(02/04) PUNT OF THE YEAR: JANUARY FINALISTS
Vote to help choose this month's winner

(02/03) READING FOR SURFERS
Slater, Gudauskas, Lopez and more share what's on their bookshelves

(02/02) THE REAL HAWAII
Back-to-back XXL swells ignite Jaws, Waimea, Pipeline

(02/01) JOHN JOHN FLORENCE WINS VOLCOM PIPE PRO
Pipeline local repeats over JOB with final second heroics

(02/01) GOOD-EPIC: PIPELINE
Flawless Pipeline during the Volcom Pipe Pro

(01/31) GEAR REVIEW: HIGH-TECH BACKYARD SHAPING PROJECT
Part III: The finished product and the test drive of our DIY surfboard

(01/31) VOLCOM PIPE PRO: DAY THREE
Giant Pipeline serves up perfect 10s -- and brutal beatings

(01/30) MIDWINTER UPDATE
January ends with a couple bangs and great conditions in California -- with more on the way

(01/30) SHANE DORIAN'S KEIKI CLASSIC
Local groms strut their stuff at the Big Island's feel-good event of the year

(01/29) VOLCOM PIPE PRO: DAY TWO
Moments of perfection highlight Round Two shakedown at the Banzai

Moto conches - Arriva, arriva! Dominican Republic's favorite source of transportation and then some.

Sharks love murk. All the stories I heard, told of "no worries" on the landlords. As the natural world of Dominican Republic is the beauty, the beast would have to be the moto conches. Moto conches, you ask? It's a guy driving around town on a little motorcycle giving people, primarily tourists, rides from one end to the other for about US$1.50 equivalent. And it's not just one guy, it's a whole mafia. If you employ the use of one of these guys make sure to keep your knees in. I did and all was ok. One more thing, hold your breath. The pollution from all the vehicles is probably one of the most deadliest things encountered here. Something interesting happens with the moto conche mafia. When leaving the bars at night the mild mannered drivers offering friendly rides

turn into crazed drug dealers. What ever you want weed, cocaine, crack is offered repeatedly. I employed the "ignore them" technique and it worked well, but hey I'm a big dude and that helps too. Remember when walking back from a bar/s at night don't let the whores reach into your pockets or take your watch. Drinking and walking in Cabarete after hours is an act best played on your toes, no doubt.

I met a fun group of people the second night during dinner, since my place included breakfast and dinner in the US$40 per night bungalow cost. The outdoor, palm thatched roof dining area featured squeeze your own orange juice for breakfast as well as daily breakfast and dinner specials. After everyone fell >

What makes a good surf trip? Finding euphoria or something like it in the Dominican Republic