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But with blustery conditions accompanying many of the bigger days, the small wave venues in the lee were also in fine form. Alejandro Moreda touched down from a month on Oahu just in time to launch back into space. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Not everyone forgot about his or her elfin duties. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Darren Muschett rolled up from Punta Higuera and right into a tight turn on a frothy wall. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Green Christmas hues. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Later on the afternoon of the 22nd the wind began to back off and more spots found their comfort zone. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Christmas colors of a different kind. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Tragically, on the evening of December 22nd, Luis Esteban Díaz Centeno leapt from the pier at Crashboat into a rising swell and was not seen again. The following morning a Coast Guard cutter was searching the Aguadilla Bay for his body. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Meanwhile, over on the Dominican Republic, the pride of Puerto Plata was beginning to blow up again. Photo: Nassim Abreu

This gem of a wave will make heroes of, and deliver lumps to, select members of the Dominican surf community. Let’s hope there are more heroes than lumps. Photo: Nassim Abreu

This unidentified tourist knew just where to be for thin crowds and big barrels. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

But the main bartender at this holiday keg party was Josie Graves. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Holiday keg. Drink up, sailor! Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Dylan drawing another pint from the tap. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

More searching for Luis Esteban. Later that week an unidentifiable hunk of meat washed ashore and would be tested for DNA. Vaya con Dios, Luis Estaban Díaz Centeno. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

A little wonky wind never bothers these guys, who were flying in as tight a formation as was ever seen on the Ramey Base. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Dylan Graves slotting himself in a more playful keg o’ grog. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Not about to miss an awesome day of surf during the holidays within eyeshot of her house, Liza Caban took her rightful place in the lineup. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Released from his studies in Mayagüez, Eric Torres glided through this turn almost as gracefully as the two pelicans cruising by. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Local wonderkid, Hector Santamaria, was also given a nice Christmas present, and gave right back with a wicked hack. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Through the trees Roger Torres was banking off some holiday spirit. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

A couple days after Santa came and went, Leslie Bursian found a nook in the coast with heaps of holiday potential. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

With dry rock looming Leslie was not deterred from whacking it with all his might. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

But a bottom turn can feel just as good when the waves are this perfect. Leslie cranks one down for the holidays. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

This unidentified local had his own idea of how to throw down a bottom turn. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

The Brothers Graves. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

For his second session of the day Leslie had to negotiate another dry reef entry. No sweat for a guy with his kind of talent, but worth a look-see before launching. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

There were still some kegs to be had despite a deserted lineup. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Dylan exhales through another tight reentry on a cloudy day not far from home. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

This place is just no good whatsoever. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Real surfers don’t need surfboards. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

But put one on the hands of a guy like Dylan Graves and he’ll show you how to do a textbook fins-free lip drift 360. Talk about contemporary. And, yes, he made it. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

All smiles after a session like that! Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Leslie going vert on this closeout section. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Behind those bushes Leslie Bursian is going left. Go figure. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

When you park in his yard to access the wave behind his house, Israel Ramos is nice enough to keep the sticky fingers away. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Back on Puerto Rico, Dylan Graves was also just back from Oahu and dropping into some waves that left nothing to envy of their Hawaiian counterparts. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

Later that afternoon the wind got wonky, but José Tavarez knew just where to hide from it. Photo: Steve Fitzpatrick

By the time Christmas Day came the waves were still cranking, and this as yet unidentified local cashed in for a watery gift from the surf gods. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com