Surfing is a great way to get and stay in shape.

Sunny, Cloudy or Rainy; does not matter, it is time for surfing.

The rainy season technically started in May. In general, during the months of May, June, July and August, temperatures are still hot and the heavy rains have yet to fall. Common weather at this time is sunny skies with late afternoon or early morning rain showers. That gives you plenty of time during the day to practice surfing. According to some sources, the best season for surfing the South Pacific Region is from April to November.

Costa Rica is sometimes called "the Hawaii of Latin-American surfing" because there are thousands point and beach brakes, lefts and rights, reefs and river mouths, warm water and waves year round and this is what awaits for you in Costa Rica, especially on the South Pacific Region.The waves in some of the beaches like Tamarindo, Hermosa, Dominical and Pavones can be quite big; however, not as huge as the mystical ones in Waimea Bay Hawaii.

Nevertheless, the waves in Pavones can give you 2 or 3-minute ride, quite fun.  Monster waves you don't see much of. What you do see is good-size kilometer breaks that are consistent year-round.

Another big reason is the Costa Rican culture supports surfers, with surf shops, board rentals, bars, restaurants, hotels... there definitely is a strong vibe down here for surfing. It feels like home.

This site has great surf forecast information.

www.surfermag.com/surf-reports-and-forecasts/forecasts/?RegionID=23rt=Costa%20Rica 

If you are thinking that surfing is something you can get excited about and you feel like can enjoy some outdoors workout, consider the possibility of taking a class. There is a perfect beach that can be use for beginners and intermediate students, it is playa Chaman in Uvita; if you look at the map above it is located less than 10 miles south of Dominical.

Check out this website, http://www.bodhisurfschool.com/history-of-uvita-costa-rica  this guys are awesome organizing classes. They will help you to make your surf-dream come true.

Now, let’s go over some simple thing that you might want to be aware before you take up on surfing.

Surf Board Basics

Surfboards are made to float on the water.

They have a natural center of gravity. If you were to lay any surfboard in a swimming pool, it would come to rest the same way every time.

This is what your teacher will want you do when you lay on a surfboard, in other words the board suppose to remain in the same relation to the water, as it was without your weight on it, just a bit lower in the water.  
Find your Balance Point
A good tip is to find this balance point and lay on your board then make, a mark right at your chin. You can use a little bit of wax or a magic marker. This will be your reference point that will enable you to put your chin on the same spot every time so the board will react to your weight the same way every time.  
Pearling
If the board's nose digs into the water, you must move the location of "your chin" back. To adjust, just slide back an inch from the mark and make a mental note.
Corking
Too much weight in the back and the board will cork the board. This is a common mistake amongst beginners. You cannot catch a wave if you are corking your board. Move up an inch at a time until the board lies in the water naturally. This will provide you with the maximum hull speed and minimum drag from the water displacement that you are causing with your weight.
Paddle with the Crawl Stroke

Paddling with both arms simultaneously will cause the board to speed up and slow down in the water and you will not be able to maintain constant hull speed through the water. Always paddle with the crawl stroke...one arm and then the other alternatively.
This will provide you with a constant speed so you can catch that wave.

Sitting On the Board

Ok, so now we know how to lie on the board and paddle the board. Now it is time to learn how to sit on the board. The first time try this you may be quite wobbly.
The key to succeed is to be calm, try to be still. The less movement you make, the easier you will be able to seat and the less falling on your face.
All the other skills of surfing will improve as you learn to be "calm" while surfing.
Standing on your Surfboard
Now it is time to learn how to stand up. This is something you have been doing all your life.

• Lie on your chest, your head up, looking ahead.
• Put your hands on the board beside your shoulders palms down as if you were going to do a push up.
• Push your upper body up while at the same time you sweep your feet under you, laying them on the stringer, the line down the middle of the board, so your weight is centered along the stringer.
• When you come up, remember to keep low.
• If you stand erect you will fall.
• Don’t be afraid to look like a sumo wrestler.
• Press your feet shoulder width apart and "grip the board in your feet.
• Have your hands a bit higher than your waist and just in view of your vision.
• Always look up! If you look at your feet, you will fall down. I promise!  

Practice makes Perfect

So, practice, practice, practice. Let your best friends watch you and have them comment on your performance.

Practice jumping up without making a sound on the floor.

Calm and controlled is the smoothest way to approach this so practice doing it quietly. If you have a surfboard, lay it on a large bed or in the sand and do this exercise. This is a way for you to judge your ability to be controlled.  

Check www.crsurf.com
for information that you might be looking for. All about surfing.

10 Top Safety Issues.

1. Never have your board between yourself and the coming waves!
2. To avoid collision, keep a safe distance, let’s say the length of you, your leash and board combined.
3. Beginners should always wear a leash or leg rope tied to their surfboard.
4. Beginners should always surf with a buddy for safety, and it is cool to share your surf experiences with.
5. Never push your board through the water fin first. The fin or fins were made to keep the board pointing nose first. Pushing the board fins first can be quite dangerous because the board wants to go the other direction.
6. Beginner surfers should consider wearing a vest, rash guard, or tee shirt to avoid the rubbed rash they will get on their stomach and chest.
7. When you fall off your board, cover the back of your head with your hands, with your wrists over your ears and your elbows together.
8. Stay under water for a moment longer than necessary. There are companies that make helmets and this is another alternative.
9. When you come up, try to be facing the oncoming waves and look for your board's location immediately.
10. Loose boards in the ocean are very dangerous objects for swimmers.

If you follow those simple rules, you can have a blast, be safe and get in shape; all at the same time.

Isn’t that what is all about?

Costa Rica, South Pacific Region is waiting for you to share its waves and show you a great time.