where should i go this winter

Anyone on this board been to the Maldives? I'm not sure there's an inexpensive way to do it but you could do worse than spending a few months on a potentially endless number of crystal clear tropical waves.

 

been to Maldives and going again next month. not cheap. and not much swell during the months trev is looking at.

 

I would go to North Shore and bum out for three months and live it up. So much swell potential. Easy track from West Coast. You could get a sweet AirBB (or stay with MIS) and live large with that kind of coin. Really you could spend some of the $10k and bank the rest for the rainy day and live pretty well on NS for three months. $500 air, $3k for pad, and $40 per day for food and beer ($7000est). Then you could maybe pick up the early season in centro on the cheap with the other $3000 and have a change of scenery/pace until you run out of $ or have to go back for work.

 

Yeah, after thinking about it, given the limitation of cash to spend, North Shore sounds good for a brief period, and live it up, surfing wise, that is......

Maybe another of the Hawaiian islands, where the herd of assholes is minimized. Maui....and do Jaws--grow a pair and do it.

 

Lance's Right

 

yep yep

AND AND trev could work under the table. once ICE deports all the brazzos, who will do the stuff?

 

I'd rather be tortured than go to Hawaii in the winter and Bali has become way too nuts for me. Different strokes for different folks though. My call would be Morocco. Cheap, beautiful, spread out, freight training rights, good food, pretty consistent, etc...

 

have you been?

 

No, but that's kinda the point. 500 pros, meathead tough guys, egos everywhere, pecking orders and did I mention meatheads. No thank you!!! Literally every surfer I find repulsive comes from Hawaii (any Rothman, Jamie O, Bruce Irons, Christian Fletcher, Laird, Johnny Boy, etc....) That kinda tells me everything I need to know about the place. I'm serious, if you paid for me a ticket and place to stay (on the North Shore) I still don't think I would go. Plus you'd have to invest in a whole new quiver.

 

Yea Nica, I would not mind going to Morroco. Not in my top 5 but it looks like it would be a great adventure with some variety of waves. Plus there are a handful of other countries in the region within striking distance if you really wanted an all time trip.

Your perception of NS is probably relatively accurate. But, all that you cited can be avoided (for the most part). I would definitely consider going from late Dec through Feb/March time frame. There are so many options to score. If you are diligent on your sessions (DP the name brand spots and venture out otherwise) you can really surf just about everyday...even if it's maxed out you can work around the island for the goods. I personally dig the vibe on the NS (meth issue aside).

To Barry's point, I would still camp out on NS and maybe do some outer island travel. Maui and Kauai have great waves but winter swells are better on NS IMO. But, if you score say Honolua Bay epic, you will be a very happy person. Or Canons. Or, well you get the picture.

 

This is pretty much why I've traveled Mexico my entire life and bypassed Hawaii. And of course, my $$$ went a lot further too.I

As a surfer, I was more concerned about warm water, quality of the experience, and obviously my wave count. Hawaii personally never captured my imagination, but I understand how it has such a profound grip on others.

 

^good point. I guess I have relied on CR for that type of experience over the years (18 years since first trip). I guess b/c I lived in HI that I still have a stoke for going there. I have never surfed Mexico. Where would you go if you were planning a trip (from EC...flying in, base place, and all that good stuff). I almost did a cabo trip two years ago but then Indo came into picture. I would not mind a quick strike mission to mexico...I am going nutz right now with the EC summertime blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You and me both!!
While sitting here bored, my wife came in to my office the other day and said,"just book it already, but remember, I like PR"
So i booked it......

 

"While sitting here bored, my wife came in to my office the other day"....I thought this story was going to end differently.

 

Ya never know....lol

 

I've never been to Mexico either but I've been eyeballing this place for a little while....https://www.puntaconejoresort.com/

It's in a really good area but a little pricey, though it does includes everything. I'm not big on surf camps but it's relatively small and if you had a small group you could rent the whole place. In Mexico I think I'd feel more safe at a place like this. It was on my final list before deciding on Norway for this year's trip.

 

I have a couple of friends who have been to that area (not that resort) many times and tell me the waves in the region are as good as it gets. Absolutely mind-blowing. Racy righthanders that just let you in and then start throwing out makable barrels down the line.

 

The Punta Mita/Sayulita area is a good time. It's about an hour north of Puerta Vallarta, up in the jungle. Punta Mita is a peninsula so in a relatively small area, you can get multiple swell directions and a variety of point, beach and reef breaks. There are waves far more often than not. There are also boat only accessible breaks if you really want to avoid any crowds. Sayulita is crowded and touristy long board break but if you hit the water early there won't be many people out. It's a fun carvable wave. Sayulita also has tons of great food and drink in a very small area. I took my wife last summer. We had a good enough time that we're going back in a few weeks.

 

My rules for surf trips are always, no wetsuits, no crowds.