This message brought to you by your neighborhood surf buddies at Chica Brava
The past week was a record setter here at Chica Brava. We welcomed 14 ladies total, and ran two houses at the Cloud Farm! The wave count was off the charts and the fun had and stoke caught was nearly indescribable! Instructor hosts Sarah and Annaleigh did a pretty excellent job summing up the experiences of each house below. What a pleasure, ladies. I speak for the whole crew at Chica Brava when I say, a truly unforgettable time was had by all!!!
Chicas del Fuego at Casa Villa Hermosa!
Laughter, laughter, and more laughter describes this week, certainly the most fun I have had in a long time. The ladies surfed, relaxed at the beach, took an amazing boat trip, hiked around the farm looking for perezosos (sloths), and even spared some time for the kids at Escuela Adelante. The waves were perfect, coming in at a perfect size of a couple of feet all week.
Three of our ladies, Megan, Tara, and Heather, hailed from frigid Canada in the search for a tropical vacation. Carpenter Megan actually came to us after a couple weeks of solo travel here in Nicaragua. She started the week with zero surf experience, but ended riding down the line by Friday. Tara had a little surf experience but honed her skills, paddled into her own waves, and rode down the line by weeks end. Rounding out our Canada trio is Heather, also with no surfing experience – I think she surprised herself with surfing on the outside with the rest of the crew by the third day. Did we mention that Tara and Heather are librarians? Now we know where Chica Brava will be getting book recommendations from!
Kris and Jan came on down from California and have been friends since college. I have never seen two ladies laugh as much as these two! Back home in Santa Barbara, Kris is surrounded by surfers and decided it was finally time to pick up the stoke. She didn’t quite get barreled, but was riding the waves like a pro! Jan gracefully surfed her way through the waves. Her adjustment back home without her Chica Brava cheerleaders may be a bit rocky, but we’re confident Jan will be just fine as long as she’s laughing. Check out the video of Jan and Kris recapping their experience at Chica Brava.
Rounding up the crew was Ruby, a solo traveler who was quickly adopted by Canada and Cali. Originally from Portland, she traveled from Costa Rica after receiving a few surf lessons and decided to join in on a camp at Chica Brava. Ruby definitely joined the surfing tribe this week, popping up at the top of the wave and riding down the line.
These ladies lit the house on fire with their contagious laughter and fun-loving personalities. Can’t wait to see these ladies again, I see a reunion trip in the near future, and we’d better be invited!
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Chicas de Fuerza at Casa Anna Carolina
Our casa consisted of eight young very successful women who all have made surfing an important aspect in their lives – and fun a priority! These chicas motto is, “You can’t control the waves, but you can learn how to surf!”
Blaire and Erin were two friends that met at a Costa Rican Surf Camp a year ago and decided to have at it again, but this time in Nicaragua! Jamie and Jyothi, who also met at a Costa Rican Yoga/Adventure Retreat that involved surfing, wanted to advance their skills in the waves and create more memories together. Rounding out the chicas – we had our solo travelers: Lauren, Dana, Samantha and Katie!! Lauren grew up surfing coast of North Carolina, Dana is an ER Physician who decided to make her intermediate surfing skills a priority in her life, Samantha is a recent college grad who has never surfed and wanted to give it a go, and Katie is a designer that enjoys traveling and wanted to experience what Nicaragua has to offer! Each girl had her own unique character that collectively created a positive, supportive and encouraging vibe throughout our week!
Through laughter, fun and some handstands (GO ERIN) everyone was popping up and riding waves all the way in from the outside by day 4! Extra, and always fun, activities filled the girls time and helped make memories to last a lifetime! Saturday came too soon, and all ladies had to return to wearing hoodies and jeans (the Northern region uniform) instead of living in bathing suits and dresses. Nicaragua and Chica Brava misses them as much as they might be missing us.
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Although we cannot control the waves, if our vibes are positive enough, the surf gods just may hook us up with perfect, glassy consistent sets all week. And that, my friends, is exactly what happened. This group of 14 ladies not only learned how to surf, but took home with them the memories of a lifetime, and blossomed surf buddy friendships that will last as long as they keep riding. So yes, we may not be able to control the waves, but never panic ladies, as you’ll always have a surf buddy near to share those rolling waters with!
Sarah, Noelani & Annaleigh
Surf Buddies’ Extraordinaire
Cloud Farm November 8-15, 2015
