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Pura Vida

By: Jeff Shapiro

By KAVU

March 25^th, 2025

When I lived in Montana, I met and became friends with Ian Stokes. Ian is a passionate surfer, both in the ocean and on the rivers surrounding where we lived, and after getting to know him better, I learned that he'd spent a significant amount of time growing up in southern Costa Rica where undoubtedly, some of that passion for riding waves had been cultivated.

Fast forward to last year, and our good friends, Meira and Louie Cole (and their daughter, Jasper) had also fallen in love with that part of the world... So much so that they decided to drop some roots there. Ian had built a home with 4 surf bungalows for visiting surfers to rent called Brahman Bungalows, which made the idea of heading to Costa Rica to see the Cole's building project, Ian (and his partner Zarra's) paradise, and to catch a few warm-water waves.. kind of a no-brainer!

So, off we went!

It was super easy to see why everyone felt like this was a beautiful "home away from home". The combination of chill vibe, good people, jungle and ocean was like a deep breath of fresh, warm air!

From Brahman Bungalows... it's only a short, casual walk to the "point" to check the waves.

Surfing with Lou and Meira, Ian and Zarra, and other friends who were down south to enjoy a break from the rainy PNW winter weather, was pretty dreamy, to say the least. The ocean was like bath water and the waves were fun, fast and kept us all laughing.

Afternoon beach walks between sessions, and a nice ride on the cruisers led us to a cool nature preserve with hiking trails through the jungle. Being that most days it was steamy outside, the air-through-the-hair as we rolled down the roads, waving at friendly locals, felt pretty damn refreshing, I must say....

The diversity of plants, flowers, trees and animals in Costa Rica, like most jungles, was off the hook. There was so much to look at, to smell and hear... we had fun dodging sum beams while looking for sloths, different types of monkeys, and a huge variety of colorful birds.

Squirrel monkeys, Howlers, Toucans, huge Iguanas and species of insects that I'd never seen before made the trails seem like an endless scavenger hunt. We were all pretty stoked to explore.

Back at the casa, it was again time for the family to go for the evening surf. Having traveled and shared so much time with Meira, Louie and Jasper over the last 4 years, it's been so fun for Kara and I to see Jasper grow through these young phases of her life, and to witness their family dynamic. Meira and Lou are both solid and passionate water people, so it's only natural to see Jasper turning into a literal fish.

But probably most special is to see her comfort level be so strong in the ocean that at 4 years old, she's fast on her way to out-surf us all.

During this this trip, I had the honor and luck to be in the water for Jasper's first stand-up waves with her "old man". I was literally laughing out loud watching them ride past mom for a well-timed high five.

About as KAVU day as it gets, I'd say!

Good people, better friends..... amazing weather, and time well spent. We already can't wait to go back. Pura Vida!! Thank you Ian and Zarra! Thank you Costa Rica!!

Jeff Shapiro

KAVU Item I always travel with

Footnotes

Wearing KAVU says you're living a KAVU life. Loving that life, making the most from every lucky minute on this planet and spreading positive vibes... That's KAVU. Your choice

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FootNotes

Wearing KAVU says you're living a KAVU life. Loving that life, making the most from every lucky minute on this planet and spreading positive vibes... That's KAVU. Your choice