Surfing In Argentina ...

Hey guys. Here are some pics of Chapadmalal, Argentina... not much surf info on AR here so let this be the thread. Chapa is a 5 hour bus ride from Buenos Aires; the bus ticket was a gamble but man did I score. Three days of swell varying between 3 feet at 11 seconds and 2' at 9. Sheet glass or stiff offshores. These shots are all from the third day, as the swell died out and the sun went away. They don't do it justice but you get the idea...



This third day of swell was the weakest, and looked rather disappointing from the cliff, as the ocean was machine-like in it's previous production. But the spot was better up close, as the tide drained out.



Worked out to be another great all-day session; the 6/5/4 and three weeks without surfing had me quite sore, but by the third day, the swell was clean easy fun.




Down the coast, further offshore, was this right- breaking excellently on the bigger days. I had already walked over a mile to this spot, and a couple shredders were on it, so I didn't make the trek. Maybe I'll catch it on the next swell...



Can't recommend Argentina enough, as a travel destination in it's own. It's a vast and amazing country, with waves and seasons not entirely unlike the East Coast of the US. With any luck, I'll have some better posts for this thread in the month to come...

If you want to check out Chapadmalal, look up Steve, the owner and shaper of Conosur (http://www.tablasconosur.com/contacto.php). Good dude, and he can provide you with what you need, whether it be info, equipment, or accommodations.

 

Yeah... last year I drove around the country for almost a month, with a side venture into Chile. Epic road trip.

As far as the beef, pizza, and pasta go, the food is amazing. Even the best restaurants will set you back just $20 USD a plate.

Spicy or ethnic food, however, is all but absent. And the veggies ... Argentine salad technology is like their doorknob, window, and napkin technology- development ceased approximately one century ago.

 

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Someones gotta feed the stoke meter! Uruguayan surf trips before international ball games ... Dude what happens if you injure yourself surfing before a match?

I've always wanted to surf Uruguay too, but I'll be looking for the cheapest waves possible, so I doubt I'll venture North. If the GF goes back to Montevideo, I will push HARD for a Punta del Este surf jaunt- if the swell's going to be there.

Isn't that always the hardest part of planning with women? How the f*ck do you know if there's gonna be waves when you make some asinine future commitment with them? And how can you commit to a surfable destination unless there's a high chance of scoring? They just don't get it. The ocean doesn't work for us... just with us, when we have the privilege.

As far as the babes go, Buenos Aires has some beautiful people here and there; the standouts are shocking, but not common. It's rather homogenous racially. If you can afford/tolerate the right places, it could be great, I suppose, but I feel like you get more of that Latin vibe outside of the city. For the record my girlfriend is a beautiful and intelligent German import. I do not understand attraction to any other women. For the record.

Nah man, it wasn't that cold. But I spend my $ on experience, not equipment, so my choices are between a tattered old Hyperflex '4/3' or the winter suit. Last time I was in this part of Argentina I was camping, and it snowed, so it made sense to bring the winter gear. It was like a chilly, late fall day in the NE. Everything depended on the sun and how many you took on the head.