The continental shelf on the East Coast stretches out hundreds of miles from shore and breaks up larger ground swells before they reach the shore. So, for most of the year, the Atlantic has significantly smaller and weaker surf than the West Coast.
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Well, Mike, you're pretty right on: west coasts do get better surf than east coasts, the world over. By better we mean west coasts are given to long-interval groomed groundswells over reefs, rather than scrappy, short-interval windswells. And no, it's not just luck. It's actually pretty simple.
Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in the region, and southern ocean swells bless their beaches with consistent waves groomed by morning offshore winds each day. Playa Nosara is a popular spot for yoga enthusiasts, and also home to some of the best surf schools on the planet.