Juniors Warm Up

The 38 something hours of travel was harsh. Surfers have way too much energy but even this was tough. However, we came out on the other end with all our baggage, boards and brains intact.

It is day 4 in Nicargua for Team SA. I don't think anybody knew what to expect when coming to Nicaragua, but we have been surprised in many areas. In short this place is hot, very rural and tropical. We drive down endless dirt roads through greenery fit for the Lord of the Rings with little homes scattered amongst this endless land. Pigs, cows, chickens, horses and bikes make up the 'traffic'.

The SA team scored big with amazing accommodation right on the beach 15 minutes from the contest sight. We get cooked meals every morning and evening. It's clean and comfortable. We have a fun surf spot right on our doorstep and a swimming pool, which we wallow in for hours on end to escape the heat.

The people here are friendly, helpful and very Spanish. Communication has been difficult and amusing when the zero-English speaking staff were asked for toilet paper.

We have been putting in hours in the water, figuring out the wave and adapting to the climate. The contest site is at Rancho Santano. The beach is big with dark sand and a large cliff jutting out to sea. There are multiple peaks which produce extremely shreddable lefts and rights. The waves vary greatly depending on the tide and barrels are not rare.

It was exciting to get down the beach that would soon hold the biggest contest I've ever competed in. It is still a flurry of activity with guys setting up massive scaffolding for the event. Teams have started to pull in so needless to say it has been crowded.

After seeing the massive swell looming on the swell forecast we decided to have the New Zealand against South Africa challenge a day early at the spot in front of our house. The team struggled a bit in the first round to find their contest groove in tricky surf but we all improved by the second round. Unfortunately, each heat counted and New Zealand just pulled ahead of us by 4 points.

I'd also like to add that the head judge was from NZ. Just saying.

I am currently sitting with my legs up, listening to gnarly, massive closeouts crunch onto the shore. The waterline is rising dangerously close to the house and my team-mates are scattered around, swimming, and running around, and generally being a hazard.

There was a massive storm last night and hours of rain which caused havoc on the beach at the contest site. Rivers have run out into the ocean bringing huge amounts of debris varying from plastic to logs to a dead dolphin. The water is chocolate brown and screaming of bacterial diseases. The swell is BIG. Surfing didn't seem to be an option but we had heard about a big wave surf spot called Popoyo a ten minute walk from our house. The guys grabbed their oldest back up boards and we trudged through mud and a brown gushing river to the spot.

Massive lefts and rights thundered over rock and sand. The boys put on their wax and courage and charged out to the line up. The girls put on their bikinis and lay back and watched the guys nailing and getting nailed by 8-10 foot solid waves. Team SA was a stand out, even amongst the Hawaiians.

Massive lefts and rights thundered over rock and sad. The boys put on their wax and courage and charged out to the line up. The girls put on their bikinis and lay back and watched the guys nailing and getting nailed by 8-10 foot solid waves. Team SA was a stand out, even amongst the Hawaiians.

Everyone has been on their best behavior and finding their groove with flashes of absolutely brilliant surfing.

There are birds that making horrendous shrieking sounds, sweltering heat and gnarly looking bugs. The nearest town is a couple hours away but this simple life has been both humbling and relaxing. It is never easy being in such radical conditions but I am loving being here.

Three days until the contest starts and we are all VERY excited and hungry.

Although I am frothing for a surf a day of rest has been good and we are all anxious for some less radical swell and a clean ocean.

The ladies are preparing supper and the SA team is now suspiciously quiet. I am going for a dip in the pool and to see if they've broken anything.