Back in February, Chica Brava was hosting seven rad Chicas for their Surf Retreat at Villa Palermo, one of our Cloud Farm premises.
Michelle and her two 12-year-old daughters Josie and Lucy from Massachusetts did some surfing back in the States and Costa Rica but came to Nicaragua to define their surfing skills. Another guest was jewelry designer Marion from California has also surfed a few times before back home and in El Salvador and chose the Chica Brava Surf Retreat to master her pop up and gain more confidence in the water. Our other Cali-Girl, Kim previously did a one week surf camp before she arrived and worked on popping up when she was here last as well- we think she has mastered it for sure!! Liz is currently living in New York and working as an Art Appraiser. She does a surf camp each winter and came to Nicaragua to gain paddling strength and to master her pop up. Linda from California had never surfed before and came to Nicaragua to give it a first try.
Our lovely ladies surfed in Playa Maderas, Playa Remanso and Playa Hermosa.This retreats two little shredders, Josie and Lucy, didn’t seize to amaze me. Both of them were paddling into their own waves and going down the line on their very first day. Throughout the week their surfing skills were consistently growing and they gained more confidence overall. By the end of the week they were dropping in on some head high waves! Yeah!!! Keep it up girls!
Michelle, their mother, didn’t stay behind. She was constantly working on her wave selection and on her angling. Throughout the week she gained a lot of confidence and paddled into some overhead bombs!
Marion’s initial goal was to master her pop up. But the very first day of her Surf Retreat she already paddled into some waves on her own and rode them down the line. During her stay she significantly improved her wave reading skills and the positioning on them. By the end of the week Marion got some really long rides down the line.
Kim was mastering her pop up in the first two days. Throughout her Chica Brava Surf Retreat she was working hard on her paddling and the consistency of her take off. Her rides got longer and longer, day by day.
Liz stuck her pop up on the first day and was determined to use this week to build up paddle power. She paddled into a lot of waves on her own and got a bunch of sweet rides during her stay.Linda, as well, mastered her pop up in the first days of her Retreat. She was working hard this week to build up paddle power and to get more precise with her movements. Throughout her retreat Linda caught some awesome green waves!!
Our lovely ladies enjoyed three restorative yoga sessions in the morning- next to the infinity pool with an amazing view over the bay of San Juan. They also explored the woods up at Cloud Farm during their hikes in search of howler monkeys and sloths. Then tried for some sick moves on the zip line during their canopy tour. Thursday night was their night out on the town, starting with excellent food at El Timon and ended with Salsa moves on the dance floor. On their last day our chicas went for delicious hot chocolate after their surf session and enjoyed their massages at Zen Yoga. After an incredible tasty last dinner that our wonderful house lady, Katarina made, it was time to say good bye!
Another awesome week went by too fast, but saying goodbye is always easier when there is hope to meet again!
Thanks for the unforgettable memories ladies!
Stephanie Fischer
Surf Instructor Extraordineire
Cloud Farm, February 6th – February 13th, 2016