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Costa Rica 2014


British Bodyboard Club Secretary Rich Hall has been around the bodyboarding scene for a long time and knows all there is to know about the sport. So we really value his opinion. He’s based in Chippenham and wanted to maximise his wave count this winter with a trip away. He jumped on  our January Bodyboard Coaching Holiday to Costa Rica. This is what he had to say about it…

Fancy somewhere off the beaten track for a bodyboard expedition?  Looking for amazing glassy waves perfect for any level of riding, baking winter sunshine, amazing wildlife and excellent value for money?  Then look no further than Costa Rica with www.bodyboard-hoildays.com

Having decided that a warm-water surf was on the agenda for early 2014, I started to scratch about for potential venues.   I shortlisted a few, and seriously considered Indo with its plethora of infamous breaks; but in the end the lure of Central America proved too great.

Not having travelled to Costa Rica before I opted to go with Rob Barber’s bodyboard-holidays.com company.  Their expertise and established contacts have consistently led to easy stress-free breaks for me previously (and given my 60+ hour average working week, that’s what I needed).

I flew from LHR through to San Jose Costa Rica via Newark with United; but there are plenty of options available, with a return economy ticket costing in the region of £500.  There are cheaper options down around £350, but you risk luggage issues swapping carriers and the cheaper flights inevitably take more time.

Having completed the 14 hour flights, we overnighted in Ajaluela and then transferred out to Santa Teresa in the Puntarenas region of the Nicoya peninsula.  Our accommodation was a series of wooden bungalows set around a restaurant/bar/games complex at a really cool, bodyboarder friendly lodge. The place has a load of awesome Howler Monkeys that issue their morning wakeup call from the trees nearby!  So having settled in, our daily routine became:

0530: Wakeup and head down to the beach for the dawnie.  Surfing at first light to make the most of the warm offshores, milder temperatures and uncrowded lineups.

0930: Having had your fill of sick glassy turquoise waves, (or when you start to feel the first onshores) walk back to the lodge for a shower & breakfast (banana pancakes with a pile of fruit and couple of mugs of strong Costa Rican coffee for me)

1100: Catch up on Skype with the family, FB/emails, ping pong, pool, catch some rays, use the pool.

1300: Video analysis of the earlier surf to correct technique and hone manoeuvres (for me all about hitting the end-section properly to land rolls)

1400: Lunch – traditional Costa Rican fare or chicken/burgers etc, followed by maybe a wander into town, or more post-surf RnR.

1600: Back down to the beach (grabbing a few beers on the way for the cool box) and surf again now the winds have gone back offshore.  Make the most of the dying light then watch the amazing Costa Rican sunset with a cold one in hand.

1830: Head back for another amazing steak/fish supper at the lodge.  Then what? Crazy Costa Rican face-paint party?  An early night?  Or all you can drink cocktails for $20?  All were fully sampled and enjoyed.

7 full days of bodyboarding, facilitated by knowledgeable and engaged coaches; keen to see you progress and stoked when you do.  Amazing scenery, sick waves a stone’s throw from the jungle canopy, great company and shed-load of new mates plus a hard-drive full of memories.  Will I be back?  Oh, yes….

Rich Hall – February 2014

Do you like the sound of this? Why not join our Costa Rica Bodyboard Coaching Holiday?

Or maybe you fancy checking out a range of locations in Central America? Check out our Multi Stop Tours and visit more countries, with less flights and less hassle!

 

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