I am writing this from our over night stopover hotel in the Costa Rican capital San Jose. And jolly smart it is too!!

My bus journey to Santa Teresa leaves at 2pm (just 7 hours late then... ah well). So with time to kill, after 2 episodes of Friends (in Spanish), and a walk around San Jose's busy streets, I am now back in the shade tapping away.

The journey to Costa Rica is certainly not as easy as the overnight hop to South Africa, however as i am now nearing the end, the long journey is already becoming a distant memory.

Our first group of Riders land in San Jose on Thursday evening. I will be there to greet them and together we will head back to hotel for a few hours sleep before a bright and early bus ride down to Santa Teresa the following morning.

(For those joining me out here next week log on to the Rider Forum because i have listed a couple of ideas on how to make you journey even smoother).

Needless to say it is pretty freakin hot over here, this is a city is a world away from London (obvious but true).

I am surprisingly quite enjoying my own company, time to sit back and watch the world go by without saying anything. Not something I am used to.

Anyway just wanted to check in to say I have landed. News from South Africa is that Trip I are settling in nicely, Tim has already predicted this group of Riders to be one of the best yet!! Great to get that kind of feedback in the TTRide HQ because it means we are getting the TTRide Rider Recruitment right.

Bus delay for me means that i won't be in the water until first light tomorrow morrning. We are 6 hours behind over here so when you are just thinking about what to have for lunch tomorrow, spare a thought for me sprinting into what is forecast to be some pretty perfect surf to start off my day in Costa Rica!! (couldn't help myself)

Adios Amigos


W

Having stood in the arrivals area of San Jose airport for 3 hours waiting for our first group of TTRide Costa Rica Riders to arrive, I am happy to say that they have all finally made it.

We are now at Hotel Los Volcanes where we will spend the night before catching an early bus over to Santa Teresa in the morning. It is from here on in that the adventure truly begins.

First thing will be settle the group into their accommodation and give them their brand new super cool cruiser bikes. George is in charge of tomorrow evening’s welcome BBQ which he has spent the day meticulously planning this great responsibility from his hammock.

Saturday morning will be about cycling around Santa Teresa orientating the group to their surroundings. The first official surf lesson will be in the afternoon leaving just a sunset beer on the beach for Saturday’s agenda.

It will be more of the same on Sunday. Monday will start off with the first of 4 yoga classes which is sure to stretch out any lasting memories of British winter. The surf for Monday is looking really good and we have lesson 2 scheduled for the afternoon.

Tuesday is Canopy tour day. This involves swinging through the trees on harnesses which as well as being quite a thrill, is also a fantastic way to see a tropical rainforest and its inhabitants.

Wednesday has a 6.30am surf lesson scheduled in, by this stage the group will be into the early morning wake ups. 6.00am is a great time to be on the beach as the sun hasn’t sent the temperature above 30 degrees by then and there is not a breath of wind. Wednesday afternoon has the first Spanish class with Veronica booked in (I am especially looking forward to that because my Spanish is not great).

Thursday morning will be spent at the local school where the group are eagerly anticipated by both the students and the teachers.

Friday has a surf lesson in the morning with the afternoon agenda yet to be confirmed until Wednesday when we will have a clearer surf forecast.

With the weekends being for Riders to spend as they please, Friday night will be undoubtedly be spent at the local night club.

So we have a busy and exciting week 1 of TTRide Costa Rica ahead of us. The next update will be once we are all settled in, fully acclimatised and happily living the dream.

Thanks for reading,

W

Having arrived in Santa Teresa in time for lunch on friday, it is now Sunday and the trip is well underway.

With this being the first TTRide Costa Rica adventure we have a select group of Riders with us to sample this new and exciting TTRide Surf Adventure Course. It is great to be at the start of something new, especially when all the signs of Costa Rica point towards this adventure already being a fantastic success.

The welcome BBQ took place on the beach in front of one of the best sunsets I can ever remember. George bought some fresh prawns and I sorted the refreshments and the evening will go down in my memory as one of my favourite trip leading experiences since the very beginning of Ticket to Ride.

Saturday morning was about orientating the group to their new home, showing them all the best cafes and bars aswell as the bank, the doctor, and all the other hidden little secrets in Santa Teresa. Surf lesson number 1 took place in the afternoon and the everybody stood up. We have the photos to prove it!!

It was then all about a quick turnaround, to get showered and changed, buy some beers and head back to the beach for sunset number 2 and then back for sushi night at the Funkey Monkey (home for the next few weeks).

Sunday morning has been a pretty relaxed affair, time for the guys to head into town on their shiny new cruiser bikes, stock up on supplies before surf lesson number 2 this afternoon.

So it is finally all unfolding, George and I are already excited about the potential this new TTRide Course has in store. We have a great group, the sun is shining and so as the saying goes, it's happy days in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!!!

Will and George

Costa Rica, the rich coast. When I’m out surfing my view from the water is just that, lush green palm trees fringing the whole length of the beach met by the squeaky white sand lapped by the turquoise Pacific Ocean. The tropics at it’s best. To surf in board shorts at 7 am with a puffing off shore is heaven.

I’ve been coming here since 1992 and have seen many changes, some good some bad. Nevertheless, the Costa Ricans seem to have juggled the inevitable need for building tourism infrastructure with directing a whole chunk to Eco tourism, by so doing, they have managed too kill 2 birds with one stone.

Surfing is a great part of that tourism industry, the waves here cater to all levels and ages, the water’s warm the locals friendly. You will still find the total empty line-ups if you go off the beaten track.

I’ve been based here now for 5 years running the surf school and getting involved in the contest scene as a judge and coach. I’m at home here. I’m also in the privileged position to share my knowledge with this first group of Riders on the very first TTRide Costa Rica experience that is already 1 week in with 5 more to come.
I’ve been really impressed by their zeal and keenness to progress. Anna, Luke and Toby are going to be really fun to teach.

With everyone in the group at the start of their surfing journey we’ve started with the basics, working on perfecting the pop up and stance, we have also covered acceleration and control on the wave and yesterday we finished off with some good turns. We’re still working in the white water to allow them to build their confidence before we head out to the back and the unbroken waves next week. I have no doubt they will make me proud.

Next update will be on Tuesday (remember we are 6 hours behind frosty GMT) and with a weekend of even more surf and sunshine, we are all set out here.

George and Will

The 3 intrepid amigos have been surfing through many a sunset, and continue to take to the sport like ducks to water. Lukas, Toby and Anna all now have their own boards which is a very exciting time for any new surfer!

We have moved to the second phase of the coaching with the lessons all being held out the back "beyond the breakers" in the green faces, which is a great step for them all and shows how well their progressing. We`ve been working on angled take offs which has enabled them all to "trim" across the face of the wave.

When not surfing the Riders have been attending Spanish lessons and relaxing and stretching in the Yoga lessons in the palm trees by the beach, its such a slow and peaceful pace of life out here, and none of them have seemed to have much trouble adapting!

Will left us this week on his way back to London and the chill. We were all very sorry to see him go but he will be replaced by Linley who`ll be out here in 10 days.

All good here.

George