA, takes place March 21st-23rd. You can book your trip and enter the event by sending us a note.

For their 3rd year, CR Surf Travel Company has donated $250.00 to the Costa Rica environmental group – PRETOMA, to help them protect sea turtles and the beaches they nest on. This is only part of our 1% For The Planet pledge, along with giving over $2000 this year to sponsor local surfers and surf contests in Costa Rica and Cocoa Beach (Waterman’s Challenge). As a certified Benefit Corporation, we lead the way in demonstrating sustainable practices in every aspect of our business.

Book a hotel or rental through us for a week or more in Costa Rica before the end of 2014 and CRsurf 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 donation pays for planting a tree and maintaining through its growth cycle.