just wanted to get some feedback from anyone who has spent time in puerto rico, i understand the surf is "most excellent" in the winter months,so im courious about spring, summer, and fall?? also wondering what the longboardings like?? i understand the surf is prety heavy, lots of spongers, that doesnt always mean a good longboard wave..any info is greatly apperciated...thanks/MAHALO
i am pretty interested too,
no wthat i'm going to be living jaqcksonville...
seems more likely that i'll go there
instead my yearly hawaii trip.
anybody?..bueller?
I have been to puerto rico during the winter months and they get some great swell. I would check out the rincon /aguadilla area if you are longboarding. Marias would be the spot to longboard or little malibu. Also if you are looking for a place to stay fisheye view vacation rentals is a great place to stay, right in rincon on the hillside with a view of tres palmas, marias, domes, and many other spots. The link is http://www.rinconview.com/
thank-you
It has a nickname "the other north shore" for a reason. Lots of potential and lots of quality waves but it takes some getting used to. I went last Jan and had a clean double overhead plus swell. The biggest board I own is a 6'6" mini gun type shape and it wasn't enough for a few of the days. Just too much water moving. It might have helped if I went with someone that knew the area. I was solo and it was a bit intimidating with the raw power of a massive swell. I also don't normally have to deal with much rock or reef on a normal session being from Florida. I found that hitting the reef isn't a lot of fun. I have surfed reef in the past at other places but is was never as shallow or jagged and sharp. I found there you needed a plan before you even set foot in the water. It involved an entry and exit strategy. The x factor to entry and exit is the unruly sideshore current. This probably isn't much of a factor on a smaller swell. You had to know right where the channel in the reef was because getting out anywhere else was going to involve donating blood to the sharp rock and urchins. Getting to that exact spot wasn't always the easiest thing. I am used to getting in and out of the water wherever I want. Not the case here. Once you get accustomed to this and the crowded lineups full of spongers there are some pretty good waves. It wasn't till the end of my trip I made it over to Rincon on the west facing side of the island. The setup there seemed a little less intimidating but then again the swell was falling and only 2 to 3 ft overhead.
Here are a few pics that I took.
The evening before the first two pictures the swell peaked and it was easily 5 to 6ft bigger. Of course I forgot my camera for that session. Doh! I also missed out on getting pictures of Corey Lopez and a couple of the other local pro's getting massive bombs.
Marias the next evening, fading swell but still holding some size.
Vid clip showing decent to average conditions. Winter is the ''season'', as low pressure systems come off the US and push N swell that can light up the west side. Summer is more tradewinds windswell on the north coast, unless a passing tropical system supplies some thump.
Winter is the best along the West and North coasts. Trades blow sidshore along the north coast, so early DP sessions when the wind is down are key. You can hit spots in Arecebo and Isabela at first light, then go to Aguadilla or Rincon for the afternoon/evening sessions. Yes, the urchins will ruin you day. Never touch the reef. Never. Saw some really nasty things happen down there between the urchins and the fire coral, especially around Little Malibu and other shallow spots south of Tres. Not as bad last winter, for some reason, as in past years. Guess it goes in cycles. Sunday mornings are good, as most are Catholics and in church. Some of the local rippers are very, very talented, especially at Jobos. like everywhere else, smile, say “hola,” and show respect.
There are also many spots along the north coast that are uncrowded, but the trades bump it up pretty good by mid morning. Talk to the locals, and tip well.
I’ve never been skunked in PR. Sometimes it’s massive. Sometimes it
never gets over head high. But I’ve always been able to find fun surf by timing the trip whenever possible.
The wave makers are actually cold fronts that sweep across the East
Coast of the US, with hard, long fetch, NW winds behind them. These
fronts usually trail under/behind low pressure systems. So between the storm itself,
and the strong, long fetch winds behind the trailing cold fronts, the
swell usually arrives 3 or 4 days after the front crosses the coast.
The deeper the low, and the longer the front, the bigger the surf. Sometimes these fronts can stretch the entire length of the US coast. Bring your big wave board for these swells.
[img_assist|nid=1047764|title=PR|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=66|height=100]Starvin Marvin, hollow eyes and hollow ribs. Puerto Rico. The horse version of mexican street dogs. Puerto Rico is so different than Mex or Costa. It is beautiful but it feels dirty and abused. I only surfed bridges in Agaudilla, it was only chest high, but wasn’t rteally a surf trip. Wished I coulda surfed around a bit. I found this cave it was free and sketchy to climb down in, nobody there, ancient taino cave carvings. Mushrooms, perhaps?[img_assist|nid=1047765|title=pr1|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=66|height=100]I’d go back, even though it is basicall another US state