Competición de Mundial de Surf 2009

Today was the day that many of us had been looking forward to for the past couple of weeks now. We were leaving for Jaco beach and Playa Hermosa (about 10 minutes) from Jaco for the 2009 Billabong World Surf Championships. This was the first time for the competition to be held in Costa Rica. We had a group of about 10 go and had arranged for a private van to take us there and back since other ways would be much more expensive and the chance of not being able to return due to the massive amounts of people in town. This was my first experience witnessing a surf competition. Representatives from all different countries around the world were there. We arrived around 11 and the driver dropped us off about 10 minutes down the beach from where the surfing was taking place. It was such a beautiful morning. There was blue sky, big white puffy clouds, sun shining bright, and just the right amount of heat. The sand was very hot and very dark, but the water was a pretty blue color. The waves were very intense and the rip tide was known to be strong. We walked down the beach and grabbed a spot to sit and watch the surfers. It was somewhat difficult to tell exactly who was participating in the competition and who was surfing for fun. There were huge rocks near the surfers and the waves were actually good size, much bigger than what we are used to at home. There were many Americans as well because it’s a tourist city in Costa Rica. Not too shortly after being there, I would say about an hour we saw lightning in the far distance over the water and dark clouds began to take over the pretty clear blue sky we were enjoying. The ominous clouds arrived fast and the next thing we knew everyone was running off the beach to get out of the down pour that had began. We knew it was too good to be true to enjoy a whole day at the beach without having a rain shower. After the rain, we walked around the different stands set up by vendors and then found a hut to get something small to eat. This place was called “Dos Gringos” and it is own and run by 3 American surfer guys from Miami. We asked to see a menu, but they did not have one, only an oral menu because they had only been open for 4 days. They had arrived the week before to live their “American Dream” of living on the beach in Costa Rica and running a restaurant. They were your typical surfers, very relaxed and go with the flow. The menu was cheeseburgers and chips or hotdogs and chips. They had driven 10 days for 10 hours every day from California all the way here with one car, a grill and their surfboards to open up their restaurant. They told us that it would be a while for them until they could have a beer and wine license and even longer for a liquor license. I asked them why and they said that a liquor license would cost them 100,000 dollars because the country likes to create large taxes. Guess that is one way they provide universal health care. After about spending 2 hours sitting around we got back in our van and headed back to San Jose. it was a great experience and I am so glad that we went. I should probably start packing since tomorrow is my last full day here in San Jose, but I am very tired and those of you who know me I like to pack last minute. It is just hard to believe that my 5th week here is coming to an end, but I am so excited for Emily to get here Saturday!! By the way, HAPPY 21’ST BIRTHDAY EMILY!! I hope that you have had a great day and get ready for our adventure!! Hasta pronto…