El Salvador, Part IV

If you've ever surfed Trestles on a good day, then that's what the majority of the waves are like in El Salvador, but often with only a handful of guys out.  Suffice to say it can be pretty damn fun. You're not really gonna get barreled, but you'll do the kind of hacks you only dream about 'till the sun goes down. Facing directly south, El Salvador picks up only swells from the south, which means spring and summer are the glory seasons.  However, if you can get it in late March or early April, the first swells of the season start to roll in like clockwork, and the water is still nice and clean from the last 6 months of the dry season.  Get on it before El Salvador gets too blown up.  The first major hotels were starting to be built along the beach, so the clock is ticking.

El Salvador, Part III

Alot of times when driving through El Salvador, you'll see an old tiny pickup with two dudes in the front and 20 odd family members in the back.  They all stand up while the driver does about 60 mph around hairpin turns with hundred-foot drop-offs to the ocean, and pass big trucks around blind turns like there's no tomorrow.  Some friends we met on the trip got flagged down by the local policia.  Thinking they were in for a shakedown, they were pretty stoked when they realized the bunch of 'em just wanted a ride in the back of their truck.  You can't say no to a man with a loaded AK-47.

El Salvador, Part II

The surf in El Salvador is very good.  Mostly right-hand point breaks, there's a rare left or two thrown in for good measure, blah blah you can find that info anwhere.  Other stuff you learn only on arrival.  The water is very clear during the winter months, but dirty when the heavy tropical storms cause major run-off from the mountains.  It has beautiful countryside but people leave trash all over the beach.  Everyone is really friendly just like the guide books say. Unlike Cali, the guy-to-girl ratio in the lineup was about 3:1, and the girls are good.  Also, if there were ever a sport which involved surfing a boogie-board, the Salvadorians would dominate.  And wait for the late afternoon glass-off.  No sunset glare in your eyes and no need for the SPF 50.

El Salvador, Part I

Me and the Kug went south down El Salvador way for a surf trip.  El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America.  It has a population of 6.8 million, 1.6 million in the capital San Salvador.  It might seem like alot of people, but it' still very rural. Imagine an area twice the size of all L.A. county, but with a third less people.  They use the dollar there too which makes it easy.   Beers everywhere are a buck.  A lot of people remember El Salvador for the long-ass Civil War fought between the government and a bunch of leftists, but thats been over since The Chronic came out.  Now they're trying to make a dollar off the growing surf industry, and you can't blame 'em.

No Good Can Come of This

Well, Surfer magazine recently released its list of the top ten surf towns in America, with Santa Cruz (holla) taking top honors.  While some might see this is as a respectful nod to the cold-water town far-removed from the dominating SoCal surf industry and all the stereotypes that come with it, I can't help but think.....'shit'.  It's no secret the waves in and around Santa Cruz are sick and way more consistent than anywhere north or south, but do we really need to advertise this and attracts more people to an already crowded surf town.  AND I DONT EVEN LIVE THERE ANYMORE!!! That's the problem with living in a kick ass area, everyone else wants in on it too.  Fuck it, I'm still moving up to Felton, my dog will be stoked.  Plus I don't remember anywhere in SC being worse than El Porto on a Saturday, and the waves are way better.  I mean, how can you keep people away from this???

 

 

What to do when the surf is flat, part I

Damn, 2 weeks and not a trace of surf in or around El Porto, CA.  Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.  Yeah I know 2 weeks is nothing for the homies back east, but those from California are spoiled mutha fuckas. I guess you know it's bad when random blogs start popping up across the internet with catchy names and deep, thought-provoking posts from random fools.  On the plus side, a flat spell is a good time to heal a mysterious chest injury, house-train a puppy, and drink a little more each night.  

I think there are two kinds of surfers.  Those that live the clean life between swells, and those that don't.