Costa Rica Surf Institute

• Contents

• Contents - 2• Welcome to Tamarindo - 3• Orientation- 4• The Learning Process - 5• Etiquette- 6• Safe Surfing Tips - 7• Where to Surf - 8• Parts of a Wave -9• How to read Waves - 10• Surf Science - 11• Tide - 12• Wave Types - 13• Choosing a Surfboard - 14• Types of Surf Board - 15• Lefts and Rights - 16• Beachbreaks, Pointbreaks and Reefbreaks - 17• The Dimensions of a Surfboard - 18 - 19• The Bottom of the Surfboard - 20 - 21• Surfboard Tail Shapes - 22 - 23• Surfboard Fin Setups 23 - 24• Rails - 25• Environment - 26• Where to Surf Outside Tamarindo - 27• Contacts - 28• Lesson Notes and Forecasting Websites - 29

Welcome to Tamarindo

• Dear Customer,

• Costa Rica Surf Institute welcomes you to Tamarindo and the world of surfing.

• We aim to get you familiarized with the ocean, its patterns and the safe way to approach surfing.

• Surfing is not just about standing on a surfboard. It is about knowledge of the sea and weather patterns, understanding waves and learning to ride the surfboard with control.

• Through this course you will gain a respect for the ocean and the people and creatures that use it.

CRSI Orientation•  Course Breakdown Here at CRSI we are committed to teaching people how to

surf.  Our professional goal is to provide you with the skills and knowledge to help you progress in the sport of surfing. Over an expanded period of time our instructors will guide you through each aspect of surfing, both within the water and out. This institute does not solely push people into waves and tell them to stand up.  The instructors will teach you, where waves originate, how to read waves, why they break, how to paddle, how to stand correctly, turn, and much more. Our goal as an institute is to ignite a passion for surfing. This passion will allow you to explore the world and search for your own paradise with waves. The knowledge that you will receive here will better prepare you to surf and travel anywhere.  During your involvement in the program, each week you will receive a board rental, rash guard, and two lessons with an instructor. One out of the two sessions are filmed and photographed for analysis.  One day during the week depending on skill level, a trip will be provided if conditions allow. As an addition, the institute will try to organize extra trips on weekends, oceanography lessons, and guided free surf sessions on the days you do not have lessons. 

• What to Expect• During your first couple of sessions an instructor will teach you about the

equipment that you are using and the importance of it all. In the water an instructor will keep a close eye on you making sure you are safe. The instructor will give you personalized instructions to help you progress and keep you safe. Your instructor will take you to where ever the conditions are good for learning. With your Instructors knowledge of the local breaks he or she will take you to where there are nice clean small waves that break gently and away from lots of other surfers. Be prepared because, this might involve walking for up to 20 minutes and possibly paddling across the river mouth to find the best conditions. Your instructor will surf with you most days you do not have a surf class. This allows for observation and immediate feedback in the water.  Once again safety is our first priority, but we will take you to the best spots to give you the most memorable experience. 

• Mental Preparation• Your instructor will give you all the instructions and information you need

to learn to surf. However, you must surf for yourself.  Your mental preparation should include getting the board out there, paddling hard for waves and eventually stand up on them. Your progression depends on you and how willing you are to learn from each session. Surfing is fun but it takes focus and determination.  Just remember it is all about having fun and progressing. Please ask your instructor for help at any time, tell them your thoughts, feelings, and fears so they can help you overcome them. 

• Weekly Breakdown• Please check on the surf notice board for lesson and free surf times. Weekly

break down is subject to change depending on progression and start date. 

The Learning Process• Please use the notes section at the back to help

with your progress from both water and dry lessons.

• We have “free surf” sessions on the days between lessons to practice what you learn, trips to other beaches. Seminars on etiquette, board design and oceanography. And a selection of DVDs, books and magazines for you to expand your learning experience.

• LESSON 1• Beach Safety, Riding Stance and Pop Up• Riding Prone, Board Control• Drill: Acceleration “Foot Work” for lengthening

rides

• LESSON 2 • Recapping Fundamentals, Beach Safety, Recapping

Foot Work• Drill: Stability exercise• Where to look• Drill: Basic turning• Video analysis

• LESSON 3 • Head cover recap Recapping fundamentals• Looking at unbroken waves Advanced paddling• Drill: Intermediate turning Drill: Turtle roll

• LESSON 4• Riding down the line• Taking off at the “peak”• Going backside• Video analysis

EtiquetteRule #1: Right of Way

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Rule #2: Don't Drop In

Rule #3: Paddling Rules:

Safe Surfing Tips

• Tamarindo is a popular surfing destination and can get very crowded. When you are surfing ensure that you are keeping out of people’s way, if someone is directly in front of you do not take that wave. If you are already on the wave the best method to stop yourself is to hold onto the board tightly and slip off the side or back of the board. As a last resort you may use your board as a shield.

• Tamarindo has a few rocks under water which are obvious at low tide; spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the beach at low tide to work out which areas to avoid. Remember the beach is a dynamic system and is always changing with different swells and tidal variation moving sand around constantly.

• The currents in Tamarindo are seldom strong; however they can be on occasion. It is always good practice to keep a good line up in the sea, i.e. when you are surfing try to stay in front of a distinctive tree of building. Refrain from using a moveable object like a car or person.

Where to

Surf

• Tamarindo Beach

• There are 4 areas in Tamarindo to surf.

• 1. North of the life guard tower. This area is where most of the surf schools teach and has a sand bottom and the added (occasional) benefit of the lifeguards.

• This area stretches from the lifeguard tower to the river mouth that separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande and is best around high tide.

• 2. In front of the Hotel Diria entrance, this location has fewer people, especially in the morning. Though it is important to stay lined up between the thatched hotel entrance and the Diria Lifeguard tower, as there are rocks either side, this spot is best at high tide, when the tide is lower it exposes more rocks.

• 3. The third is in front of the hotel Capitan Suizo, this location is the least crowded area, but is only surfable when Tamarindo has large waves due to the protections from Isla Capitan. There are a few small rocks which can be seen at low tide, and this spot can usually be surfed at all tides if the waves are big enough, and can produce a long left, perfect for Longboarding.

• 4. There is also Casitas, which is just across the river mouth in front of the 2 white roofed buildings at the southern end of Playa Grande. This is a great spot as it has loads of space and is rarely crowded. It works best around high tide, be careful crossing the river as the current can be very strong, always work out the direction of the current and enter the river accordingly.

1

2

3

4

Parts of a Wave• Peak: this is the first part of a wave to break, it breaks

generally in the same location each time as it is due to the shape of the bottom. A reef break or point will peak and break in more or less the same place every time due to it permanent state. A beach is a little more unpredictable but your skills in choosing the right wave and knowing when it will break will improve with time in the water.

• Left or Right: A good wave will peel (break along) left or right or both, and once you are confident enough you will aim to ride along the waves face.

• As you face the beach a left hander breaks to your left and a right hander breaks to your right.

• Face/Wall: the front part of the wave this is ridden by a more intermediate surfer. Riding the face is much smother, faster and easier to perform manoeuvres on.

• Lip: This is the upper part of the wave that breaks, when the water is shallow enough the lip can be thrown out so far that it can form a tube or barrel…. Or you can get hit by the lip!

• Pocket: This is the steepest part of the wave, next to the breaking part of the wave, this has the most power and gives the most speed as it is steeper.

• Shoulder: This is where the wall becomes less steep away from the pocket and where speed is lost. A manoeuvre called a cutback is used once you stray onto the shoulder and allows the surfer to cutback into the power zone to gain maximum speed.

• Flats: the area in front of the breaking part of the wave, where beginner surfers wait to catch lines of white water.

How to Read Waves1. Paddle out and position yourself beyond the

break zone. Attempt to sit and balance on the surfboard while facing out to sea and looking towards the horizon.Look for lumps on the horizon.

2. These lumps are the "sets" which contain the waves you'll eventually want to catch. Watch the swell pass by you, become a wave and surge all the way to the break zone where it peaks and then breaks.

3. Mark your line up with reference points on the beach. Try to find some objects to line up: flags, buildings, telegraph poles - and stick to that line up to place yourself in optimum position.

4. Note that if it's steeper, you might have to approach it at an angle to help avoid nose-diving. By starting to catch green waves you're progressing your surfing to a new level. So be patient and always keep working on the basic techniques of body positioning, paddling and pop up. There are the platforms to your surfing future.

5. Want the swell to come underneath you just as it's about to break. If you're in perfect position to catch the wave, you may only need a few paddle strokes.

6. Look to see that if it seems that the wave is going to break a fair bit further inside than from where you are positioned, you're going to need to start to paddle a good while before the wave reaches you.

7. The shape of the wave should determine your angle. If it's a mellow, slow rolling break, you should paddle into the wave straight on and still find the curl.

Surf Science• Ocean waves are formed by storm systems out at sea, or by

localized onshore winds. Waves traveling from a long distance away are called groundswells, and travel across the ocean in orderly groups called sets, until breaking on an exposed stretch of coastline.

• Wind swells, on the other hand, are created by strong onshore winds that create waves traveling in more tightly packed and less organized sets. Wind swells can produce good waves for surfers, but usually have smaller waves than groundswells, with much choppier water.

• A good groundswell is typically produced by a large low pressure system in cold latitudes, in both the southern and northern latitudes.

• An example of a northern-hemisphere groundswell: A large low pressure storm system spinning away in the Bering Sea off Alaska, with heavy winds and large seas that after several day ís churning away in frigid seas, throws up consistent, well-shaped overhead waves on Hawaii’s northern shores. That same swell keeps traveling on to California, Central America, and if the swell is large enough, all the way to Chile before eventually fading out.

• How large the swell will be and how far it travels depends on the conditions from the storm of origin. Southern hemisphere storms are the same as northern ones; they can produce excellent surf in South and Central America, Australia, South Africa, etc.

• Windswells are different, and while they can produce top-quality surf, surfers almost always prefer groundswell to windswell.

• An example of a good windswell: A hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico, skirts the coast, and treats those good wave-hungry folks with a short but sweet few days of rapidly changing conditions. With luck, they’ll get some real world-class surf for a day or two (that ís right, the Gulf of Mexico ROCKS with the right conditions). Even Lake Michigan has a dedicated bunch of surfers! To put it simply, the closer a strong wind storm gets, the bigger the windswell.

• Sometimes, the winds will rapidly shift during a hurricane or large winter storms, and if they shift in the right direction, i.e. offshore, they’ll make the surf go from big-and-choppy conditions to big-and-perfectly-groomed dream waves in an hour or less. And yes, a matter of fact, it can truly be said that the only people who actually welcome hurricanes are surfers.

•Tidal Variation•The high and low tide that your beach experiences each day. This variation is caused by the gravity of the sun, the moon, along with the spin of the Earth in relation to those celestial bodies. •The basics behind it is that there are 2 bulges of water in the ocean, one of which points to the sun, the other to the moon. As the Earth spins these bulges eventually run into land, this causes them to reflect back and bounce all around the various ocean basins.•There are usually two full tidal cycles in a day (2 his and 2 lows).•Low to high takes about 6 hours 15 minutes, so low to low is 12 hours 30 minutes, so the times move forward an hour every 24 hours.

Tide

Wave Types• How a wave will break depends mainly on four factors - swell,

wind, bottom contour, and tides. To have good surf, the first thing you need is a swell hitting the beach. You also need good winds - offshore or light side/onshore, a good bottom shape, whether it ís sand or reef, and the right tide.

• Offshore wind is a wind that blows from the land to the ocean, and is the kind of wind desired by surfers; offshores produce clean, groomed surf, and take away all chop to the waves.

• As far as tides and their effect on the surf, every surf spot has a tide that works best - low, medium, or high, and it's best to ask locals which tide is best for the spot you plan to surf.

• When tides change, they can expose previously hidden reef, rocks, sand, etc, or they can cover up the surf spot with so much water that it ceases to have any waves at all. And at the right tide, the place can come alive! Every surf spot does indeed have a certain tide it likes the best, and this is when you’ll see the savviest surfers getting the best rides.

• When waves arrive from their origin out at sea to their eventual destination underneath the streaking path of a surfer’s board, they can have many different characteristics that affect the quality of the surfer’s ride.

• Waves can either be "mushy" - breaking slowly with a lip that just crumbles over when the wave breaks, or "hollow" - fast-breaking with a lip that pitches out forcefully into the wave's trough. Or, it can be sort of a combination of the two - medium-powered waves that have a few barrels here and there.

• Most surfers, when starting out, want and need small, gentle, mushy waves, to get past those first steps without beating their heads against their boards in frustration. Trying to learn to surf in barreling conditions is like, well, trying to learn to ski down an Olympic slalom course.

• Once you’ve mastered the basics, however, barrels really are as mind-altering as surfers say they are! And as all experienced surfers know, the trick to learning how to ride the tube is amazingly simple ñ all you have to do is keep your eyes open. Sounds easy, right? Oh, but it ís not, not at all, and the first time you keep your eyes open inside a breaking wave is such an amazing experience, that it is memory is sure to raise goose bumps well into old age! It ís 100% true that getting barreled is one of the greatest thrills anyone can hope to experience, and it is a fact, proven in a Surfer Magazine poll, that most surfers consider riding the tube to be better than... you know.

Choosing the right surfboard

• The surfboard you choose is dependent on your height, weight and ability.

• If its your first time, bigger is better, normally you will ride a long board which is classified by being 9 feet or bigger. Some smaller, lighter people may use something around 8 feet to learn on.

• The more volume the board has, i.e. the longer wider and thicker the board is, the easier it is to stand on.

• If you have some experience, but are still in the white water you are best to keep a larger board as the speed comes from the white water (broken wave) pushing you and the volume gives stability.

• If you are riding unbroken waves you can come down in size a little as the wave’s unbroken energy is enough to carry you.

• Your instructor will know a lot more about this, so if you have any questions, or are unsure, don’t hesitate to ask them.

• If you are buying or renting a board be sure to check the following things.

• check over the whole board, especially the rails, nose and tail for any damage, cracks, holes, water seepage.

• Press GENTLY on parts of the board to test for delamination.

Types of surfboard• Longboard: Otherwise known as a cruiser or 'log'. They are

usually over 8' or 9' long, with a rounded nose. Longboards are much more stable in the water, they are easier to paddle and great for catching waves, making them ideal for learning on. However due to their size, they can be harder to get through the white water and oncoming sets to get 'out the back'. There is a great deal of style attached to riding a longboard. Where the radical sharp turns and airs possible with a shortboard are not possible on a longboard, other maneuvers are like hang fives or tens, drop-knee turns, cross-stepping along the deck of the board... and even tandem surfing!

• Funboard, Malibu or Mini-Mal : Funboards range in length between 6'6" and 8'0" and 20" to 22" wide. The funboard combines the paddling power of a longboard with the turning ability of a shortboard. These boards perform well in all conditions and are ideal for less experienced surfers.

• Shortboard or 'Thruster’: The most common board used for shredding and contest-style surfing. It sacrifices paddling ease for speed, power and control. They are generally around 5'6" to 6'4" long and between 16" and 19" wide, generally with a rounded square tail. A surfboard designed for the advanced surfer.

• Fish: The fish surfboard differs from a shortboard in that it has a wider, rounder nose, a wider mid-section width and a 'swallow tail'. They are generally between 5'2" and 6'4" long and between 18" and 22" wide. They are designed to improve wave catching capability while maintaining speed and maneuvering performance, ideal for small to medium sized waves.

• Gun: The gun is long, narrow and pointy at the nose and tail (pin tail) for maximum rail contact. They range from 6' to 10' plus. They are ideal for big wave surfing, or for powerful, steep waves. Because of their shape they are easier to paddle out further to the big waves and easier to control on the steeper waves. The name derives from the term 'elephant gun', and means the board is the surfers' gun for hunting down big/giant surf.

Lefts and Rights• Every wave that "peels" (runs

sideways down the beach for a distance before shutting down) goes either left or right.

• The way to tell the difference between the two is simple - when you are lying down on your surfboard, paddling into a wave, you're going to drop into the wave and angle either towards your right or your left.

• When seen from the beach, someone going left will be going towards your right.

• Everyone has their preference as to which foot goes forward - if you put your left foot in front and your right foot on the tail, you're a regular foot.

• Right foot forward and you're a goofy foot.

• So, if you're a regular foot, and you drop into a wave and go right, you'll be going frontside - facing the wave. Drop into a left, and you're going backside.

• For goofies, it's left - frontside, and right - backside. Confused yet? Of course - who wouldn’t be? You might as well be doing the hokey-pokey! But don’t fret; it’ll all become obvious the minute you see it for yourself.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Rights

A-Frame

Left

Beachbreaks, Pointbreaks, and Reefbreaks• The types of waves that can

be surfed are called beachbreaks, pointbreaks, and reefbreaks. These waves all have their own characteristics

• Beachbreaks tend to be common and consistent, with nice sand bottoms.

• Pointbreaks can offer perfectly shaped waves and some of the longest rides of your life.

• Reefbreaks are where advanced surfers go in search of the best barrels. Each wave also has it's drawbacks, though.

• Reefbreaks usually have uneven and/or sharp bottoms composed of rock or coral.

• Pointbreaks can get a little too crowded sometimes, and are generally not that consistent.

• Beachbreaks can be unforgiving, with difficult paddle-outs. But drawbacks aside, all these types of waves can offer excellent surf, and as any long-time surfer will tell you, the rewards of surfing far outweigh the hazards.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Beach Break

Point Break

Reef Break

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The Dimensions of a Surfboard 

Surfboard Length - The length of a surfboard is the measurement from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Surfboards come in lengths of 5 foot to over 12 foot. The length of the board is determined by the type of and the size of the waves that a board will be used on. The ideal length for a surfer will depend on the surfers own height, weight and surfing ability.

Surfboard Width - The width of a surfboard is the measurement from outside rail to rail at the widest point of the board. The wider the board the more stable the board will be in the water. Learning to surf? Get a wide board!

Surfboard Thickness - The thickness of a surfboard is the measurement of a board from deck to bottom at its thickest point. The thickness of the board determines several factors. It will determine how buoyant the board will be - the thicker the board the more buoyant. It will also determine how easy the board is to paddle in the water and how the board will maneuver in the water.

There are four main dimensions of a surfboard.

The image below shows a short board and where the measurements are taken from

Rocker - The Rocker is the curve of the surfboard from nose to tail when viewed from the side. It looks like the shape of a banana. The Less Rocker a board has the flatter it will be. A board with a flatter rocker will have more surface area and will give more stability and drive. It is less maneuverable that a board with more Rocker.A board with more Rocker has a greater curve and gives the board more maneuverability. These boards are for the more experienced surfer and tend not to perform too well in poor to average surf.  

Nose Rocker - Nose Rocker refers specifically to the curve of the board at the nose section. The greater the curve of the Nose Rocker, the less likely the nose of the board is to dig in to the face of the wave. Big wave boards tend to have more nose rocker than smaller wave boards.

Tail Rocker - A more extreme tail rocker results in a more maneuverable board.  

The Bottom of the SurfboardThere are two parts to note when looking at the

reverse side of the board. These are the Bottom Contour of the board and also the Fins. Fin Boxes for a board with removable fins. There are several different bottom contours to look at, each giving the board different characteristics.

•Here are the main Bottom Contours that you will see on a surfboard. The images below represent a cross-section of the board.

Flat Bottom-As you might guess there is no concave in this type of bottom shape - it is just flat. This type of surfboard bottom contour works well on all types of surfboard and is particularly useful for a 'heavier' surfer.

Single Concave- The Single Concave runs the length of the board and channels water from tip cleanly through the fins. This contour is designed for speed and works well in fast, large clean surf. This shape is does not perform well in messy, lumpy surf and as such is not a good choice for a surfboard you want to use in all round conditions. Double Concave- The Double Concave is seen on the majority of modern mainstream surfboards and is most likely the bottom concave your board has if you bought it straight off the rack at a surf shop. Generally the board will have a single concave from the nose which will gradually fade into a double concave towards the tail. The single concave towards the nose provides a good planning surface, giving the board drive. The double concave splits the water into two channels through the fins and creates a much looser ride - great for those flowing maneuvers.

Vee- You can see from the image that the lowest point of the board in the water is by the stringer. This low point provides a pivot point and creates easy rail to rail surfing. This shape is normally used towards the tail of the board only - a board with a Vee contour will more than likely have one of the other concaves elsewhere. This is the popular choice for larger wave boards.

Channels- Channels are more of an experimental bottom contour and like the Vee are employed towards the tail of the surfboard. Channels work best in clean surf and are designed to create extra speed.

Surfboard Tail ShapesSquash tail- The Squash tail is probably the most common tail shape on modern surfboards. The design offers a stable ride but enables the surfboard to still remain loose. The Squash tail is a great tail shape for any standard of surfer and can be used in both small and overhead waves. Square tail- The Squaretail is really the pre-runner to the Squashtail and is not so common on new boards these days. The rails meet the tail at sharp corners giving the surfboard good maneuverability. Used in small to head high waves. Thumb tail- A more rounded version of the Squashtail, resulting in more stability for the board. The shapes has no hard edge that you get in the Squash and Square tails. A great tail for rail to rail surfing and big old turns! The Thumbtail is effective in medium to very large surf. Rounded Pin tail- Very similar to the Thumbtail but slightly more 'pinched' toward the tail. This tail was very popular in the single fin days and is the tightest holding rail. Like the Thumbtail above and the regular Pintail, there is no interruption in the flow of the rail from the rail right through to the tail. The Rounded Pintail is a great tail for medium / larger waves and ideal for powerful hollow surf. Baby Swallow tail- The Baby Swallowtail is the smaller of the Swallowtail tail shapes. This tail combines the rail drive shape of the Squaretail with the sensitivity of the Pintail, making this a great tail shape for big wave surfers. The Baby Swallowtail can be used in small to large surf.

Swallow tail- The Swallowtail, like the baby version, combines the rail drive of the Squaretail and the sensitivity of the Pintail. The Swallowtail is an easy on to spot for the novice! This is the tail shape used on Fish Surfboards. The wider tail gives better paddling power and increased drive in smaller waves. Bat tail- The Bat tail performs like a Swallowtail with its two outer pivot points and the addition of the central point of the wing providing greater stability. The Battail is good in smallish to overhead waves and is one of the more modern surfboard tail designs. Wing- The wing is really not a tail shape but more of a rail shape. It can be seen as the bump in the rails just in front of the front fins. Don't be confused and think that this is a different tail shape. The tail shown on the left is still a Swallowtail, the board also has a wing.

•The fin, or fins, underneath your surfboard are there to help with the steering of your board.  The fins will also assist with stopping the surfboard from sliding around on the wave.

•The further the fin goes down in the water, the more control you will have over the surfboard on the wave. The shorter the fin, the less resistance there will be on the water. The longer the distance of the fin where it is attached to the base of your surfboard, the faster you will be able to go.•Another important factor for your surfboard is how close together the fins are. The surfboard will be looser, or easier to turn, when the fins are placed closer together. The surfboard will also become easier to turn the further towards the front (the nose of the surfboard) that the fins are positioned.

Surfboard Fin Setups

• There are 2 types of fins. Fins that are able to be removed from the surfboard, and those that are permanently fixed.

• Fins are generally referred to by their number. For example, one fin is called a single fin, two fins are twin fins, and three fins are usually known as thrusters, or tri fins.

• Single Fins - Having just the one fin was the very original fin set up. Single fins are now very popular with the longboards. Longer fins are often used in this situation to help stop the surfboard from sliding around on the wave. Single fins will be larger in size due to the fact that there is only one. Single fins will hold up well in the big waves, but your surfboard will be tighter.

• Single fins are generally positioned further towards the back of your surfboard to give you more control of the board.

• If you want to ride the nose (or hang 10 off the front of your surfboard) you will need a fin that is deeper in the water and wider at the base where it meets the bottom of the board.

• Twin Fins - Two fins are a popular combination for the retro surfboard and fish or swallow tail surfboards. The two fins in this scenario help keep the symmetry of the surfboard in place with the V-shaped tail.

• Twin fins can increase the surfer's sensation of speed and make the surfboard more looser and easier to turn.

• Thruster - Three fins is probably the most universally popular combination, especially for the modern shortboard. Typically, in this set up the 3 fins are the same size. The 2 side fins will allow the board to be more responsive and able to perform more radical turns. The center fin makes the surfboard a bit more stable. This fin setup is common on shortboards, some hybrid surfboards, and funboards.

• 2+1 Fins - Some modern longboards are now available with a larger middle fin and 2 smaller outer fins. This is known as a 2+1 fin system. The side fins help create some drag which will result in you being able to get on a wave sooner. Your longboard will also be looser as a result of these 2 outer fins, which will help make the surfboard more responsive.

• Quad or Four Fins - Four fins can be used on fish surfboards due to the even number. The extra set of fins adds to the speed. The lack of a center fin means there is less resistance in the water. Some big wave surfers are experimenting with the quad set up.

Rails• Rails are the edge of a surfboard, where the deck and the

bottom meet. Rails are a critical part of surfboard design as the shape affects how water flows over the rails. The softer the rail the more the surfboard will hold its "track" in the wave and reduce turning ability- you'll find softer rails on more traditional longboards. The harder the rail will produce a board that produces quicker, tighter turns and increased acceleration.

• Soft rails are relatively round and without defined edges. Hard rails have a corner and a distinct edge. Rails can be described proportionately, e.g. 50/50 rails, which means that the widest point of the rail is 50% up from the bottom, or 70/30 rails, in which the apex is 70% down the rail, or 30% up from the bottom:

• Round rail - Round, semi-circle.

• Egg rails - like round rails, except drawn out a bit so they bite in and help hold an edge on a wave.

• 50/50 rails - drawn out even more, with the 'point' in the middle of the rail, about halfway from deck to bottom.

• 60/40 rails - same as 50/50s, but the 'point is just a little lower down towards the bottom.

• Down rails - the 'edge' of the board, is right at the bottom. The rest of the board eases over to it.

• Rolled rails- they are down rails, but rolled under.Soft rail - has a radius of at least half an inchHard rail - may have a radius of 1/8 inch or less.

EnvironmentMany surfers have always been interested in the environment. Probably because they become more in tune with nature, predicting swells, checking wind and weather conditions become second nature. Also surfing in polluted water makes surfers acutely aware of mans impact on the environment.

Some surfers have formed groups such as Surfrider and Surfers Against Sewage, to clean beaches, lobby for control of pollutants and raise awareness of the state of the oceans. Others strive to find greener ways to surf, such as building boards out of more natural and sustainable materials, or building boards and other surf related products that last longer or can be recycled.

As the worlds population increases at an unsustainable rate it puts more pressure on the resources including the oceans which are largely unregulated, and the bits that are regulated are almost impossible to police. Everyone needs to find ways of easing this pressure if there is to be anything left for future generations. People need to change the way they think about resource use, whether it be consuming less, sourcing local produce, traveling by more sustainable methods, reduce, reuse, recycle and reinvent the way we do things.

The economy is built on unsustainable growth, and could be “restarted” in more sustainable ways if people want it too!

Everyone can make a difference bit by bit, but as you probably know time is running out, so please take time to think about what you do? where your food comes from? how its produced? where your trash goes? how your possessions were made? how you get around? and how it could all be done better? If there are no immediate alternatives, why not? And could there be a new job opportunity in making alternatives? If everyone does there bit there will be a global shift in thinking towards sustainability.

Taking this into consideration this manual should be passed on to the next student to save paper and ink. So you will be emailed a copy to reference whenever you need, thus reducing resource use, and making it harder for you to loose!

Where to Surf outside Tamarindo

Langosta is a few minutes south of the school in Tamarindo, It offers great waves at the river mouth and fast hollow waves further south at the beach break. It is often not crowded and is a beautiful beach with no developments south of the river.

Playa Grande is 30 minutes drive north of Tamarindo, or an hours walk from the school. It is the most consistent beach break in the area, the waves are often overhead when Tamarindo is knee high.Its also famous as a Leatherback turtle nesting beach, though only a fraction of turtles nest here now.

Avellanas is 30 minutes drive south of Tamarindo, it has great beach breaks at high, a river mouth which can have good barrels at low tide, and the infamous Little Hawaii reef break at the far north of the beach. It also has “Lolas”, the best beach bar in the area with huge King Palms, and very comfortable chairs and hammocks for relaxing in. its named alter Lola tue giant pig who is often wading in the surf infront.

Please ask your instructor before surfing anywhere outside Tamarindo!

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Contacts• Name_______________________________• Surfing Level__________________________• Location_____________________________• Boards rented_________________________

______________________________ __________________________

Dates________________________________

Name Contact Info Address

Alex alexhazell40@gmail.com CRSI, Calle Real,www.costaricasurfinstitute.com Playa Tamarindo, GuanacasteCosta Rica

NOTES

WATER SESSIONS

DRY LAND SESSIONS

SAFETY NOTES

Websites for Surf Forecast’swww.wetsand.com - great for Tamarindo

www.surfline.com - good, but you have to pay for full forecasts

www.magicseaweed.com - good in Europe, not great for the Pacificwww.windguru.com - great for wind conditions, is it offshore?