By: Greg Gordon – www.crsurf.com

Photo caption: CRsurf founder Greg Gordon getting ready for a ‘board meeting’ in Pavones. Photo: Makistyle

FORECAST
Caribbean Coast – For waves, there are not a lot of swell makers this month as the Atlantic quiets down and it’s before the hurricane season starts up. Don’t expect more than a week of surf over chest high, with mostly knee to waist surf or smaller. This offers a great opportunity to learn to surf on a quiet palm lined beach or do some snorkeling or scuba and spot some turtles or dolphins.
Pacific Coast – May is a consistent month for surf and it starts with a 1-2 foot overhead SSW swell that lasts through the 4th. Then expect more steady head high waves and another pulse of South showing on the 8th. Past that there is a week’s wait for more overhead SSW action which will peak around the 23rd and then won’t show again until the end of the month with a monster Southwest swell.
New moon – May 9th Full Moon – May 24th

TRAVEL
Here are a few of the specialty camps that we can help you reserve this summer. First there is a new surf camp offered by Marbella Surf Inn and hosted by pro-surfer Aaron Cormican. The Gorky Park Surf Camp has something for surfers at all skill levels and includes transportation, lodging, lessons, and all meals, the first dates are June 11-18th. Real Surf Trips will be hosting surf training camps with 3 times world women’s surf champ Lisa Andersen. Witch’s Rock Surf Camp is hosting Robert August in their shaping room to craft new boards and meet with guests of the camp.
We can help you with reservations for all of these camps plus find the best discounts, like getting $250 off any standard Safari Surf School vacation Package when you book your Costa Rica surf trip for the months of May and August. Or Rich Coast Diving is offering combo surf and dive packages with accommodations starting at $220 per person with lodging. An open-water diving course and a 5 night stay is only $475. Here are a few others:
Mention CRSURF at these local businesses and get:
H2O Go South is offering 10% off boat trips to Witchs Rock and Ollies Point!
15% discount at La Dolce Vita (from 15th of April to November 30th)
10% off at Adventure Inn near the airport in San Jose
10 % off at Costa Rica Surf Institute in Tamarindo
20% discount at Cafe Playa Negra
15% discount at Pavones Riviera
Best flights: Flights to Costa Rica are still relatively cheap this month, and Spirit Air just had some $200 roundtrip flights (plus baggage fees) from Fort Lauderdale to San Jose. During the summer months expect to pay at least $350 roundtrip from Orlando or Miami so get your tickets early for a little savings.
Contact us to help plan your customized vacation – travel@crsurf.com or by phone 877-SURF-007. (877-787-3007)

CONTESTS

CRSURF team riders and Pavones locals Leilani and Noe Mar McGonagle are having the best year yet on the Costa Rica National Surf Tour. They both just won 1st Place (Open and Womens Division) in the Copa Oakley held in Santa Teresa. Their next stop is May 25-26th in Nosara.
CR Surf Travel Company has partnered with Waves Costa Rica to sponsor the Surf For Youth series, a program that helps local kids learn to surf and learn about the ocean. They are looking for additional sponsors for surf contests for the kids and donations of new and used surfing equipment. Email us if you can bring anything down to donate. Find out more here: https://www.crsurf.com/news/community/Surf-for-Youth-sponsor.html

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

This year is our third as a member of 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate one percent of our proceeds to environmental causes. It is part of our mission to help keep our oceans blue by supporting small hotels and camps that contribute to their community. Our proceeds are donated to the Costa Rican non-profit PRETOMA, who help protect ocean marine life and their ecosystems. http://www.crsurf.com/news/environment/One-percent-for-the-planet-2013.html
To find out other events in the beachside communities of Costa Rica, just sign up for our surf report. – http://www.crsurf.com/subscribe.html

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