Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999
From: [email protected]
Subject: The kOOk goes to Puerto Rico, Take II
Finally I have some time to write to this list, had a great time in PR, just like the doc had ordered it, stayed 11 days, surfed 50 hrs + and it took 10 days for my sinus infection to heal. 1/3 of this trip was waist high, 1/3 was chest to shoulder and the last 1/3 head to overhead in mixed sequence.
I met 3 cool individuals, 2 of them are east coasters and definitely kooks list material, I will intro them later. We looked at "jobos", but didn't surf it, big but unridable, no jumping of the cliff this time unless you want end your life. Surfed at "surfer's beach", had the ride of my life, ask mary, she saw it. Paddled out three times at "wilderness" all in classic conditions, even grabbed some waves from the locals, but not many, tough spot. Then we had an almost world class day at dogman's it wrapped in overhead to well overhead. I had this peak all to myself and wondered why, found out later that it was littered with this killer "fire corals" or so and is known to hurt people real bad. I got hammered by a few biggies that day and must say that the kOOk gods were with me once again. Surfed every morning at dawn "sandy", yup, barrels for breakfast ( B for B ). Met a lot of the same faces including Rachel and Laura and that " tits on a stick" at calypso's, SPACKLER!
Ran into "Red Beard" (Michael) at surfer's beach in the line up, he still thanked us for the "Fosters", we brought down for him last year. His restaurant is done, the owner took it over and sells ice cream now, he seemed desperate for a job. And ran into AJ from LI, met his buddy Art couple of days earlier, Art snapped his beloved Longboard in half on big Saturday, got a great shot of that. We stayed at the SBI (sandy beach inn) and Luli was very nice. 'nuff said, climbed ice a couple of times, but now that my sinus is feeling better, I'm itching to get out.
Greetings,
-Holger the Horrible
Noch nie war er so wertvoll wie heute.
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999
From: [email protected]
Subject: [kooks] URL and Trippin El Salvador
I'm back. The trip to El Salvador started out chest to head high, built to respectable size overhead and then for the last two days dropped back down. Winds were either nil, offshore or light onshore/side shore. Crowds were very light during the week and got heavier on the weekend. The locals don't mind if they drop in on you. The waves had a gentle take off and were pretty forgiving. Didn't make it to the East because of a hotel reservation snafu. I got a little Montezuma's Revenge and a little bit o rock reef cuts. The area around La Libertad is economically poor but, wave rich. I think Punta Mango Surf Tour is sending me a video. I'm going to take my film to the lab tomorrow and I'll try and scan in some photos ASAP.
Check out this site for some info on El Salvador
We stayed at the Hacienda Don Rigo. I mostly rode my 7'0" Wyane Lynch Evolution, because my friend would give me grief if I rode my Byrne. We surfed Zunzal, mostly. We did use Puntamango. Make sure Puntamango gets you to the east before the weekend begins. Ran into people from (3)Ocean City, N.J. ; (1)O.C., Maryland; (1)Denver, Co.; (3)San Pedro, Ca. ; (1)S. F. Ca. w/(2)B.C., Vancover, Canada ;(2)West Oz; (1) Sidney, Oz and maybe a few more green goers (or non locals) that we didn't meet.
-Brendan
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999
From: BigJ and the Harvey Wallbangers
Subject: [kooks] Puerto Rico Report
Quick PR report:
Bud and Karl are still there hopefully getting the swell that I missed.
Arrived Friday checked out spots near airport. Aviones the only spot
happening but too much stuff in the car, nobody else out and about a mile
paddle discouraged us. Picked up Karl at 6 pm and drove to Rincon (Sandy
Beach Inn---Holger, Luli says hi). Got up late Sat. AM (7 am--Bud forget
to set alarm) with intent to head to Wilderness/Ruins area. Checked out
Pools before we went and decided to surf there. Great chest to head high
waves all day. Surfed two sessions and had more waves than I've probably
had in the last two years. Glad I brought my reef boots though, inside very
shallow over live reef. Bud's leash came off his brand new "fish" and we
watched in horror (with Bud running/swimming across the reef) as it smashed
into the rocks. Not too bad though, a couple of puncture wounds and surface
dings. He was lucky.
Sunday, we got up and drove north. Checked out Wildo, Surfer's Beach (contest), Jobos (too local), Golan Drainos and Secret Spot. Ended up at Middles and had a blast. It was breaking much better than any of the aforementioned breaks and only a few guys were out. Again it was shoulder to head high with a few overhead sets, but very powerful. Monday, up and out at 5:30 am. Straight up North again. Middles was again the best break. In the water by a little after 7 am by ourselves and had a blast. Brought a disposable water camera so hopefully have some fun shots to post later. Two sessions there and then headed back to Rincon because the big West swell was due. Arrived to find it building, so we sat at Tamboo bar and watched a few smaller guys paddle into weak chest high Sandy's. Met some guys from Coco Beach FL. One guy, Eric is the manager of the Natural Art Surf Shop in Coco beach. Nice guy, he gave Bud a new leash for free. He brought nine boards down to sell. Discussed the Kooks with him and we can cut a deal on some custom Natural Art boards if we sitting there drinking Corona's watching this swell come in, I'm thinking, finally! We go to bed early and wake up to find that the swell actually diminshed overnight, SHIT! So I pack up all my gear (6 pm flight that night) and we head North.
Unfortunately, it's not even that good up there. The best place again is probably Middles but by this time the trades are on it and we decide to go exploring. So we head along the north coast mapping out new breaks for Bud and Karl to hit later (possibly). So what did I get for my five day getaway? Alot of chest to head high surf, alot of rum and beer and good friends to share it with. I have no complaints, I had a blast! No, I didn't get the big swell, but I had plenty of waves that were able to move my wide body around just fine. Hopefully Bud and Karl hit the big swell as expected. It may have come in yesterday and they're not leaving until tomorrow. I'm sure Karl will let us know.
Aloha,
-Big J
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999
From: Karl and Bud (the Wallbanger Brothers)
Subject: [kooks] Re: PR surf Kontinuation
Better late than never, in kontinuation of Big J's report, here is the rest of the PR story!
On Tuesday, as John said, the surf was pretty much flat. So, on our way to San Juan, to drop John off at the airport, we drove along the coast checking out some new surf spots and hoping to see the beginning of the much anticipated swell. However, no swell was found.
After some lunch, a couple of drinks, and packing Johns board bag, Bud and I dropped John off at 3pm and started back to Rincon.
On our way back we stopped by Wilderness to check the surf and to our surprise the waist high wave we saw in the A.M. was now solid head high with overhead sets.
If you've never surfed Wilderness its a great heavy long right hander that can produce long workable rides or big hollow sections. This day the wave was long and workable. Bud and I had a blast catching 200 yard rides with only a few other guys out (we think everyone else got drunk during the day waiting for the swell).
To make a long story short, The rest of the week was full of overhead to double overhead plus waves. The swell peaked at solid 8 foot with an occasional rogue wave (on the east coast wave scale that's 10 - 18 feet) (Hopefully I'll have some pic's to show on the kooks sight).
Unfortunately, on the biggest day (Thursday 2/25) I was pretty ill with a stomach virus. But, even feeling ill Bud convinced me to paddle out at Tres Palmas. Tres was breaking at solid double overhead to 18 foot faces. Some of the biggest waves that I've ever paddled out in. And, one of the easiest dry hair paddles -- anyone could paddle out to the break, the hard part is having the balls to paddle into a wave!! While I was not at 100%, I still managed to jump on a couple shoulders.
This wave is the closest thing to a Hawaiian wave on the east coast. The wave comes from deep water and is moving so fast that as you drop in you feel like your surfing down a moving mountain. I was going so fast that I could hardly control my board! Having the right equipment is very important, and Bud and I were definitely under gunned.
All in all, it was one of my best surf trips in years -- surfing every day. Most of the days surfing 2 or 3 times -- 6-8 hours a day.
KO, I'll send you a couple pictures for the Kooks web page ASAP.
Ride On
-Karl