Author: Bryan Elkus

Well after making it to Lima it was a couple hour flight to the next airport. Luckily the flight was not to packed as it was a 4am flight. I got to stretch out and I was out cold until we landed. We arrived before dawn in the smallest airport I had even seen. We then loaded up the 3 trucks for all 14 people plus gear and headed on the road for another 2-3 hours. We made it to our home camp around 9am.

The first thing we did was dig through our bags to find a board and fins. We built up our boards and ran down the beach for about 5 minutes to the break. The wave was small fun but packed as it is the weekend. I scored a couple fun waves then had enough of the crowd and headed back to the resort to relax. There are open rooms with beds and cool bathrooms, a killer pool and even more amazing view. Just about the time I got back the wind started to pick up. I had lunch with some of the crew then we rigged up the kiting gear and it was time for session number 2.

We rode right out front of the resort until sunset. It was a blast though relatively flat with a smaller set wave coming in every now and again. It was still a very fun session, which everyone was more than excited to take. I rode Slezy’s new 2010 Havoc and a Stretch F4 surfboard for a while then got out the camera. For my last session I rode sam’s 2010 Cult and 6’0 surfboard. I really enjoyed the kite and board a lot. I thought the ktie was a great improvement upon last years.

We cleaned up and relaxed before an amazing tuna dinner. The food has been absolutely amazing down here. There was a great sunset to cap off the first day in Peru.

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

What’s the best way to start out a trip to Peru on the REAL PERU Trip on your birthday? A 9-hour drive to Newark, NJ of course! I have only briefly looked at a map but I’m pretty sure that Peru is in the other direction. I did however have a great morning, getting some work done early then headed out with Dre, Brandon, Ryan and Brian for a session on the corrugated drainage pipe I had been shooting the previous two days.

This is the first time I’ve looked at a trip for surfing first and kiting second. We all seem to be on a surfing mission lately. Now with the chance to surf and kite some amazing waves it going to be a great time.

After waking up in the van from an all night drive to NJ we get a call from one of the clients traveling with us telling us that there is an embargo on surfboards and they wouldn’t let them on.

EMBARGO IN EFFECT
No surfboards allowed on Continental flights to Latin America from June 4, 2009 through August 20, 2009. Embargo also in force during Christmas and Easter.

So one could imagine the frustration in the air. Is the trip cancled? Where else can we go surf? We hopped into the REAL heli-van and headed the last 2 hours to the airport. Everyone on iPhones, cells and laptops trying to get things to work.

After waiting in the no standing zone for approximately an hour and a half re-packing every bag we brought trip some how talked in circles enough to get all of our bags on the flight. After all that work sitting on a plane for some 7-8 hours didn’t seem too enjoyable with a computer battery that only last 2 on a good day. That’s when all the traveling and worrying from the last day came out there was a sticker on the tray in the seat in front of me alerting me that the plane had ac power hurry! See you in Lima…

Made it to Lima safe and with all our bags. We had to go through customs and go through re checking in all our bags. It was a bit of a hassle but we made it through. We now have a 4 hour layover then a flight north then a couple hour drive to the place where we are staying. We should be there in time for a late AM surf!