Brian Swanstrom

We surfed Ollie’s point today – http://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelinfo/photoLg.asp?phID=57, then boated back to Witches Rock -http://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelinfo/photoLg.asp?phID=355.  The break at Witches Rock was huge but inconsistent. I went and sat on the main peak while my son Eric was surfing pretty far away. I looked up and saw about a 12 foot face, total barrel was coming my way. I tried to paddle through it, but just missed getting through.  It picked me and the board up and then threw me over the falls, board and all …I was like don’t hit the board or the bottom… Got stuck under water in the soup – it felt like 30 seconds of violent pounding.  Wondering if I could hold my breath and not die, it was very scary.  When I finally came up and got a breath, I looked up and another huge wave is curling to hit me again.  I went back under…mind you I am attached to the board and getting dragged. Ultimately I went up and down for about 8 to 10 waves…Witches rock has power like none other. I have never been through anything like that.  After that set, we all went back to the boat.  Even the boat owner’s son went back and was scared sh**less.  It was so bad that 5 Costa Rican locals in the water all got out after that.  We are surfing Ollie’s in the AM – Witches is supposed to be even bigger – not going out there again!