Rachael Kershaw surfing in front of Capitán Suizo / Photo: Ana Rodríguez Oropeza
Tamarindo Surf Experience
Three years ago, I moved to Costa Rica to work as a Food & Beverage Manager at the Hotel Capitan Suizo. Being a very sporty person and after testing out surfing during a holiday in Australia and another time in the Dominican Republic, I thought that I had to make the most of the opportunity seeing that there is the perfect surf spot for beginners in front of the Hotel Capitan Suizo.
I first began with a couple of classes with our very own Luis Seitur, the hotel’s dedicated surf instructor. As for everyone, my beginning was challenging facing balance issues, timing issues and so forth…let’s just say I was mostly under the board than on top. Being persistent, I continued my quest of learning how to surf and with time and practice, I saw myself improve and achieve step by step new objectives – catching white water wave on my own (yes I began as everyone, being pushed into the waves), actually standing on the board for more than 2 seconds, riding the wave and not just going straight down,… and then came the day that I caught my first “Unbroken Wave”. I was surfing the wave and it was magical.
Moments like these make it all worth it and give you the strength and dedication to keep learning and improving. There are days that you feel that you have made progress and days that you feel that you are simply getting worse, but it all goes in phases and there are skills to learn at every step that allows you to improve.
I was lucky enough to get my own longboard and be able to practice without Luis. After a while I decided to also get a shorter board, to try different surf spots and also started surfing with local friends who always gave me tips and insight on how to improve. Every day was a different challenge, different conditions, a different wave and with time, I started to read the waves better, understand how they break and adapt my surfing to the conditions.
I have a course a lot to learn and I am fortunate to live somewhere that gives me access to waves all year round. There are a plethora of beaches in the area of Tamarindo and waves for every level as well as type of surf that one is looking for - waves, that are perfect for longboards, other that should only be tamed with a shortboard. At the end of the day, what I can say is that surfing has been one of the most satisfying sports that I have undertaken (at the end of the day, the pleasure of riding a wave, depends solely on you!) and with patience, persistence and practice many challenges can be overcome.
Look forward to seeing you in the water!
Pura Vida!