Pray For Barrels

How to Choose a Surfboard

2011-12-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Anyone new to the sport of surfing can make an easy choice; just pick a board that’s long, wide and thick. For those of you that are a little more experienced, well it’s not quite as easy. A number of factors can determine what the best board for you is and I’ll try to help you narrow down the choices. It’s helpful to ask yourself some questions, understand what kinds of waves you want to ride, what kind of style you want to develop and fully understand your skill level before investing in a board. I’ll do my best to break down the various board choices and what kind of surfer they might fit so you can make an informed decision, and most importantly, catch some tasty waves.

The boards:

Longboard

For the beginning surfer it’s simple, start with a longboard. Lengths typically start around 8 feet (going as high as 12), Longboards are the ideal board for a new surfer, as they will provide much needed stability and control.

Most longboards are somewhere between 18 and 22 inches wide and about 3 inches thick. The traditional longboard design employs a single fin design, but both the tri-fin and quad-fin design have become increasingly popular for added maneuverability.

A popular option for true beginners is the “soft top” which is an almost sponge-like top for added grip and protection, essentially eliminating the need for wax and making the board safer for the surfer and others in the water.

Shortboard

The board most synonymous with modern surfing, the shortboard is a great choice for both progressing amateurs and pro’. When you see surfers ‘carving’ waves with sharp turns, or airing out off a lip, they are most likely riding a shortboard. Typically around six-feet tall, thin and with a wide middle, the shortboard is built for both speed and maneuverability.

Although it’s a tough choice for beginners, it’s the board most surfers evolve into using as it can be ridden in a variety of situations and is the best for fast, technical surfing.

Fish

A type of Shortboard that’s usually under six-feet, the fish has a distinctive twin fin set up with a swallowtail shape. Originally developed in the 1960’s from kneeboards, the fish has had a resurgence of popularity and is a great choice for smaller waves.

Many boards employing the signature fish tail design will be called a fish, but only those following the very specific size requirements can be called an actual “retro” fish.

Fun board

This shape combines the look and design of a shortboard with a longer package (typically 7 or 8 feet), which gives riders the ease of catching waves longboard style and the maneuverability of the shortboard.

The fun board is great for novice surfers looking to make a jump up in difficulty and begin the transition to a shortboard. As the name implies it is great 'fun' too as your wave count will be off the charts.

Shorter, lighter, or more athletic surfers can also use a funboard as their introductory board.

One plus is that they are much easier to carry than a longboard!

Egg

An egg is another tweener board, good for small waves. Generally it is about 6-8' long and is less maneuverable but more stable than a traditional shortboard.

An egg is basically a smaller version of a funboard.

Oh, and it's shaped like an egg.

Gun (Elephant Gun)

Generally for experts only, this is your big wave board of choice, a long (7 to 12 feet) board, that’s very thin and needle-like in appearance and typically utilizes the single, quad or tri-fin set up.

These are popular for world-famous big wave spots such as Mavericks or Waimea Bay and will look like a short-board, but with the length of a longboard for increased stability in these types of waters.

Of course there are other lesser known boards and styles of riding that I won’t cover in-depth. You may have seen a person standing up on an extremely large surfboard before using a paddle? That’s a paddleboard, and it’s usually as long as 14 feet, to create added stability. There’s also the Malibu, a slightly shorter and skinnier Longboard, created at the popular location in SoCal. There are many others like these, but they really don’t stray too far from the essential board-styles listed above.

Materials

Board construction materials also vary. Fiberglass is most common and makes for a less expensive board, but epoxy is more durable. Both of these types would contain either a polyurethane or polystyrene foam core (the part of the board that is ‘shaped’ and give it its buoyancy). In recent years balsa and other wooden surfboards have made a comeback. Wood was the original material of choice for surfboards. Many models now use some combination of wood, foam and epoxy or other materials.

Local Shapers

Choosing a brand of board can be overwhelming too. If you are a beginner, it is usually better to go with a used board, as you will definitely be replacing your first board at some point, either due to progression, or (hopefully not), wear and tear. Most longtime surfers recommend supporting local shapers (board designers/builders) whenever possible rather than purchasing from large corporations who build their boards overseas. This practice has the added benefit of being less damaging to the environment, but if you live in a remote area without a lot of shapers, it can really limit your selection.

Warm water vs cold water wax

The only other recommendation to give would be to make sure you’ve got good wax on your board (unless it’s a soft-top) that also jives with the temperature of the water you’ll surfing in. Consulting a list online or a local surf shop will do the trick for this.

-BZ

X7YP6NN77XYR

Meet Frank, CRSI's Surfing Director

2011-12-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a great interview with Frank about what makes CRSI special.

Top 10 Things to do in Tamarindo

2011-12-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

Check out the post by Brad Zimmerman at Student Globe, outlining the top 10 activities to do in Tamarindo. His list includes surf + Spanish lessons naturally, but also fishing, a visit to the Langosta tide pools and more.

Nice job.

Another answer to high airline baggage fees

2011-11-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

We have written about surfboard airline baggage fees before. Apparently, the dudes at Walden surfboards decided to take matters into their own hands.

They designed a surfboard that can be folded to fit into a suitcase. I originally saw this thing in Men's Journal and it also was reviewed by surfline back in July.

Check it out. Has anyone tried one of these things? Thoughts?

Another Great Surfing Workout: Off Season Total Body Fitness

2011-05-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

We have posted a few surfing workout routines on here before including Laird Hamilton’s workout and some good workouts from our yoga and surf camp.

Some people have been asking for a good off-season workout to keep in surfing shape and avoid those jello arms the first time back in the water. (Not everyone gets to live in a place where the waves are good year round)

We had Derek Dolan, a personal trainer; fitness expert and costa rica surfing camp alum, design a great total body routine that combines swimming, cardio and resistance exercises to keep your paddling arms strong and your arms chiseled. Perform each workout once a week, leaving a day of rest in between.

Use a weight that takes you almost to failure at the given number of reps. For swimming, use 20 laps as a base and increase/decrease as needed for your fitness level.

If you need clarification on any of the exercises, check out the CrossFit website for videos and explanations.

Warm Up - continuous shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.

• 10 prison squats (no weight, hands behind head)
• 10 pushups. fingers out thumbs pointing toward shoulders.
• 10 side lunges
• Wide shoulder rotations w/ 5lbs 30 front, 30 back
• 10/leg alt. leg raises.
• 10/side iron cross. on back arms straight out knees up at a 45.
• 10/leg alt backward hip circles
• 10/leg swings - balancing on one foot
• 10/leg side to side leg swings

Monday - Chest Focus

• Swim 20 laps continuous
• Bench 3x15
• Overhead squat 2x15
• Pullup 2x15
• Lateral raise
• Wall balls 2x15
• Barbell curl 2x12
• Tricep extension 2x12
• Box Jumps 2x20
• Chest Cable Flies 3x12
• 100 Swiss Ball Crunches

Weds - Legs Focus

• Run 2 miles
• Swim 10 laps continuous
• Squat 3x12
• Incline 2x12
• Single arm row 2x12
• Clean & jerk 2x8
• Reverse fly 2x12
• Hammer curl 2x12
• Skull crushers 2x12
• Burpees 3x15
• Weighted walking lunge 2x12
• 1 minute plank – 5 sets

Friday - Back Focus

• Stair climb 10 minutes
• Swim 10 laps continuous
• Pullups 3x15
• Dumbell chest press 3x12
• Deadlifts 2x12
• Shoulder press 2x12
• Kettlebell swings 3x15
• Preacher curls 2x12
• Dips 2x20
• Lat pulldown 3x12
• Calves 2x12
• Hanging leg raises 2x20

Good luck.

New Photos from SG Spanish Students Surfing with CRSI!

2011-03-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some great new Costa Rica surf lesson photos from students surfing during last year's CRSI summer surf programs.

Check out the picture of CRSI surf student Emily riding her first wave. Look like fun? Pay us a visit this summer!

CRSI

Cool B&W Photo Gallery of the World's Greatest Surfers

2011-03-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

http://outsideonline.com/adventure/travel-gd-exposure-special-surfers-photo-gallery-sidwcmdev_153979.html

Laird Hamilton's 10 Rules for Eating a Healthy Diet

2011-02-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Big wave surfing legend Laird Hamilton gave Men's Health his 10 tips for eating right and staying in shape. Laird is also a big fan of yoga and working out as we have noted in this blog in the past.

Here are his tips (Mens Health)

Push Start - The Big Smooth

I like to begin the day at the blender with a smoothie. My favorite recipe contains five supplements that help me optimize my nutrition. A single tablespoon of Catie's Organic Greens, for instance, equals seven servings of green vegetables. I also add apple or cherry juice and frozen bananas and berries for a nice consistency. My morning smoothie gives my body a huge amount of nutrients, which are easily absorbed because liquids are easier to digest than solids. Less than an hour later, I'm ready for whatever activity is on the agenda.

Don't Graze

I don't like to eat unless I'm hungry. When I sit down to a meal, I want my body to be in a state of craving. Not eating until you're hungry means you're not snacking much, if at all.

Chew Slowly

All too often we take our food for granted. I'm always reminding myself to eat more consciously, to savor what I'm chewing. Nature has given us millions of unique flavors. Our job is to explore and appreciate them. It also makes you hyperaware of how much you're eating.

Eat Real Foods

Be wary of any food that has been created by humans rather than nature. The ingredients on the labels of processed foods, such as the average cracker or potato chip, are mind-boggling. If I don't know what it is, it's not going into my body.

Be Diverse

The food universe is vast, and in it there are hundreds of nutrients, minerals, enzymes, essential fatty acids, bioflavonoids, phytochemicals--all kinds of elements. Each one provides something unique to our cells. That's why the more diverse your diet, the healthier you're going to be. Mix it up when you grocery shop. Don't just buy the same stuff every time.

Chew Slowly

All too often we take our food for granted. I'm always reminding myself to eat more consciously, to savor what I'm chewing. Nature has given us millions of unique flavors. Our job is to explore and appreciate them. It also makes you hyperaware of how much you're eating.

Eat Real Foods

Be wary of any food that has been created by humans rather than nature. The ingredients on the labels of processed foods, such as the average cracker or potato chip, are mind-boggling. If I don't know what it is, it's not going into my body.

Be Diverse

The food universe is vast, and in it there are hundreds of nutrients, minerals, enzymes, essential fatty acids, bioflavonoids, phytochemicals--all kinds of elements. Each one provides something unique to our cells. That's why the more diverse your diet, the healthier you're going to be. Mix it up when you grocery shop. Don't just buy the same stuff every time.

Updated: Airline Surfboard Baggage Fees

2011-02-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

We ran a story on this awhile back via CRSI twitter but the folks over at CR Surf have a good updated list of airline baggage fees for surfboards. Yikes!

Airlines Increase Fees for Boardbags
If you are thinking about bringing your favorite quiver on your next surf trip, these airlines have increased their fees for surfboards. Be sure to visit the airlines website before booking your flight so you know what to expect.

Luckily at CRSI surfing camps in Costa Rica, we have a full quiver of awesome surfboards. We also recommend that former students who are staying awhile in CR to buy a new board and then sell it back used and still save over what it would have cost to bring your own.

If you want this practice of overcharging to end, contact the airlines by mail and visit this site to sign their petition - http://www.surfers-against-airline-fees.com/

Air Pacific- $50 each way per surfboard bag leaving the U.S.

American Airlines - $150 each way (charge is per surfboard bag if neatly packed and under 50lbs) Lightweight surfboards packaged in a single bag that weighs less than 50lbs will be accepted as a single surfboard for charging purposes. Max 70 lbs and 126 inches

Continental - $100 each way for 2 surfboards , $400 each way for 3 surfboards, $700 each way for 4 surfboards)

Continental Airlines will accept one surfboard/wakeboard or one surfboard bag containing up to four boards per customer as checked baggage. Services charges (one way):

* 1 surfboard $100.00
* 1 surfboard bag containing up to two boards $100.00
* 1 surfboard bag containing up to three boards $400.00
* 1 surfboard bag containing up to four boards $700.00

This service charge is in addition to any excess baggage charges that may apply. The skeg/fin must be removed or well padded. The entire board must be encased in a suitable container to avoid scratching. Continental Airlines shall not be liable for damage to a surfboard/wakeboard. Excess Valuation may not be purchased for a surfboard/wakeboard. Surfboard/wakeboard and surfboard bags over 70lbs (32 kg) will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Note: On Continental Airlines flights, surfboards, surfboard bags or wakeboards over 115 inches (292 cm) in length will not be accepted as checked baggage. On Continental Express* or Continental Connection flights, surfboards, surfboard bags or wakeboards over 80 inches (203 cm) in length will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Copa- $75 to all destinations, excluding São Paulo and San Jose (SJO) which are charged only US $50 (two boards per bag)

Delta- $200 each way per surfboard bag - one board per bag ($100 each way to/from Brazil, $220 to Honolulu or Maui)

If the surfboard is not in a protective case, you must fill out a limited liability release before the surfboard will be accepted.
Surfboards are allowed one board per bag; additional boards in a bag will be charged, per board.
Surfboards over 70 lbs. will be charged the excess weight fee.
Between Honolulu and Maui, there is a 20 USD/CAD/EUR* fee.
Boogie boards smaller than or equal to 43 inches (107 cm) will be accepted as part of the free allowance.

Jet Blue- What is accepted: One surfboard per case; we recommend that surfboards travel in a hard-sided (rather than soft-sided) case to prevent damage. Domestic Flights: Surfboards are accepted on domestic flights for a fee of $50 per board each way and will count as one of your checked bags. International Flights: Customers will be charged a fee of $50 per board each way and will count as part of the checked baggage allowance. Surfboards are accepted to all destinations EXCEPT to/from Bermuda, *Santo Domingo and Santiago. *Please note: Surfboards ARE accepted on flights to/from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Southwest- $50 each way per surfboard bag

Spirit Airlines - A fee of $100 will apply each way for surfboards. A maximum of two surfboards will be accepted per case.

Taca- $125 each way per surfboard bag (max. 2 surfboards), $175 extra for additional surfboards ($100 between Miami and San Jose, Costa Rica)

United- Domestic $100 each way per surfboard, International $200 each way per surfboard

US Airways - Surfboards will be accepted as checked baggage for a charge of $100 per direction. One item of surfing equipment consists of 1 surfboard. When packaging a surfboard, keels and/or kedges must be removed or crated in such a manner so as to prevent damage to other baggage.

These airlines do not charge for boards: Sweet!

Singapore Airlines- No Charge for first 2 surfboards
Qantas – No charge
South African Airways- No charge
Air Emirates- No Charge

Complete article at
[CR Surf]

Este hombre es loco!

2011-01-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

Mark Visser surfs Jaws in the middle of the night.

Click the link above to check out the video!

In other news, check out our family surf camps on iRobic Pure.

How to Read Surf Reports and Forecasts

2010-12-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

By, C.R.S.I.

Finally! The workweek is over, the weekend is here...You wake up at the crack of dawn, pack a cooler full food and beer, pile your surfboards and friends into your car and rolled out to your local beach. You step out of the car, squint your eyes as you look out at the ocean and…..wtf!? The water is flatter than a Nebraska turnpike. You drive to the break…same thing. Your day is ruined, but this bummer situation could have been avoided if you had learned how to read a surf forecast!

Unlike regular weather reports or even snowboard/ski forecasts, surf forecasts are super technical, but they are very helpful and will be an asset in your search for waves, as long as you learn to interpret them correctly. Follow the CRSI guide, and the mystery of surf forecasts will vanish and next time you head out to your spot you will be armed with the knowledge and equipment you need for the day’s conditions.

The Basics of Reading Surf Reports

There are going to be four main factors that you need to pay attention to when reading a surf report; swell direction, wave height, tides and wind (water temperature and air temperature are important too, but don’t have as much of an impact on conditions).

Swell Direction

As you might guess, swell direction tells you from which direction a swell is originating. A west swell is coming from the west, a southwest swell coming from the southwest. Depending on their orientation on the coast, different surf breaks work better with different swell directions. The best way to figure out when the best conditions are going to be for your area is to research some of your favorite local spots to see how swell direction impacts each one, and learn where your best bet is for a given swell direction.

Wave Height (Swell height and period)

Most new surfers ask one thing before heading out: “How big are the waves going to be today?” The answer to this question actually depends on two things, swell height and swell interval or period.
For example, many surf reports will quote the wave height conditions like this: 4 feet at 11 seconds. The first number is the swell height and the second, the period. Both numbers are equally important in determining how big the conditions are going to be. The larger the swell interval/period, the larger the waves are going to be. 4 feet at 4 seconds, isn’t going to produce waves to write home about, but 4 feet at 22 seconds and you should get your ass out of bed and down to the beach as soon as you can!
Between surfers, wave height is also discussed and measured in reference to the human body. 1-3 foot waves are referred to as waist high, 3-5 as chest high, 6-8 foot as overhead, 10 and higher as double over head etc.

Wind

While swell direction will determine the existence of waves at your local spot, swell height and period determine the size, wind is the primary factor in determining the quality of the waves. Learning the basics of how wind affects surf is essential to predicting surfing conditions. Scientifically, the wind gives birth to waves by transferring energy from the air to the water. In a more specific surfing sense, winds can make or break the conditions at your local spot by either chopping up the water or making it butter smooth. A swell can be hitting perfectly, churning out huge waves, only to have everything ruined by a nasty on-shore wind. There are two basic rules you need to know:
What is an off-shore wind? What is an on-shore wind?

Offshore winds (or no winds) are generally good. The easiest ways to imagine this is to picture yourself facing the water. An off shore wind would be hitting you in the back or blowing “off the shore.”

On-shore winds are generally bad as they can take a sweet swell and turn it into choppy, messy waves. These are the opposite of off-shore winds. If you picture yourself facing the water again, the wind would be blasting you in the face or blowing “onto the shore.”

In review, Off-shore winds…good. No wind….good. On-shore winds….bad. Most buoys will measure wind based on a compass reading and speed (Knots). So if your spot faces northwest and the report shows a wind blowing SSE (south/southeast) at 10 knots, you would conclude that there is a light off-shore wind. Good news!

Tides

The final factor we will discuss in this post differs at every break. Tides change the depth of the water, which either hides or exposes the rocks, beach or points, on which waves break.
Some spots work best at high tide, some at mid tide and some at low tide. This does not mean it isn’t possible to surf during off times of the day (in fact you may enjoy the fact that the water is less crowded), it just refers to the ideal time of day, when waves are most likely to be going off.

Now you have the tools to read surf reports and make knowledgeable predictions of the conditions at your local spots. Many sites also have beach cameras that show a live feed of wave conditions. These can give you an idea of what the waves are looking like in real-time.

We at CRSI provide real time Tamarindo surf reports and weather on their website courtesy of Surfline.

New Fall Photos Up on the CRSI Facebook

2010-11-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

Check out the new pics from Playa Grande, and Playa Tamarindo here.

Radical longboard designs...a new frontier or a gimmick? - Meyerhoffer designs

2010-11-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Check out these wild new surfboards from Thomas Meyherhoffer, a former Apple employee who took a radical approach to re designing the longboard. He has one a few design contests around the world and so far his boards have been getting rave reviews and have been getting mentioned in non-surf media such as Men's Health.

According to the company, the unconventional shape maximizes ease of paddling while allowing for unmatched maneuverability. We will see if the design catches on. The company is also launching a line of shortboards this spring.

http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboards/meyerhoffer.php

Nicaragua blames Google Maps for Costa Rican Invasion

2010-11-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

This should take awhile to resolve....

Andy Irons Dies Tuesday - R.I.P One Of The Greats

2010-11-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Surfing lost one of its greatest this week when Andy Irons, Hawaii native and brother of Bruce Irons passed away during a layover in Texas.

Here are a couple of stories detailing what happened and the response from the surfing community as well as some sick videos of him ripping.

Andy Irons
(July 24,1978 – November 2, 2010)

Story detailing the circumstances surrounding his death

Billabong story on Andy Irons paddle out memorial

Andy Irons Videos

I surf because...

Free surfing

big barrels, big air

2010-11-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

While our costa rica surfing classes may not get you surfing like the dudes above....it's a start!

CRSI

Alana Blanchard Profile

2010-11-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Alana Blanchard
Birthdate: March 5th, 1990
Want to learn to surf like Alana? Why not attend a surfing camp in costa rica?

Pop to Your Feet Quickly and Smoothly

2010-08-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.surfstronger.com/tips/ViewTip/20

Find more surfing tips on the CRSI website.

Song of the day: Sprawl II, The Arcade Fire

2010-08-23T18:37:00.001-07:00

Spin this track after a long day in the water. Stop the sprawl in Tamarindo.

It is called Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Moutains) by Canada's finest, The Arcade Fire.

Gotta love the art on "The Suburbs" album too.

New Summer 2010 Pics Up + Kids and Family Surfing Videos!

2010-08-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hola amigos!

New photos are up from August as well as a cool video of some of our Kids Camp surfers!

Check em out here at the Costa Rica Surf Institute website.

Pura Vida!

CRSI

Summer Sessions Tamarindo Style

2010-07-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

As the high season is winding down I would like to reflect on the last couple of months here in Costa Rica at the Costa Rica Surf Institute.We have had many great groups and people come through. Some from the States, some from Germany, Italy, INDIA, Norway, France and Canada. This year we also created a new part to our program for FAMILIES.

The Family Surfing Program has been an excellent addition for us as well as for the countless families that roll through the school. The KIDS, even though sometimes a lot of work, have been a an absolute joy to work with, and each one has been talented and tough. Every single kid from the ages of 6 on up were capable of surfing, and more often than not they were even better than the adults (ranging from 18-23 years of age). But shhh I didn't say that.

As for the adults, they have been a blast as well. To watch people IMPROVE from their first day to the end of their second week is amazing. We teach people not only to surf but be able to understand surfing. And for the people who take our two week program the difference is amazing by the second week and they could truly surf anywhere in the WORLD (depending on the wave size) and know; the etiquette, how to choose boards, the type of breaks, how to ride and etc..

Every week, we have been taking our second, third, fourth and fifth week students to AVELLENAS, which is another beach about 45 minutes away. Here, they are able to test the skills they have learned in a new environment where the surf is bigger and better. Although much more difficult, each one of our students has PROSPERED here and it is always a treat to visit a new beach, especially one as beautiful as Avallanas.

The HIGHLIGHT of the summer must have come about 2 weeks ago during a thursday when we had everyone out in the water at the same time. We were over in capitan suizo, we had 3 people taking video and all our students and almost all our instructors out. We were a FORCE to be reckoned with. The sun was out, the water was clear and the waves were good. I just remember sitting out there with everyone as we were all LAUGHING and surfing for three hours straight. No one wanted to get out of the water, so we all stayed for probably an extra hour or so, including all the instructors. I remember thinking, this is what surfing is all about, this is what our institute is all about. It was a moment of CLARITY where I think we all realized (instructors and students alike) that our hard work was paying off. After that day I remember Alejandro (the institute manager) say "those who are the best surfers, have the most fun". How true this statement is for anything one could do.

Lastly, I want to say thank you to all our great INSTRUCTORS who are not only phenomenal surfers but are also SELFLESS and amazing teachers, we would not be able to do what we do without all of you; Kurt, Zach, Paula, Jose, Omar, Francisco, Kairo, Nahuel, Geovany, Victor, Reuben. Also, thank you to all our great students as well, you all put the fun in surfing..

Until Next time, Hasta luego.........

PURA VIDA!!!!!

New pics, nasty wipeout vids.

2010-07-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

July is wrapping up and we are getting ready for August. We have had a great summer so far and can't wait to end it with a bang!

Props to Alejandro, Michael, Jordan, and the rest of the staff for stepping up and making it a successful summer season at CRSI!

New pics and vids are up from the summer at the Costa Rica Surf Institute Website.

Check out this video of a nasty wipeout.

Cheers!

CRSI

COSTA RICA [official promo ICT]

2010-04-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

A classic. Never gets old.

2010-04-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

2010-03-27T13:51:00.000-07:00