This week’s excursion was to Encuentro, a world famous surfing beach tucked in between farms and open spaces along the north shore of the DR. For now it has been spared the development of nearby beaches and this gives it a totally different vibe than the bays of Sosua and Cabarete.
Though famous for surfing, there is also a trapeze school, skate park and a couple of local artists selling their goods. There aren’t any houses on this stretch of the beach and so those who aren’t surfers enjoy long walks along the uninterrupted shoreline.
It’s extensive reefs reach all the way to the shoreline, and the shape of these reefs and the shoreline produce some excellent waves. Because of the steeper incline of the beach, the changing tides are more evident. Wind, rain and swell all affect the conditions here, and quite dramatically. For these reasons, we brought the Mariposas here to discuss “the motion of the ocean”.
While I spent time talking about tides, currents and storms, it was really Ryan and Alex who were the stars of the show today. Both are avid surfers, and they asked the girls why surfers needed to monitor the tides and weather, and how those things determined whether or not it was going to be a good day for their sport. Few of the girls have ever been surfing (and those that have only experienced it through Mariposa’s programs) but many want to try.
I have to admit that It was tough to teach with big waves and surfers in the backdrop of our “classroom”. Those are some serious distractions! At the end of the week I realized that they are learning more and more each day, and for most, becoming more comfortable on the water, and more cognizant of ways to protect these special places.
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