Author: Bryan Elkus

It was actually an early start to our last day in Peru. We loaded the trucks and were on the rode by 6:30am. We headed straight for Lobitos for the last sessions of the trip.

We pulled up to head plus high sets coming in one after another. We grabbed the surfboards and went for it. It was less crowded and a blast. Everyone scored some great waves especially Bill DeGeorge.

The wind started to pick up and some of the boys added a kite to their session. Slezy and Gustavo did a small downwinder and slezy sessioned a sketchy break just around from Lobitos, as I snapped some photos.

We then had to pack all the gear from the two trucks into one to get to the airport. With 8+ 50-100lbs boar bags on the roof it limited our traveling speed to a near crawl which was an issue as the airport was about 3 hours away. We had about 3 hour until our plane left.

We some how made it in time to get our bags and re-check them in the Lima Airport to our final destination NJ. Now we are waiting for our flight back to the states. It was an amazing trip, with a great group of people and a great wave location with terrific conditions. Thanks to REAL and Gary (and Family) for the trip it was simply an amazing experience. Be sure to check out Samana Chakra for the best accommodations in Northern Peru; kiteboarding, surfing, yoga and amazing food they have it all!

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

Today was the chillest of all the days on the trip. We decided to stay around the resort today and wait for the wind to pick up and then go session the lagoon that was near by.

Unfortunately, the wind never really picked up enough for everyone to session. It was very marginal winds for about an hour or two. By the time we had everyone rounded up and ready to go the wind died out. Jason and a few others headed out for a quick very light wind session.

So after, we packed up all our stuff and got ready to head out early in the morning. I did a quick shoot with Gary and his family as well as the remaining people in the group. We had a great cocktail hour, dinner then bonfire and then called it a night.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

We didn’t leave until noon today. There was not supposed to be much in the way of waves, so we delayed our departure. After packing all the gear we cruised back to lobitos to session.

We pulled up an hour or so later to find lots or white caps and a head high waves. The wind was 8m weather, side off and gusty. It was a rather sketchy session. Jason, Sam and most of the crew rigged their kites and were off.

Jason and Sam had the most insane wave kiting session I have ever seen in person. Jason scored waves as long as he had surfing: From the rock to the pier on one wave. It was 10-15 turns on a wave easily. Everyone rode very well and handled to conditions well. After shooting for a while trip and I got to head off for a ride.

I had two amazing waves off the bat. Then the conditions started to change. The wind veered more off shore, the current really started to pick up and the wind became gustier. Kites started to fall out of the sky, people broke lines or seems busted out an kites started flying out to sea. Jason and I each brought a lone kite back to shore.

After a couple waves I found it to be nearly impossible to get back up wind even though I had plenty of power on a 10m 2010 kite. I finally made it back to the beach. As everyone came in we head and gear counted and all was accounted for. We packed the truck after the best Kitesurf sessions of most of our lives.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

It was an extremely slow morning today. We were scheduled to head out of the compound at 8am, but I don’t think we hit the road until around 10. We cruised over to the kite spot we have been going to again today.

We arrived to light wind, so out came the surfboards. We surfed for the rest of the morning. I had a half dozen really fun mellow waves on a 8’0 rusty fish. As the wind picked up the crew switched sports and busted out the kites.

The wave simmered down a bit as the tide dropped. Brown, Ted and Sammy all still had great sessions. I rode sammy’s 2010 cult and jason’s 2010 proto Rawson quad. We packed up the ridiculous amount of gear one more time and hit the road back to the resort.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

We woke up extra early to go surf in town this morning. We awoke to a disappointing swell and a very ominous sky. A few of us decided to paddle out any ways. I scored some of my best waves and even though they were waist high they were extra long. After I scored a set wave I headed in for breakfast.

The crew was packing the trucks to head out to kite. The sky cleared and the wind started to crank. We headed to the kite spot were we found little wind, but a fun larger mellow wave than the last time we were there. We broke out the surfboards and went for it.

It was a slow long wave but great session. We stayed for a few hours then packed it up thinking we were done. Even though my arms were done our day wasn’t. We headed to another surf break for a sunset session Jason and trip were the only ones to paddle out. Brown, Sammy franko and myself hung out on the beach. We again jumped into the truck and headed back to the resort for dinner.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

We got up early again chowed down food fast. We packed the truck and were out of there in record time. An hour later we rolled into lobitos to see an already packed line up and some shoulder high waves.

Most of the crew paddled out. I shot for a bit as the guys grabbed a couple of the waves. I headed out for a quick surf. I scored a couple fun waves, but none of the set waves. After the couple waves, I headed in to get the camera and swam back out as the waves started to roll in with some size.

I shot for about an hour and a half before I got too cold and headed in as the wind was picking up. Some of the local liters showed up and pumped up. It was a bit off shore and mega gusty. So we gathered the troops and packed the truck and headed to tres crosses.

Today’s session was much better than yesterdays as the waves were very fun even though the wind as a bit lighter. The guys rigged 10-12s and smacked some lips. I shot the hole time as the crew was packing up to leave I grabbed a kite for two waves. It was probably one of my top five kite sessions, even though I only got two waves. The wind lined up perfectly for unhooked smacks. The head high waves didn’t hurt the session either. We cruised back to the resort on a dusty durst trail as the subset over the ocean. It was a very fun drive back. We ate dinner looked at a couple photos and hit the bed for another long fun day.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

It was a rather lax morning. We still woke up at day break but decided to not go to Lobitos. As Trip says, “It has to get small before it gets really big”. Today was that day. Tomorrow is going to be a building day as we are expecting a pretty great swell to roll in some time tomorrow. I spent the morning by the pool getting some work done. Some of the clients read, hung-out at the beach or went for a Standup. I took a few pictures and the next thing I knew it was time for lunch.

Right after lunch we headed off for a down winder. We cruised 8 km upwind from the resort. The whole crew rigged up on a beach off the main road. It was WINY! Just off in the distance were probably 100 fishing boats and more birds than you could count. The guys and gals cruised downwind and fast. Franko, the guide and I, followed them on land trying to get some shots. We finally making it back after stopping at about 4 locations to shoot. Everyone had an amazing time on the downwinder.

I ran out of the truck and headed straight to the beach where I found Jason‘s kite still rigged. I headed out for a very fun hour-long session in the knee high waves. Some of the crew did a long yoga session. Then it was relaxing and dinner then off to bed.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

We again started the day with a drive to Lobitos to surf. The waves was still pretty small but fun. There was still a bit of a crowd with 20-25 surfers out. It was warmer as there were no clouds today. We surfed all morning. I scored two really fun waves. They were by far the longest waves I have ever been on, and they were small for Peru! Then as the wind picked up we headed to meet up with the rest of the crew at The Three Crosses.

It was a cool place to kite. There was a small point break rolling off the point. This place was in the middle of nowhere. We drove for about 20-30 on dirt roads from the nearest pavement. It was more of less pretty flat but a small wave would creep in every now and again. It was all yours from as far as you could see south to north it was all beach and no one to be seen. It was a short walk to the water. I shot first for a bit, then headed out for a very fun session on sam bell’s setup. We then cruised back to the resort for some much needed dinner and rest.

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.

Some of the crew got up “early” to head out for an am surf. Early quickly turned to later as we rolled out of the resort at 7am. We made it to Lobitos in about an hour. Labitos is one of the more famous northern Peru surf sports. The wave was about head high and broke for a few hundred yards. It was one of the longest waves I have yet to see.

And its only going to get better. One of the locals on the beach basically told us to move to a closer hotel for the next few days as the waves are suppose to get good!!! After shooting most of the morning I got out for a couple small waves. The guys got it good earlier!

We headed back to the resort for a great lunch and a quick kite session. I relaxed by the pool and took a couple pictures. I then relaxed for a while until dinner, the sunset and a fun bonfire!

2009 Peru Trip Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10.