Looking for ideas for a trip over Christmas/New Years. Usually do El Slavador in March and it has been good, did PR last April and it was fun. Looking for non-crowded fun surf, doesnt have to be macking double over head, but at least in the waist to chest high range. I know El Salvador looked good last winter (followed pic surf reports from a friend there), but everyone always says it sucks there around December. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Iceland. Switch it up from the warm weather locales. Variety is the spice of life. Plus, El Salvador don't have elves. Guys, you know everyone in Puerto Rico, El Salvador and like-places hate youse guys, right? Trust me. They hate gringos, especially "rich" American surfer boys.. Oh, they'll take your dinero, but they don't like you. Icelandic people very friendly. Dude, have you seen their ponies? Man, I should be getting payed by the Icelandic Tourism Bureau or whatever.
I understand the timing of the Christmas trip but if you can play with the dates a little bit try to figure out when the locals will be going back to school, work, etc. it'll be much less crowded in the line up and everywhere else.
Surf in cold water all year till Summer. Hatteras is a 2 hour drive. Locals in El Salvador are my friends actually boss. They may dislike gringos who come there and act like douche bags, but then again who doesnt despise people like that.
nah man, I left a surfboard with the groundskeeper of a house I stayed in Dominical like 6 years ago. My next trip down I just mentioned that I was coming back and he insisted to pick us up, took us to his secret spots in the cliffs, then up to the mountains for that super ganja. We were invited to meals with his extended family and I still get a christmas card from his wife every winter. I need to get by ass back down there, actually.
Tortola or Barbados? not sure on crowds there but alot of people are traveling during the christmas holiday so keep that in mind. I enjoy central america (nica) in december. weather is great and mid size swells if your picky about the size of waves, id suggest a strategic strike, wait the week or 2 before and check the long range caribbean and central america reports. you may pay more for your flight but you'll get better waves.
Maybe you haven't made any friends on your own trips PJB, but you're making a pretty broad generalization with a relatively negative implication on the kindness of people in the surf destinations you're referring to. I've met a lot of people who are super stoked to meet new people and share stories and surf, will invite you to their homes, and will keep in touch long after you're back in the good ol' states. Maybe a reflection of the visitor, not the destination. I've met plenty of people in P.R., Chile, etc. who resented me instantly, just for being a gringo, sure, but I've met a lot of people in east coast line-ups who resented me instantly, just for being there and being a surfer, so...
Agreed, some people are miserable no matter what. I've been to PR twice now and everybody I met was super cool and very helpful if I needed anything. The most aggro peole i've ever met were right at my home breaks.
