“for sure the longest [wave] I’ve ever had…can’t wait to come back” -Robby Naish
July 16, 2021
The Story Behind Robby Naish’s Costa Rica Surf Escape
Surfer Robby Naish visited Pavones, a famous destination for wave seekers.
Watch this well produced five minute video of Pavones.
“for sure the longest [wave] I’ve ever had…can’t wait to come back” -Robby Naish (La Ponderosa guest – May 2011)
Pavones is perfect for nature lovers and surfers. It is just the right place for pure relaxation or tropical adventure. Click here to see a list of local ACTIVITIES . If you are up for some tropical adventure then one of our local residents is now offering a variety guided activities. See her menu here on this page. She grew up in Canada but has lived in the area for over two decades. Her excitement and love for nature and Pavones is contagious. Tours available in English or Spanish. Prices range from $5-50 per person.
Surfing the Distance – Robby Naish Surfs Pavones, Costa Rica The most frequent question asked by guests at the hotel is… “how long can you ride a wave here?” Surfer Robby Naish and a Redbull film crew were guests at La Ponderosa in May of 2011. They used a GPS to measure the wave and produced this video of one ride. They show a map of the ride at the end of the video. This one ride lasts two minutes and fifteen seconds. The distance is over one kilometer.
Lily Mayfield has been visiting Pavones and photographing the residents, the many scenic spaces, and the local businesses for years. See the series, de Pavones on Lily’s website Lily Mayfield Photography . You can buy a book of Lily’s Pavones photography. Just click this link (available in hardback too) de Pavones by Lily Mayfield . “de Pavones” will be on display in Chicago, January 2012. de Pavones Series Artist Statement by Lily Mayfield The photographs in this series reflect my interest in the rural surfing community of Pavones, Costa Rica, a small town home to the world’s second longest wave. Even with its attraction for surfers, Pavones remains a rural community, untouched by the typical chain hotels and restaurants you might expect to find in a tourist-driven Costa Rican town with views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many reasons for its protected state: its location near the southern tip of Costa Rica, far from the capitol city of San Jose; the dirt roads into and through Pavones discourage some less adventurous travelers; its lack of connection with the modern world. Until 2008, there were no phone lines, and thus no Internet in Pavones. Due to this recent introduction of modern technology, the town is changing rapidly. My photographs of Pavones attempt to create a portrait of a place, focusing primarily on its people. I am interested in both the older locals who are a manifestation of the traditional way of life in a rural community, and the younger generation who more rapidly accept change and reflect these changes in their accessories and clothing. Through my continued visits to the community, I hope to create a document of an ever-changing rural surf town.
