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One local who was happy to see the new swell arrive was Charlie Miranda, who frequented one of his favorite haunts with his usual grace and poise. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Saturday saw mostly overcast conditions, but Jacet Umbel wasn’t the least bit deterred and took to this lip with abandon. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Meanwhile, up in town, José Tavarez was dropping in late and making it look easy. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

By Saturday afternoon the sun was beginning to shine, as was one of the west coast’s premiere waves. Photo: Rachel Tanner

Later that afternoon a textbook west coast sunset unfolded with the surf still pumping. Photo: Rachel Tanner

But it was the following morning, Sunday, November 14th, that the weather cleared and the action really got hot. Over in the Dominican Republic Chilean transplant Manuel Selman was helping break the ice at this rarely surfed peak. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

You can bet Pedro Fernandez wouldn’t be left out of a session like this if he was on the island. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

A wave like this will certainly change the perception of the surf in the Dominican Republic, and this peak is only the very tip of the iceberg. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

Although the drowning of a local at this spot many years ago has kept it’s lineup mostly vacant, Zion Balbuena was charging more than most this day and stole the show. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

Zion again, taking the low road away for this wave’s axe. When things are happening here there are only a handful of people on the Dom. Rep. ready to take it on, and Zion, being from the neighborhood, is certainly one of the best. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

Anderson Valdez was another local who was happy to have some company with which to share these waves. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

Patrick is another Chilean transplant who lives in Las Terrenas. His board was broken in three pieces, and he paid dearly for the waves he caught this day. Photo: Alex Saint-Hilaire/marullos.com

Later that morning back across the Mona Passage, Stephan Bradley was fanning the fire with stylish surfing. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Montauk, NY snowbird Leif Engstrom, is back for another winter and flying like few other snowbirds can. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Locals like Ramse Morales know just where to be to reap the rewards of firing swells in their backyard. Photo: Jim Crotty/caliprsurfphotos.com

Further on up the road Maria Kuzmovich was turning on a dime and showing the boys she’s knows how to put it on a rail. Photo: Rachel Tanner

Roger Torres is quickly becoming one of Puerto Rico’s best young barrel mongers. Photo: Rachel Tanner

Way down in Barbados the swell wasn’t quite as big, but no less pretty when it arrived on the island’s west coast. Photo: Tarik Browne

Local bajan, Jake Corbin, looking somewhat like that “other” bald-headed surfer who recently spent some time in the Caribbean making history. Photo: Tarik Browne

Jake on another clean one, banking hard and loving every minute of it. Photo: Tarik Browne

Back up on Borinquen the island’s big wave venue was coming to life and beckoning all takers with perfect offshore plumes. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

This unidentified Barbados local was digging the conditions and styling his longer board right through another perfectly lined-up west coast peeler. Photo: Tarik Browne

Taino Diver’s Greg Carson atop his gun and claiming wide-open barrels. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Lewis St. John is a young bajan local who has quickly established himself as one of the premiere Caribbean talents. Photo: Tarik Browne

Witness the surfing of Greg Engstrom and you’ll know immediately from whence Leif’s talents come. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

While back on Barbados the cell phones were ringing in the channel of this perfect setup, and the fishing gear was high and dry. Photo: Tarik Browne

Local legend, Carlos “Kahuna” Badillo, banking on a big one. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

If this doesn’t make your pulse race, not much will. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Only a brother could get away with this kind of a stuffing. Greg letting Brian Carson know how much he loves him. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

It’s all good back in the channel, pardner! Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

A classic west coast Puerto Rico moment. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Kevin “Cheeser” Macissac has been around Puerto Rico for ages, and knows this wave as well as anyone. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Thomas Kosmoll about to drop into a good-sized set wave. Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants

Perfect conditions and one guy in the lineup. You gotta love early season surf in Puerto Rico! Photo: SpongeBob SquarePants