Surf Camp Costa Rica

Emails to Family from Tamarindo

Day 1
I'm here in Tamarindo all safe and sound althoughincredibly sore and very humbled from my surfing experience so far... Got here very easily - the guy with my name on the sign was actually there waiting for me when I got off the airplane in Liberia (was that a first for us?) and the van ride to the camp was easy and quick. I got to Tamarindo around 3;00 and they had me signed up for a lesson at 4:30. Jess was there waiting, the hotel they built is very nice (simple but pretty and nice that it's all new). Also they improved the patio that they restaurant is on - I think when we were here it was uncovered and sort of rocky, now it's a pretty covered tile porch.

Anyway, I went out for my lesson at 4:30 and it was tough. I was with two other new guys and the surf was actually really rough although I don't think it made a difference because we were just in the little waves. We stayed out until it got dark and through a lightening storm because the instructor wouldn't let us go in until I had caught a good wave. Lots of pressure! I got up a few times but it was tough and not too pretty. By the time we went in, it was raining (so green here by the way - very different than last time) and I was utterly exhausted. Also, I stepped on something sharp and took off half of my big toe and replaced it with hard packed sand which I think is rubbing against my bone. Awesome.

The people here are nice although it seems like the thing to do is to take the surfing VERY seriously, especially if you are boy and talk about the "feel of the waves" and get very competitive about how short the board is that you are using etc. It all sort of makes me laugh.

We have our lesson today at 3:00 and I think we're going to go out in a bit and try to practice before hand. Hopefully I'll do better today without the instructor there freaking me out.


Day 3?
Hi Family -

Thought I would send you a final crazy email for the summer and describe my
latest crazy experiences...

Surf camp is so fun and so silly at the same time - definitely a summer camp
for grown ups complete with activities, seminars, arts & crafts (tomorrow we
get to learn how to decorate surf boards), drama (one of the "campers" had a
fling with one of the instructors - big faux pas!) and of course, lots and
lots of surfing.

Up until now, I was very, very bad at surfing but today I had a break
through and now I'm just very bad at surfing. But going from very, very to very is a big step forward. In the process I got a rash from the surf board, a large hole in my toe, a
big puffy bruise on my leg and a black eye. Also, I'm very, very sore. As
in, I feel like a punching bag at Mike Tyson's gym. However, I have not yet
stepped on one of the plentiful sting rays (other people have) and haven't been stung by a jelly fish, so I'm actually feeling pretty good about my condition. I can't decide whether or not I want to start work at Bain with a black eye. Not sure it will last that long but it might give
me some instant cache?

Surfing is very tough - we started out in the white water (the little waves
that aren't really waves) and learned how to get up. It's tough to jump up
all in one movement, find your balance, put your hands in the perfect
surfing position (sort of like a karate chop), look at the shore and not
freak out all at once. Also, my instinct was to make sure my bathing suit
was still on and adjust my hair which lead to a lot of falls in the
beginning and yes, I looked ridiculous. However, the second day I graduated
from the beginning soft board to a harder board (and promptly got my black
eye) and then today I made it out to the green water AND after getting
smashed by two large waves (at one point my head was in the sand and my legs
were out of the water and I was very confused) I finally caught a real wave
and rode it all the way in!

The people here are very friendly - today they video taped the lesson Jess
and I had and gave us a video analysis which mainly consisted of them
laughing at how far I stick my butt out (I'm going to fix that tomorrow).
The main two lessons I learned is that 1) even when you think that you are
going really, really fast, you could probably crawl faster and 2) there are
dogs in Tamarindo that are better surfers than I am. Literally. However,
things are looking up and I think I'm going to be a master by Saturday. Or
not. But at least I started having fun.

I miss you all lots and am looking forwad to seeing you soon.

Love,

Abby