Hi Folks this is your friendly American expatriate that some of y'all met this past February at the US worlds qualifying rounds in Oceanside
Joe I am still expecting you to give my "ars" a call once you get to Florence-- i might even have a place for you and your wife to stay for free
I just came back from 5 days surfing SOMO with former 2013 world champion Ruben Gutierrez-- one on one lessons what an experience. I just found out that I was doing so many things wrong that I cant count them all. A true learning experience
What type wave is SOMO?? Somo gets fantastic wave action from September through October and onwards into winter--
this is NOT the Atlantic this is the Cantabrian sea
The
Cantabrian sea faces North West and gets all those North Atlantic Huricane spinning out from Canada back towards Europe....and winter storm DEEP FETCH swells Especially the Irish sea storms
The closest airport is actually Santander well serviced from Madrid International main airport-- its just literally a 35 minute short flight from Madrid (
small LearJet style planes boards could be a problem) or if you prefer a three and a half hour car ride from Madrid in a beautiful mountain setting that gives way to very green hills
Somo is located North across the river mouth from Santander -- a 25 minute boat ride from down town to town center, or a 40 minute car ride across the bay. Somo is a very small village that fills to the brim in summer time from all European surfers that are trying to get summer swell. Somo is the birthplace of Spanish surfing and Fiochi -- yes Jesus a very good kneelo (see him on legless TV)-- his father claims to be the first Spanish surfer ever. Check this out folks.
http://tiempo.fiochi.com/indice.php#
The beach we are talking about is at least 1 and a 1/2 miles long, and the contest should be taking place right in front of the Surf Club house-- nice and fancy one might I say- never seen this set up in the USA-- other web cam sight to click on and see what's up-------
http://www.somocam.com/. CONSIDER 9 time zones ahead of California so if you see darkness try again during
our daylight hours
When I was there the waves ranged from almost flat to overhead. Overhead kicks some royal "ars" and it actually turned out a bit too much for my 59yrs of age and way out of shape from surfing Mediterranean "Whale Farts" -- There are various breaks along the mile and a half stretch but they are all sand bottoms NO rocks and or reefs- JUST SAND BARS- There are two Islands in front of the river mouth and Somo bay that shade out bigger swell for the beginners. If and when there is wind it eventually tends to die out by afternoon -- this area of Spain is far more exposed then Biarritz and far less populated by surfers
For all of your travelers wanting to move on to Biarritz you are facing a 3/4 hour car ride through the Basque area with dozens of uncrowded surf breaks to explore. For all you "spiritual/religious" surfers the world renown Camino de Santiago de Compostela actually takes you through this area
Surprisingly enough there are quite a few kneelos between Somo and the French Biarritz and Hossegor area. If you need cheap accomodations check out the. OSTERIA de Somo hotel facility in the main street of Somo -- plenty more surf houses and apartments at very reasonable prices
Water temperatures require at 3/2 mm wetsuit
These is my contribution -- if you are not tired of reading and want to know more let the knee rider know
