by kim guerra
CHICABRAVA
SAN JAUN DEL SUR,
NICARAGUA
www.chicabrava.com
713.893.5261
Hop on a flight out of George Bush International and a mere 3 hours later you will land in Managua, Nicaragua Two hours later, you could find yourself in the bluest water you have ever seen attempting to surf!
For the adventurous ladies out there, Chicabrava Surf Nicaragua is for you! Founded by Ashley
Blaylock, an attorney from Houston, she fell in love with the sand & surf in Nicaragua in 2003. Empowered by her newfound passion, she decided to create a place where other women could come to embrace their inner power and become the best selves they can be through surfing. This vision has helped her to reshape countless women’s lives through focus and friendship, triumph and tears.
It truly is a place where the real world seems to slip away for a minute and allows you to stop, take a breath and regroup. The peace and joy found there is priceless.
Packing tips:
• Make sure you bring a few hundred in cash (US dollars are fine) for tips & trinkets
• Pack a few bathing suits – make sure they are suited for surfing and have a snug fit
• Make sure to pack a rash guard and wetsuit if you don’t like being cold in the water
• Pack very casual clothing – not a lot of hotspots in San Juan Del Sur
• Don’t overpack – a few casual outfits will be plenty. You will spend most of your time in suit
• Leave your makeup at home – you won’t need it
• Make sure to bring a hat, that you can even wear in the water; the sun is strong
• Brings lots of water proof sunscreen; the sun is strong
• Bring a refillable water bottle, you will be drinking a LOT of water
• Bring snacks that are good for the beach; nuts and granola bars are great options
• Bring a Go Pro or waterproof camera for some once in a lifetime shots
TIP #1:
• Be sure to book your trip with a group of friends.
• This is a surf camp, and you will likely be sharing a room at the surf house.
• You want to at least have one friend to bunk with.
• They will be great motivation to stick to your guns and give it your all!
• They will also be a great witness to your accomplishments when you return home!
TIP #2:
• Book some of the extra curricular activities
• You can horseback ride, hike, take yoga classes on the beach, paddle board, shop, get a massage or a mani/pedi
• Take the time to pamper yourself a little to offset all the hard work you will put in surfing
TIP #3:
• Condition yourself before you make this trip. If you are in great shape, or surf all the time, then you will be fine. If not, then you need to work on a few key things:
1. Balance: You are going to need balance to stand up on the board, so take in a few yoga classes before you make this trip. You will be so glad that you did.
2. Upper body strength (This was the hardest part for me): You are going to need upper body strength to ‘pop up’ on the surf board and paddle out. Since you aregoing to be doing this a lot, you need to condition yourself. Push ups are a great way to condition yourself and build up your strength. Planks are also helpful. Make sure you are able to hold a plank for at least 30 seconds.
3. Swimming: Needless to say, you are going to be in the water a lot and the surf may be rough. It is always a good idea to get yourself in shape and strengthen those swimming skills just to be safe!
DIG DEEP:
• Most women who take this journey are looking for something, overcoming something or may have lost their way in their day to day lives.
• Take the time to look within and ask yourself what you want to accomplish fr
