Interested in a budget trip to PR this winter? Check it out!
Traveling to surf is a ritual. Florida surfers have always had to head out to get surf. They are either ‘going up north’ or headed ‘down south’ in a search to find waves. Gulf coast surfers have always been accustomed to driving three hours east in order to find waves on the East Coast of Florida. EC surfers usually make the reverse migration at least once a year to score hurricane surf or a ground swell on the gulf side. When I was a kid we would say ‘lets make a coast run’ that meant we were headed out to find some surf. So what about just hopping a plane to score surf? With this in mind I headed east along that familiar route up I-4 and onto 528. But this time instead of continuing on to Cocoa Beach I stopped at MCO and caught an air-bus to the Caribe. Two and a half hours later as the sun rose in the eastern sky I was awoken by the voice of the stewardess announcing our decent into Aguadilla. I put my seat in the upright position, stowed my tray table and buckled back up. As I looked out the window a ship
steamed off in the distance. Looking below I saw the familiar sites of old Spanish ruins and perfect chalk lines breaking off in either direction.
Flight path perfection.
Like that I was off the plane and headed to the rental car office. I picked up my car and less than 10 minutes later I was frantically struggling to pull on my boardshorts and put in my fins at basically the same time. Paddling out into the cool, blue Caribbean is awesome and as I stroke into my first wave I couldn’t help but hoot out as the feeling of stoke took over.
Fun trade swell on tap.
Is this the way it is now? Why drive when you can fly? A 21st century coast run to a different coast with even better waves and weather. That 1st place I pulled up to and surfed was getting fat with the full moon high tide so I caught a last wave and rode it all the way down the beach. The reef was jagged along the shore I had missed my exit point. Instead of fighting the current I decided to keep paddling down the point to another beach about 200 yds further. After awhile I finally reach the beach and decide to take a walk around. This beach is breathtakingly beautiful and there is not another soul around. My stomach is growling and I’m thirsty but as I walk back to where I left my board I notice perfect 3-4ft A-frames breaking near shore on the shallow reef. I paddle back out and it’s a totally different surf spot. The wind is straight offshore and I’ve got chest high perfection all to myself. As I glide across the fun zone surf I can see the reef right beneath my feet. The water is swimming pool clear. Despite being hungry and thirsty I surf for hours straight off the plane.
Fun zone surf on the quad-fish.
Later on I head to my little studio at
Ocean View PR guesthouse. Check in, drop my stuff and head back out for another surf at Domes. The sun is setting and I head out for some empanadillas and medalla with friends. Next day I head back to that spot again but the surf has dropped and the devil wind is on it so I catch some waves and head back. The third day was my last so I get up at the crack with the help of the rooster right outside my window. 4o minutes later I’m on the N coast and the waves are overhead and perfect. After three hours the wind gets on it.
North Coast
A little more serious on the thruster.
I head back to that magic spot one last time and catch another high tide sesh at the swimming pool reef. The rights are so long and racy I get winded after each ride. My friends call and we meet up to go to the waterfalls. They are on a private farm 45 minutes up into the mountains and then another 20 minute hike through a treacherous muddy slippery trail through the hills. The falls are awesome the water is chilly and clear. Everyone is jumping off the side of the cliff and into the water. After awhile a shower starts to soke us as we make our way out of the rainforest.
From left to right: Nathaniel, M-Dub, Liana, Nick, Justin and Meryl. Photo by Mercedes.
I head back to another friends for burgers on the barby and a sunset over the Mona passage. I have to leave at 4am the next morning to go home. We say our goodbyes on the way back to town, I think what a fun few days it’s been the good times we had and how easy it was to score surf down there. Just a super cool time on a 21st century coast run.
Caribbean Surf Run
11/30/07
Local ripper on a Rincón left.
Boosting.
Steve Anest from NSI.
UI on a JS.
Adam hacking it Curren style.
Jax Beach Pro Adam McGill blurry and blowing up.
Hasta la proxima vez. Until next time.
For Vacays like this contact Elier Lopez at 787-826-5503.
Interested in a budget trip to PR this winter? Check it out!
Aura's PR links:
TC's first PR discovery from 02'.
M-Dub's life altering 2/02 trip to la Isla del Encanto.
Elier's places to stay.
Brisas del Mar Great for families and groups.
PR budget trip Elier's 2 man Studio.
The Jet Blue Quickie 21st Century Coast Run.
High Res images of Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Click on America Latina/Caribe Landscape and Architecture.
(JPG's available on line, posters and prints available from aura. Contact info@aurasurf.com)
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