From Surf Trip to Surf Life: Guests Who Made Tamarindo Home with photographer Kristen M. Brown
Solo Surf Trip to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp
Over a decade ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to learn how to surf, which then led to me taking a solo surf trip on a whim to Costa Rica to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. I had just started taking surf lessons during the weekends in Rockaway, a surf break in New York City, and the idea of a vacation that was all about surfing, plus Witch’s Rock making it super easy from the moment you arrived in CR from pickup at the airport, a whole quiver of available surfboards, surf lessons + surf tours to multiple surf breaks, plus safe accommodations as a solo female traveler, had me sold.
The whole week it rained pretty consistently, but it didn’t matter – we were out in the water surfing, and I easily connected with the other guests at WRSC. We had a blast in and out of the water, and several of those guests became surf amigos. In fact, several of us decided to book a surf trip back to WRSC three months later!
Meeting Robert August
During that second surf trip is where I connected with surfing legend Robert August, who was shaping surfboards at WRSC. We got to talking, and he planted the seed that I should swap my corporate heels in NYC for a surfboard in Costa Rica. Nine months later, a year after that first surf trip to WRSC, I landed back in Tamarindo, this time to live there and work for Robert! Kinda crazy, but something inside of me said to take a leap of faith with this lifestyle change!
If you’ve ever met Robert August, you know that he is a character – working for him there was always something different, and the best part is that he’d stop me in the middle of working and tell me to go surf! When I arrived in Tamarindo, I knew how to catch waves on my own, and having easy access to Tamarindo’s gentler and consistent waves helped me to progress quickly as a surfer. And then there was the regular Tamarindo surf crew cheering me on and giving me tips out in the water that also helped me to improve. Every day I looked forward to meeting up with my new surf amigos in the water! Tamarindo is a great place to surf because as long as you know the rules of surfing and surf etiquette, the vibe in the water is all about having fun.
Want to dive deeper into Kristen’s journey?
Check out our Get Out and Surf Podcast
– Episode 26 where she shares even more stories about her surf life, Robert August, photography, and connection to Tamarindo
From Surfing to Photography
In addition to honing my surfing skills, experiencing the most breathtaking sunsets in what I like to call “pura vida-dise” (the words “pura vida” and “paradise” combined), inspired me to pick up my camera and photograph the natural beauty here in Tamarindo. And that’s where my start of pursuing photography started – those sunsets inspired me to consistently pick up my camera to capture the beauty every day. I’d share my sunset photos on Instagram (back when IG was good ole IG!), and through sharing, that gave me the confidence to make my sunset photos into postcards to sell in stores in town (Tamarindo) after Robert moved back to California.
The postcards instantly were a hit, which gave me further confidence to keep pursuing photography, and I’m so grateful to say that I’ve been a professional, full time photographer for almost 10 years now!
Slice of Pura Vida-dise
Last year, after dreaming of doing a Costa Rica coffee table book with my landscape photography, I took another leap of faith and decided to create and self-publish a photography book called Slice of Pura Vida-dise. I still can’t believe that this time last year I was finalizing the design details of the book, and now the book is real as it was released in March!
Slice of Pura Vida-dise is a love letter to coastal Costa Rica, taking you on a breathtaking photographic journey through this country’ captivating coastline comprising 10+ years of my work. You’ll experience a part of the laid back “pura vida” way of life Costa Rica is infamous for with over 150 awe-inspiring images of pristine beaches, jaw dropping sunsets, and the alluring surf lifestyle. This book is an ode to the magic of this spell-binding country, inviting you to get out there to discover your own slice of pura vida-dise! And I’m beyond humbled that the book has already been featured in the March 2025 issue of the popular magazine Coastal Living, recommended as a favorite beach read by publication Southern Living, and is receiving rave reviews from its readers!
“…More than just a coffee table book, it serves as a visual reminder of all the beauty and goodness still present in our world. Through her lens, she tells a beautiful story of color, nature, and culture, embracing the “pura vida” lifestyle while highlighting the breathtaking coasts and landscapes of Costa Rica. Slice of Pura Vida-dise is a visual invitation to experience a way of life that values simplicity, nature, and joy – it’s truly a must have.”
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