by: Greg Gordon www.crsurf.com

FORECAST

Caribbean Coast: Two factors will make October a great month for waves this year: First is the belief that with fewer hurricanes earlier in the season there will be more towards the end of the season. They won’t hit directly, but storms tracking across the Atlantic will push ground swell far ahead of it and some should filter below the Lesser Antilles. The second factor is the early arrival of northeasters along the east coast, which will push waves south through the Caribbean Islands. Chest-high surf arrives on the 4th and although it won’t be big to start, the surf will be overhead or bigger for the majority of the month.

Pacific Coast: The month starts small with leftover WSW and SSW swells in the chest- to head-high range, but by the 6th a steady stream of southwest and SSW swells arrive with surf reaching 2-feet overhead. Combined with those is the start of the North Pacific wave season, so swell from the west will make the paddle out more difficult and open up more take-off spots on the point breaks. The only rough parts of the month are during the frequent rain showers, which make the water chocolatey and debris-filled and bring onshore winds earlier in the day. But that will keep the crowds away, too.

New moon: October 4 Full moon: October 19

TRAVEL

As predicted, most of the hotels in Nosara are sold out from Christmas to New Year’s. We know the few who still have rooms — not just there, but for Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa, and Tamarindo. Book your flights now for your Thanksgiving or winter vacation. Best flights*: For Thanksgiving (and Hanukkah) and Christmas, Copa Airline has the lowest prices from Orlando to San Jose for $505; or, if you want to fly on the weekend, then Spirit Air has flights from $550 (+ $30 for checked bags each). Find a 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

CRsurf is proud to sponsor the second stop on the Puerto Viejo Open Pro Tour, this time November 2 and offering more than $3,000 in cash and prizes. The contest takes place behind the Hotel Marea Brava in Playa Hermosa de Jaco. Andrea Diaz, owner of Waves Costa Rica in Tamarindo, is organizing a surf contest circuit in Guanacaste. The first contest takes place in Playa Brasilito November 9 for amateurs, and will feature a monthly contest along different beaches on the northern Nicoya Peninsula, including Tamarindo, Marbella, Avellanas, and Playa Grande. Contact us if you’re interested in participating. Visit the CRsurf.com website to see the rest of the schedule.

ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY

Donavon Frankenreiter will be performing November 8 in Playa Guiones, hosted by Safari Surf School. This is part of a week with Billabong’s Surf with a Pro Program, letting ordinary “Joes” get to surf and learn from the “pros.” Visit CRsurf.com to sign up to go before all the spots are filled up. Our company has been sponsoring surfers in Costa Rica and the United States since we started the business in 1998. Our surfers have participated in contests around the world, and hopefully will one day get a spot on the World Tour.

Besides Noe Mar and Leilani McGonagle, we now are helping Dominical surfer and lifeguard Jossue Venegas in his quest to one day join the Costa Rica national surf team and compete internationally. 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: www.crsurf.com/subscribe.html

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