Surf Nicaragua... well I'm trying. Worst season I can remember but it has to get better, can't get much worse.

Dale Dagger is Nicasurf... Well, not so much anymore.

I'm still dale dagger and I'm still involved in Nicasurf.com but I've retired from the surf tour game and I'm reviewing my options and liking what I see.

The last post on this blog was written five years ago in frustration. I started the whole surf tour game here. We lived aboard a boat the 36 foot Tonga. We owned the place. If you showed up at the airport with surfboards you were most likely going surfing Nicaragua with me. Then JJ opened a surfcamp. I aways tried to NOT call myself a surf camp cause we didn't do any camping. He was followed by Lance and together they brought the magazines into the mix.

Pretty soon we actually had several "surfcamps" in Nicaragua. Hell one guy even named himself Nicasurf International. But they weren't surf camps. This is what a surfcamp looks like.

I was running the boat, booking the tours, answering e-mails and washing the dishes. It just got to be too much. I had to give up running the boats and surfing everyday. Actually it happened all at once. I had three girls working aboard the Masayita and I let them have a few days without me while I sorted out various logistic problems. When I came back aboard I could sense the guests were less than thrilled to have me back. Thus the beginning of the end of my surfing everyday and the day the lightbulb went on saying women can run this thing better than I do!

I was looking for the exit and it took me years to find it. Kassidy showed up on my doorstep a few years ago and everything she touched turned to gold. Good thing for me and my future sex life we didn't have "that" kind of relationship. She put together a group of people and bought the surftour operation from me. I'm still involved to the extent that I still employ the skilled guys who can fix stuff that goes wrong and I still can tell a story or two.

I just got back from a 14 day surf trip to Isla Madalena in Baja California. While i was away we had the biggest swell of the year but in Mag Bay we had four to six foot really fun rippable point surf with just a few friends out.

Ken Ross rents the entire camp every year and invited just a select few friends. This year I got lucky and got invited. Best thing I did surf wise all year.

On the work front I'm building a storeroom, bathroom and kitchen set up for my beachfront property in Gigante. Wait and see, Gigante will be a big deal in a few years. Just too cool a place to fail. The new building will serve as kitchen and bathroom for the little surf shacks I plan to build around it.

Actually I'm looking forward to the real rainy season this October and November. Everybody closes and the tourists go home and maybe I'm just contrarian but it can't rain too much more. I bet we have great November.

Have any of you seen the new improved look of the condo overlooking Colorado? Here it is with a feature wall and Achiner photos on the wall. This baby is renting for $150 a day and it sleeps up to five. Walk across the putting green to surf Rio Colorado. ( the river rights are all time this time of year and the other end of the beach gets all the surfers)

Write me and stay in touch. Some of you have been following my ramblings for over a decade now, too late to turn back. Anybody on a budget and still want to squeeze in a surf trip? I got you covered.

write me at

daledagger at gmail dot com and stay i the nicasurf loop

dd

one last surf shot from Baja

Ken Ross, thanks again!

all surf photos by Clark Mc Pherson

Rain and Rain and then some more rain.

It's been raining and blowing on-shore since Sept 22.
Be glad your not here.
We have had more rain that we got six years ago during Hurricane Mitch and that was plenty. It's been hard on the dog. He hates the water but does not want to get left behind on any adventure so he's been hanging out under the truck.

Ok so you want some good news?
The new surf lodge in Bahia Gigante is nearing completion. Here is a recent shot



Big time up grade and we are going to be having things.
In house Internet
Air Conditioning for those who want it
Hot water showers in five bathrooms!
On the beach shady hammocks
Home theater system with popcorn and DVD collection
We are upgrading the bar b que situation so look for fresh grilled catch of the day

We are adding another Nicaragua fisherman to the payroll. His name is Rafael and his wife and he own the Gavoita Restaurant next door to the new surf lodge. Rafa is going to address our past problems with responsibility and promptness. Rafa does not drink so look for a huge upgrade in service and maintenance. Zack will still be in the mix but he will be working with Rafa, hopefully we can keep fishing gear on the boats and the boats above water all thought the next season.

Back by popular demand will be Ashton the fashion prince of Cleveland Ohio. He did such a great job he is coming back in a paid position this season. Also back will be the lovely Nicole who will run the resos and continue to brighten the surf tours in Sjds with her smiley presence.
Sad to report we lost Ian to a fat cat corner office expense account position with a Portland law firm.
Ezera will be heading up the New Housing division of Pueblo Gigante. Early pioneers Jim and Ron Stanford are building a house overlooking Bahia Gigante and Ezera is strapping on the nail bags and going to work.

Look for me to be around more. The real estate game is playing out and I am going to get to return to my core business and love surfing. My new little house is also nearing completion and we will have internet in Gigante so I can spend more time out there.

Lots of new faces in the line-up now and most of them have very different business models than I. When I got here I tried to hide the fact that there was surf in Nicaragua. I was very low sheen and lived small. The new model looks like the Southern California Pro Surfing Cooperate scene I came here to avoid. Every body is on the hustle and going pro. I on the other hand am trying to get back to the land and to the roots.
I have to comment here on the NicaraguaSurfReport. As much as I disagree with the idea of published information about surfing in Nicaragua, Bryan has found a huge audience and lots of people are viewing his site daily. I think he is going to do greater things in the future. I'm sure with his good close contacts with the local community he is also going to help his guys alot. I'm a little disappointed he didn't come to us for a little help with the Dirty Sanchez. Rene and the boys are really good at fixing boats and could have taught his crew.

Ok, enough..... though this is just how I feel sometimes

As it turns out the guy in front is media star Garrett McNamara who got worked, going home with a Teahupoo Tatoo while the deep guy, Doug Young, made it unscathed.
I will continue to be who I am and not become all grumpy behind the influx of the new guys. I'll continue to be loyal to my core beliefs of sharing the stoke and living a good clean sharing lifestyle.
Hope you stay with us and we will see you next season.

We have done a terrible job of harvesting your e-mails so will you group leaders please get back to me with e-mail address of your guys.
And look for a new pricing program to show our appreciation for you lead guys.
for more information on our projects in Gigante check out my blog at

http://nicaragualife.blogspot.com