Category: Travel

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.

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!