Let’s hope it is better organized than last years fiasco. If you were here last year, the location of the event was held in a marsh. That is what it turned out to be after it rained for many days and who can blame the rain, the event was held during the rainy season. After all, Jaco is located in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica.

This year the events organizer seems to have learned his lesson from last year and moved the date to take place during the tico summer which is now. Plus, this years event is being held at the all new and unfinished “Recreational and Ecological Park” on Pastor Díaz donated by the Chinese government after Costa Rica abandonded long time friend Tawaiin.  

As this post is being written, workers and event organizers are working furiously to not bump into each other while each does what they need to do. While sand is being fitted between the cobblestones, the tents are being erected above them at the same time. Let’s hope for the sake of Jaco and the municipality that its namesake arts festival will go as planned.

For more information, you can visit the Jaco Arts Festival site

Recently I sent an email out asking our readers to send in surfer lingo that drives them crazy or is just unique to the surfing world. Here is a partial list of the responses.

“Talk Story” and any other Hawaii-isms.

When people say “It’s a bonzer, mate” and it’s made even worse when surfer’s use an Australian accent. Unless yay aye frohm Australia.

“neeple high” as opposed to what? Chest high

My ears cringe When I hear the word “bro” and I’m kind of sick of “sick” too.

Question: “How did it go?” Answer: “Real good. It was so sick, bro.”

When the media or people use the descriptive “Free surfing.” In a pure sense, surfing has always been “free”  Now that big business has entered the surfing world, they created this monster called “pro surfing” hence their polar opposite “free surfing.” It gives a confusing and stupid picture of types of surfing. Quite simply there is surfing and there is contest surfing. In the surfing world, contest surfing is a speck of dust compared to the whole. Surfing is free. The phrase “free surfing” is redundant.

Any person and any word that has “hull” added to it, like:

That was hulltastic, He is such a hullmaphobe, Dude that was hullascious, Yo, this is hullicious…um what is it? more…

Here I again sit in the airport, this time in San Jose Costa Rica. The last four days has been a whirlwind tour of Costa Rica. This last weekend we (the surf camp) hosted the CNS surf tournament in Tamarindo. Marcela and Hazel really did a good job at overseeing everything and helping coordinate with the CNS, the judges, the 911 radio station and their dj, Red Bull, etc etc. The party was pretty fun even though I wasn’t really in the mood. Its hard sometimes, when you live upstairs above everything. You are always on display, especially during big events. Without Holly and the boys being there I was focused on work, but more focused about leaving at 9am the next morning.

Sunday at 8am I was showering and throwing some clothes and other items into my bag and backpack, grabbed my surfboard and took off guiding a surf tour south to Mal Pais. I took Karen and Pam, multi return WRSC guests, plus three guys from Finland. Team Finland were awesome. I learned that #1 they received 4 hours of sunlight in the entire month of December and #2 they go balls out when they surf. Their only other surfing experience was taking a month off last year in Indonesia. Classic. Big Balls is Iso Moona in Finnish in case you were wondering. Funny enough that was the only Finnish I learned while with those guys. more…

I’m back in Tamarindo, today was a long day. Actually it has been a long week. In the last seven days I hosted the CNS Red Bull surf contest at the surf camp, led a surf tour to Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa de Jaco, and then San Jose. I flew to Orlando to the surf expo, back again to Costa Rica three days later. As soon as I landed back at the surf camp I had back to back meetings. At least they were with cool people. I’m tired though.

Check out the swell model I just pulled from wetsand right now:

I heard a rumor that there were some sets coming in at sunset. I’m pretty sure from what I saw downstairs that everyone is going out partying, hence no dawn patrol. Not me… I’m going surfing early tomorrow morning, I’ve already got my board ready… super excited like when I was a kid.. probably because I haven’t surfed in a few days. more…

I find as I continue to live life, I am definite that there are no coincidences of events or experiences. There is something that is working underneath that shapes and teaches us and if we are willing to listen, we can learn much about ourselves. I also believe that these forces continue whether or not we are willing to acknowledge them. Many people share stories of epiphanies, I believe these are moments of clarity or as Jaimal Yogis describes in his book, “Saltwater Buddha” becoming “awake.” Some people purposely endeavor to become awake by studying Buddhism. Most people don’t study but I believe many people experience a “Buddhist” moment in their life and what they do with the experience defines their future lives and how they relate to the world around them. It is a fork in the road of life and all of us must make these decision many times whether we are “awake” or not.

I was asked to read the “Saltwater Buddha” and offer a review for the author. Initially, I was reluctant to begin as I am not a fan of reading PDF doc’s for leisure or study. I prefer to have my coffee, pillows arranged on the couch and the table close for my legs to rest on, with a physical book in my hands. However reluctant, I began reading and I was immediately captivated and soon forgot my creature comforts habits. Jaimal writes a story about a boy on a journey of self-discovery in the age of suburbia, Play Station, CD’s and MTV. He creates a character that is complex and unique, but it is the characters desires and dreams that creates a knowing connection immediately. On the most basic level, I believe all of us want to be happy, joyous, and free but with societal demands many never experience nor achieve all three simultaneously. Leaving us with a feeling in our gut that “something is missing?” and it is at these times many of us have these epiphanies. Saltwater Buddha is a journey of a boy who has this empty feeling and decides to not dream but live his dreams. I believe everyone can relate to this book because the experience is a human one and includes all age groups and both genders. more…