October 10th, 2017

Somewhere in Nicaragua

Javier (aka Baldo) scoping out the scene. As many of you already know, Baldo is one of our esteemed photogs among many other things he does here. His families home was flooded by tropical storm Nate and is still without power. He’s been out helping everyone in the community every day while his own personal home is taking a backseat. This hombre had a well deserved surf today, for sure!

Its not all peaches and apple pie. Here you can see how much of the sand has been eroded and washed out to sea.

Here’s a better pulled back example so you can see the magnitude of how much sand was displace by the storm. That’s A LOT of sand missing. So you know what that means. Yup – Sand bars!!!

HotStickHannah’s was another vital key player in a lot of the stuff getting down the past week. Al igual que Baldo, this hombre had a well deserved surf today, for sure!

Javi was out there and styling right away. Did I mention the waves were epic today?

There were a few people out and all over since there were peaks all up and down the beach.

This guy had of gotten the longest wave of the day (that I saw). This was just one of the many turns he took from his takeoff way outside.

And he felt it too! Good wave amigo! I have that whole sequence if you’d like to see it!

Baldo was ripping on that big old log! Nice cutback on that airplane wing buddy! Careful though, Baywatch might get jealous and try to up the game!

Hmmmm… I wonder what she sees??

Ahhh, yeah there were a couple sneaker sets out there.

Anyone who was here this past week got to whiteness most likely what was a historical storm that raged through here causing most of it’s damage by flash flooding. I’m not sure if this guy was here for it, but I can tell you, one would never know just how bad it really was by looking at the waves and the water today.

Jamie and her man Adam were helping out a bunch as well. I think their truck played big role in getting supplies to people in different villages, especially since it’s 4 wheel drive and has a snorkel on it.

Shaka braddah! This is Adam. Go get some waves buddy… you guys earned it!

Baldo . . . still styling!!

The waves were kinda firing all up and down the playa today.

Ok, ok, now I get it! Butt (pun intended) for one: you can’t be jealous of that last shot, it’s just not the same and two: First you need a tan to even compete! (haha) But good try!

Adam making his way off the bottom to smack that lip on a fun little right.

It was actually really great to see two of my buddies (aka colleagues) out there enjoying themselves today. This guys really do work their asses off. So was nice to see them playing.

Paker bout to play that one game called.. um “let’s make baldo a speed bump”!

Jamie was nabbing a few of those little nuggety rights down the way as well. Go chica!!

OMG – Look what the cat brought in. For all you hard core surf report followers, who remembers this cool cat??? It’s the one and only Señor Simon! I believe one of his many NSR handles was “El Negro Bandido” back in the day! Don’t worry buddy, you’ll be back to that title in just a few surf session haha! Welcome back down Hermano, great to see you! We gotta catch up with a cold Toña at Dons!

Don Simon, like he never left the place!

Although his twin Hermano isn’t here sadly, but this tandem party wave with Adam will work for now!

Hard to believe this is October… eh? Like I said earlier in the season, October is a roll of the dice month. We got the worst storm to hit here in over a decade and now it looks like this. Go figure.. or come on down! Either way, its always exciting here!

I couldn’t go the whole report without giving some updates to the actual hard work that everyone has been doing, so here’s some images of people helping people throughout this week. Special photos thanks today to Lindsey and everyone on the Hacienda connect board and especially the entire group of “Operation Misión Posible” from Hacienda Iguana and all the helpers abroad who helped and are still helping to get these local people back on their feet.

Food rationing is very real, you want to make sure there is enough to go around for everybody. But we’re talking about hundreds of people.

It’s not like you can just jump in your car here and run to the nearest Walmart or grocery store either.

Locals from a small village standing, hoping they can get some much needed food supplies.

This is how most of the (what were) dirt roads were accessible by.

This image says a lot. Water is so essential yet so under-appreciated daily by most, but not usually for these people on any given day. Now imagine having NO WATER or access to water at all, for days, weeks even months. There isn’t an infrastructure setup here where these people will get any help. They’re all pretty much on their own. So it was up to people (all the non Nica’s) like visitors and residents (here and abroad) pulling together to get these people their essential water among many other things.

I hear we’re supposed to be receiving (hopefully) in the hundreds of water filters soon. My amigo standing next to GOLD, or even better!!

That’s it for today amigos! Thanks for following the story down here. If you are wanting or know anyone wanting to help in any way, please do so by donating to this Go Fund Me :www.gofundme.com/n2674c-nicaragua-emergency-flood-reliefEvery penny of your financial support will go to local families in the Tola area affected by the storm. We are overwhelmed by the support so far and want to send a huge thankful shout out to all who have already donated.