ONCE IN A
BLUE MOON ESM Photo Editor Nate Adams Checks In From
Swell-Endowed Puerto Rico Story and photos by Nate Adams
As 2010 loomed and the East
Coast shivered, El Nino continued to send pumping swell throughout the
Caribbean. Spending the holidays here in Puerto Rico has been nothing short of amazing,
with great waves pouring in and good times going down. Luckily, my trip was
planned well in advance of the 20-foot-plus swell that arrived last week, lighting
up places like Wilderness where only a few dared to charge massive Atlantic
mountains, while other parts of the island also saw more manageable conditions
for the fainter of heart.
Many East Coast surfers
traveled south to escape the bitter end-of-year cold in favor of the warm,
tropical waters that the Caribbean is famous for this time of year. Felicidades or Happy Holidays has been
the vibe running throughout Isla del
Encanto, as solid swell, great weather, and an always-tranquil energy keep
the locals happy. In between nighttime fiestas and various celebrations like
the “Three Kings,” other downtime has consisted of visiting naturally beautiful
waterfalls and scenic spots like The Window, which overlooks a 600-foot drop
into a lush and fertile valley of unprecedented proportions.
With all the conditions
coming together, even the heavens participated by producing a blue moon, defined
as when two full moons occur in the same month. 2009 was the first time in 19
years that a blue moon occurred on New Year’s Eve, making this truly a season
and a swell to remember. Hopefully you enjoy what I’ve documented during my most
recent trip to what many East Coasters consider a true surfer’s paradise. Heck,
there are more waves on the way this week!
THE OLD IN-OUT
The 2009 WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented By Hurley Is Moving Ahead Like Clockwork
Along The Graveyard Of The Atlantic... Let's Hope Hurricane Season Doesn’t Dish
Out A Bit Of The Old Ultraviolence
BILL OF SALE Surf Expo Comes To Town Early With Lower-Than-Usual
Attendance Rumors And Category 4 Hurricane Bill Zooming In. Will You Blow Town To
Bro Down Or Sit Tight And Get Right?
