(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

The fast breaking waves keep you on your toes. Unknown making his calculations.

fat wave. I pearled, as this was becoming something for me to do (I guess) during this trip, and proceeded to have the velcro on my leash easily ripped off. The fifteen minute paddle out on my 10'3" log turned into a fairly fast swim/body surf back to shore. I paddled back out and repeated wiping out for about an hour an a half. I must have at that point had enough and began to catch every wave taking them all the way to the beach, kicking out then paddling back out. This lasted for some time as the few people who were out in the line up all left, leaving me to feast.

After six days of surfing, paddling miles I'm sure, my body was done. My left shoulder

and elbow were screaming for rest popping at every opportunity. I usually surf spots where the paddle is long but not hard. Here in Dominican Republic the paddle is hard and long. When I go on surf trips I employ my philosophy of surf smart and don't over work yourself if you don't have too. Once again, here in Dominican Republic no matter how smart I was hoping to be I still got a work out. A big one at that.

Since I stayed local and didn't explore further than the nearby spots to where Antonio drove us too I can't say how many world class waves exist on the country's north coast. After doing a closer look >

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