On The Run: Nicaragua Days Spent Chasing Waves

We were expecting some nice and clean, but kind of muddy barrels…instead we got a lot of these. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Connor Edmonds eyeing the crowd at LAX before the boarding chaos commenced. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Our hosts were incredible. Some of them had fur and coughed up hair balls. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Johnny Keen, Fletcher Sams, and Connor Edmonds taking a few minutes to check out the new surroundings on day one. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
The water was alright, I guess. Connor Edmonds on a clear morning. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Peter Smith and Fletcher Sams staying hydrated while out for a sunset surf check. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman surfs until dark…and then leaves you to walk the beach alone because he rode a bike and you didn’t. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Framed up. Mark and Dave’s didn’t disappoint. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Hunter Martinez swears he doesn’t bleach his tips. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
We really couldn’t have asked for better weather all week long. It was never too hot, not even close to cold, and we had a surplus of little almond barrels. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Each morning was the same routine: wake up, pound coffee, wait for the tide, pound more coffee, wait for the tide. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
The infamous Nicaraguan offshore winds made for some pretty awesome underwater textures. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman at the end of day one. There might be a chance that he’s stoked to be there. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Connor Edmonds mind surfing some morning drainers out in front of the house. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman talks shop with Mark and Dave’s house manager Zac Hyland before heading out one morning. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Peter Smith was all smiles all week long. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman enjoying some momentary shade on a hot one down at Playa Colorados. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Hunter Martinez off for a mid-afternoon surf check down at Playa Colorados. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Big or small, is there really anything better? Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Connor Edmonds on a clean one down at Playa Colorados. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Wet t-shirt party. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Trips like this really put things into perspective sometimes. It’s amazing to think that these incredible people often don’t have running water or electricity and that I was complaining about my iPhone this morning. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Hunter Martinez showing some American pride with his Wellen boardies as he pulls into a thick one down at Colorados. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
We had a couple stormy mornings during our week-long stay. You won’t hear any complaints from this guy. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Connor Edmonds prepping for an afternoon surf. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
It was really awesome to have videographer Nicky Keros on the trip. My first inclination isn’t always to film, so it was great to have someone along who could really focus on that aspect. I’m pretty sure that his GoPro is permanently attached to his hand. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Speed, speed, and more speed. Hunter Martinez gunning for that section on this quick little runner. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
The crowds always seem to find the best spots, but there always seem to be a few empty beauties that sneak through. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
No sunshine? No problem. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Hunter Martinez bringing a little aloha to the lineup. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Glassy mornings down at Playa Colorados. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman taking flight one night early on in the trip. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
There were a few moments during the trip where nothing really needed to be said at all. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Pangas battling those off-shores one afternoon. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman coming through the back door of a mellow little peak. Hunter Martinez with the background slash. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
“Get an above and below shot of me paddling, will you? Like all lifestyle-y, you know?” - Hunter Martinez Photo: Maxx Buchanan
I’m pretty sure things don’t get any better than this? Los Perros Point on the last day of the trip. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
A silky little closeout down at Colorados on a cloudy morning. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Most people might be super bummed about breaking the nose off of their board. Connor didn’t seem to be too affected by it. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
One of the most stoked individuals I’ve ever encountered. Here’s to you, Oscar. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Matt Hoffman was going fins free from day one. We sort of lost track of the days, but I’m pretty sure we’ll both remember this one. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Silhouetted in a Central American rain storm. Photo: Maxx Buchanan
“Wait, wait, wait… dude, I think you’re doing it wrong.” Photo: Maxx Buchanan
Viva Nicaragua. Photo: Maxx Buchanan

I’ve done my fair share of traveling in my near twenty-seven years on this planet. One thing I can tell you for sure is that when you’re traveling, nothing ever goes the way you plan it to go. Whether someone loses a bag, has a board smashed, or ends up in jail in El Salvador, little wrinkles always seem to pop up from the moment you leave your house. This trip was no different, except that nobody in our group ended up making friends in a Central American prison. At least, I don’t think they did.

Anyone who has stayed at Mark and Dave’s place in Hacienda Iguana down in Nicaragua knows that you’re going to be far from roughing it on some Central American beach. In fact, I would say that it’s entirely possible that I consumed more Toña cerveza during my weeklong stay than I did water. Vacation is vacation, people. All shenanigans aside, Zac and Kim at Mark and Dave’s took great care of us all week long and made sure that we had everything that we wanted or needed. It doesn’t hurt to have an excellent chef as one of your hosts either.

Believe it or not, we actually ventured south in order to do some surfing and when the beer wasn’t flowing the boys were out enjoying the swell that most California summers seem to lack. If you’re looking for a spot where you can go fishing with guys with pseudonyms like Captain Rob, fix your broken boat with fishing line before you get pulled into the surf, throw back some cervezas with your buddies, make a slip’n’slide out of your living room, and occasionally catch some perfectly pitching tubes, then please stay in Newport Beach. I think we want this spot for ourselves.

Thank you again to Zac and Kim at Mark and Dave’s for having us, and to Wellen Surf and Dizm Eyewear for supporting our trip. Cheers.