El Salvador

7-31-10
Our trip down went fairly smooth . The highway south from the airport was nice for our 2 hour drive to Las Flores. Hotel, service, and food are all very good. Surf has been an all day affair starting with a 6am boat ride 2-3 miles down the beach to Punta Mango and a really good beach break called El Toro. The beachie has been our favorite so far because we have it to ourselves. Waves have been in the head high range with some bigger. Definitely nothing to complain about that is for sure. As always at a place like this you meet people from all over world who come for the surf. So far the caliber of surfing in the water has been below average. Dillon and Mason have been some of the standouts. This is good for us as we can get more waves because it is not such dog eat dog in the lineup. We have a very fun playful 200 yard long right out in front of the hotel.

8-1-10
I just had one of the best surf sessions of my life this am! You never know when one of these will happen but when it does it is sure nice. I went on the early boat to Punta Mango with 2 other guys and arrived to see about 12-15 guys in the water which was depressing but jumped in to join them none the less. I grabbed a few insiders then paddled on out to the peak and proceeded to pick off 20-25 choice set waves. All these were a couple feet overhead off the rocky shoreline with a very fast long right wall down the line. After the first couple of waves I got caught inside on one of the bigger sets to come through. This was not fun! One spends more time under water that above. All this while you are being pushed steadily towards the rocks. Luckily the set let up and I could paddle for the channel for a little breather on the way back out. This wave requires you to drive down the line as fast as you can the whole way till the kick out. This is the kind of wave I like the most but very seldom see. Being able to get that many good waves is another challenge, but I will take what I can get, just give me some more!!! The paddling back out was the worst part because your arms just hurt, but it is a good hurt. After 3 1/5 hours of glassy conditions the wind picked up so we headed for breakfast and a much needed rest.
The point just in front of the hotel is a good right itself although a little “fatter” as we say. Which means an easier take off and just a fun wave to surf. Not very punishing when you get caught inside on a cleanup set either. Still some long rides with a big section at the end to do a hit of some sort.
Food has been very good. You will not go hungry here! All food is included with the rooms. Mark and Brandon showed up this afternoon. Good to see them and spend some water time with both of them. more later, jim