The early morning surf is one of life’s most pleasing dichotomies. The wondering whether it’s all worth it when your alarm buzzes in the darkness seems ridiculous an hour later as you pull into a warm pacific barrel, with just you and your friends.

This morning I met the other Surf Simply coaches, Harry, Kerianne, Jessie and Oli, just after 5am and when we got to the beach there were turtles hatching just as the sun popped it’s head over the horizon.

Luckily Laura, Surf Simply’s tirelessly accommodating photographer, had agreed to being dragged from the comfort of her bed to capture the goings on as we live through the start of yet another of the good old days.

The Surf Simply coaches focusing on work related research from the moment they wake up: (top to bottom) Jessie, Oli, Ru Harry & Kerianne.

We didn’t know it was one of the all time great Surf Simply sessions when we paddled out on the morning of Friday, December 23rd. It was the last day for all our guests, many of whom had been complete beginners only 7 days earlier.

Returning guest, Liz didn’t let a little thing like being pregnant stop her from charging into this bomb

All the coaches were in good spirits having already had a sunrise birthday surf with me. As the years tick by I am inspired by two people: Kelly Slater who has shown us that you can peak in your forties; and Lulu, our resident muffin maker, who has one upped him by peaking in her sixties.

Returning guest Keith had spent a few months stretching and swim training since his last visit and it certainly paid off.

The swell was peaking just as we all paddled out and the nice long lulls meant that everybody was out the back pretty quickly watching the sets roll by with excitement and a touch of trepidation…

7 days previously Curry, a softly spoken doctor, had arrived at Surf Simply and said “I have zero surf experience but committed to learn and enjoy.”

14 year old Emma, another complete beginner a week earlier, was a bit too surprised to remember to stand up on her first wave.

Laura is cutting together all the footage so keep an eye on Facebook for video from the session and the post maelstrom interviews.

We’re really stoked to be able to say that the Surf Simply online store is now open. Just in time for Christmas. Just go to www.CafePress.com/SurfSimply and you can buy everything the discerning Surf Simply guest could possibly desire. Well perhaps not everything, but you can buy T-shirts, hoodies and hats as well as iPad cases, iPhone covers, mugs, boxers and bags!

So if you are concerned about the fact that you have too much money and not enough awesome Surf Simply paraphernalia then don’t panic.

So apparently some people go on vacation and do things other than surf. Personally I visited a few of the world’s wonders and I do find them amazing, sometimes for as long as an hour or two, but then in my opinion, it’s nice to get in the ocean.

As a result of this slightly blinkered surf centric approach to travel, I’m sure I’ve missed out on a few things which you might not want to. So if the idea of seeing a bit more of Costa Rica does appeal to you then I would suggest getting in touch with Matteo and Meranda at Out Of Bounds in San Jose.

Left: the hot springs at La Fortuna, right: Out Of Bounds B&B in San Jose.

Our door sports enthusiast and San Jose local, Matteo and his lovely Canadian wife, Meranda have not only set up a charming and homely little B&B in the nice part of San Jose, but they will also arrange tours for you to the cloud forest, the volcano and the hot springs of La Fortuna, among other things. So drop them a line if you fancy adding on a few days to your next trip to Costa Rica and seeing a bit more of what makes Costa Rica such an awesome place to visit.

Left: the could forest at Monte Verde, right: the volcano at Arenales.

Occupy Indo! Everyone seems to be occupying places these days to champion their cause. Our cause is the enthusiastic surfing of perfectly peeling waves in warm, crystal clear water and so as part of the new Surf Simply World Wide project, we’re inviting you to join us occupying a luxury resort in The Mentawai Islands, Indonesia in May 2012.

The most fun wave in the world? Macaronis.

As we now have so many guests returning to stay with us in Nosara on a regular basis, we decided it would be fun to offer trips to some of the world’s other great surf destinations. Hence the birth of the Surf Simply World Wide project. We started with France in October 2011, which was such a success that we’re already booked up for France 2012. We had so much fun that we thought a bonus trip was in order and so Surf Simply have booked out the whole of the world famous resort at Macaronis from May 8th until May 17th …for you. The value of this trip is priceless, although if you had to put a number on it, it would be $3973.

Macaronis by air (left) and the resort’s rooms (right).

We’ll rendez-vouz in Padang, Indonesia, on the Island of Samatra (most flights from the States go to Singapore or Kuala Lumpar and then you can get a connection to Padang). We’ll stay the first night at the 4 Star Mercure Hotel in Padang. The next morning we’ll take a sea plane to North Pagai Island to stay at the newly remodeled Macaroni’s Resort, where we’ll be using the resort’s 6 (yes 6!) private boats to take us to any surf break we like, whenever we like. Harry, Kerianne and Ru will be video coaching throughout the week and surfing along side you too.

Ru enjoying some downtime in Indo last year

For your sore muscles, there’ll be massages for all at the resorts new spa and Kerianne will be teaching daily yoga classes for any takers too. Of course in between surfing perfect waves, you can lounge in the lagoon style swimming pool, go snorkeling, fishing, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding, as we have exclusive access to all equipment and resort facilities.

You know you want to…

At the end of the 7 nights, the sea plane will fly us back to Padang where we’ll stay one more night at the Mercure, before heading our separate ways knowing that by occupying Indonesia, we made the world a better place.