Nicaragua All Star Trip, August 2011
I was asked to write this article, but I hesitated, I really didn’t want to tell the world just how awesome this place can be, but Coach Pat asked so here goes…
First, I think I need to give you a little background on just who and what the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) All Star Team is all about. We are a small group of mostly kids with a few adults that serve as mentors/chaperones. We’re selected because of our surfing abilities, sportsmanship on and off the beach, and of course, academics. When selecting the team, our coach Pat Emery uses a formula that adds up all the variables, and if you get enough points you make the team. The intention is to help develop the up and coming kids from the East Coast, and offer them coaching along the way. We meet up at the bigger ESA events to train together as a team. I’ve been on the All Star team for a few years now, and last year was honored with a request to be the Jr. Captain. One of the best rewards of team membership is the All Star Trip that happens once a year. This year we traveled to Nicaragua with a limited roster: Coach Pat Emery; the Adult All Stars including Chuck Berand and Ana Berand; boys All Stars Daniel Glenn, Sam Duggan, Luke Gordon, Corey Howell, Josh Jacoby, Patrick Nickols, and Bradley Rose; and girls All Stars Nikki Viesins, Savannah Bradley, Chelsea Gresham, and Kayla Durden. We also traveled with a photographer, Gerry Lacasse, and Chaperones Randy Howell, Carmen Garcia, Kali Park, Ronald Balenger
Day 1
Twelve All Stars along with the chaperones and photographer left Ft. Lauderdale airport in the middle of a Tuesday night. Two and a half hours later we landed at the Managua Airport in Nicaragua, greeted by one very large bus that drove us in the still-dark early morning down a bumpy dirt road for an additional few more hours. We finally reached our destination of Popoyo around 3:30am. The girls were dropped off first at a place called Nica Waves (a short walk from the beach), that would be their home for the rest of the week and the guys all stayed at Magnific Rock, just a little further down a small dirt road. I was bunked with Luke Gordon, and now I was finally able to call someone a grom! Our spot at Magnific Rock was perched on a high bluff, so during the week we were able to check the surf from Santana’s to Popoyo Point and in between.
We were all too pumped up to sleep, so as soon as we got to our rooms we set up our boards. The sun rises very early there, and we ended up walking just down the beach to the point break called Popoyo. It was a clean three feet, and after a two-hour session, we got some food and settled in for a very long nap. That sequence was repeated four times the first day. We couldn’t resist.
Day 2
Coach Pat got us all up at 5:00am. He was setting the pattern that would continue for the majority of the trip. We were allowed to sleep in only one morning. Since we didn’t have transportation once we were there, part of our training consisted of walking to the breaks: Popoyo Point was about a 15 minute walk and Santana’s was about a mile and a half away. One of the chaperones, Carmen Garcia, rented a car and we watched him cruise by as we hiked our way in all week. We’re better for it, right?
We were rewarded with barrels the second day, making the effort all worthwhile. At that point, I wanted to stay at this place forever. Everyone got in a solid three sessions that day and ate excessive amounts of food. Our plates were always complemented with a huge helping of beans and rice cooked up by a local chef, allowing us to experience the real native fare at Magnific Rock.
Day 3
Rules for the Scorpion Invasion:
Rule Number One: Always shake out your baggies before you put them on.
Rule Number Two: Don’t walk to the bathroom in the dark. We managed to stay sting free but heard stories of surfers getting stung in some very weird places.
Again we were rewarded with unreal surf right in front of our place. Did I mention we had it all to ourselves?
Day 4
One the fourth day into our trip, Coach Pat planned a boat trip for us. We were going to surf Lance’s left and Playgrounds. Our bus arrived to take us to the little fishing village called Asterillo where they keep most of the pangas in the area. Driving down nameless dirt roads and passing buses like ours (with an overflow of passengers on the roof), I felt fortunate to have a seat inside of my vehicle.
Our first stop was Playgrounds, a left pointbreak that was setting up with perfect two to three foot A-frames. We were the only ones there, until eventually another panga showed up with a few surfers. After a short 10 minute boat ride, we were at Lance’s Left with no one out. How lucky is that? This break was so long that you were subjected to severe thigh burn. Everyone had an epic day: barrel rides, airs, everything just came together. I was passed out by eight pm.
Day 5
Another day around the compound, did the usual, hiked to Santana’s then to Popoyo’s, surf, eat, nap, repeat then repeat again.
Day 6
Our last day, I really didn’t want to leave and so I just had to make it count, we had good surf again, it was in the three foot range and powerful, nice ramps to practice on and practice we did until it was time to break down the boards. Later that afternoon we were all packed and ready to go except we had no bus, it was MIA, maybe we willed it? Pat was starting to get nervous, next available flight on Spirit would not be available for a couple of days, hum…. We ended up calling in another bus, we never figured out what happened to the original one and, well, it was a mad scramble to get all the board bags tied down and people and bags loaded, I heard later that the bus driver drove like a maniac down the dirt road, dodging large potholes and free roaming pigs—if lost not even a GPS could save you because none of the roads are mapped out—but I wouldn’t know anything until later because I passed out along with the rest of the team from excessive surf exhaustion. We awoke to the sound of the bus stopping; we were getting pulled over by the police just as we were heading into the city of Managua, not a good time for a delay. Lucky for us the driver was able to make it quick and we arrived at the airport with no time to spare. Pat got everyone checked through and we boarded immediately, no 2 hour check-in for us, it was all on the fly.
I have to say the trip was amazing; we all got mass quantities of quality surf, Coach Pat was there to guide and pass on his surfing knowledge to us, Chuck and Ana Berand also extended their coaching and enthusiasm for the team and it wouldn’t have been possible without them. Also I have to give a big thumbs up to the photographers, Gerry Lacasse and Josh Jacoby and our chaperones’ Randy Howell, Carmen Carcia, Kali Park and Ronald Balenger. But mostly for the Eastern Surfing Association that made this trip possible. Thanks guys. You’re awesome!
