How To Choose The Best Surf Camp
Are you dreaming of learning to surf or honing your skills in a vibrant surf community? Selecting the best surf camp can make all the difference in your surfing journey. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore essential factors to consider when choosing a surf camp, including location, accommodations, instructors, curriculum, and additional amenities. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer, this article will help you find the ideal surf camp to match your unique needs and preferences.
Table of Contents
What Is A Surf Camp?
Surf camps are immersive experiences designed to teach individuals of all ages and skill levels how to surf. They typically offer comprehensive packages that include lodging, meals, surf lessons, and often additional activities like yoga, excursions, and social events. Surf camps are a popular choice for those seeking to learn to surf, improve their skills, or simply experience surf culture and meet other surfers with similar dreams and aspirations of traveling the world. So, now we know what a surf camp is, let’s take a deeper dive into what surf camps have to offer.
What To Expect At Your Next Surf Camp Experience
The truth about surf camps, like most things in this world, they are not created equally. In general you should expect to learn to surf at a surf camp, but not every surf camp is going to offer good surf coaching because the bar for surf instructors is set very low. All surf camps offer an immersive experience that includes activities like surf lessons and accommodation. But, the best surf camps offer a wide variety of extra amenities like massages, excursions, meals, video analysis and much more. So, let’s take a look at what the best surf camps offer:
Surf Related Theory Classes
The best surf camps offer surf related theory classes to help you maximize your surf progress. These theory classes will depend on your ability and range from beginner to advanced in difficulty, At our surf camps we cover topics like:
The Pop Up
The pop up in surfing is a complex movement and requires hours of practice and theoretical knowledge to master. So, we sit down and cover all of the important factors and explain the most common mistakes related to the pop up at our surf camp.
Catching & Reading Waves
Catching and reading waves is definitely the hardest part of surfing. So, we break down an approach that is easy to understand for you.
Understanding The Line Up
Navigating crowded line ups is often a scary experience for most of our guest at our surf camp, especially those who are new to surfing that don’t know or fully understand surf etiquette. So, we created a detailed theory class to address these fears and uncertainties.
Bottom Turn
The bottom turn in surfing will directly impact your top turns. Most intermediate surfers struggle with the top turn because they haven’t mastered the bottom turn yet. We designed a movement based theory class to help you master the different types of bottom turns, so you can ultimately master the different types of top turns.
Speed Generation
The biggest difference between good surfers and great surfers is ultimately how fast they can go. Speed generation is especially important if you consistently surf small mushy waves, which most of us are subject to in every day life. We created a movement based theory class at our surf camps and surf retreats to help you surf like the pro’s.
Video Analysis
The quickest way to progress in surfing is to see yourself surf, because your perception of how you are doing it is often very different from reality. The best surf camps will offer video analysis or photo analysis to help you speed up your progress. We personally offer video analysis everyday and we find that it is the best part of our surf camp.
Multiple Daily Surf Sessions With Expert Coaching
Some surf camps offer one surf session per day. But, for the avid surfer, one surf session per day is simply not enough to maximize your time at a surf or camp or surf retreat. That’s why we offer 2 surf sessions per day with expert coaching at our surf camps and surf retreats. Not every surf session is mandatory and there is plenty of other activities to do if you want to skip the second session. But, for those wanting to maximize the experience, we offer two surf sessions per day.
Proximate Location
Not all surf camps and surf retreats are located close to the surf spots you are expecting to surf, in-fact, many surf camps are located in populated areas rather than being close the breaks themselves. At the end of the day, when considering a surf camp or surf retreat, you need to know what you want to get out of the experience. Do you want to be located close to the waves and surf often or do you want to be located closer to shops and restaurants and surf less. We personally like to maximize the surfing experience, so we choose locations that are close to breaks to avoid having to jump into a hot, sweaty car and avoid crowded line ups to maximize the surfing experience.
Amenities or Inclusive Packages
As with the rest of this article, it’s clear that every surf camp and surf retreats offering is slightly different and while some are all inclusive with a variety of amenities, other surf camps and surf retreats are not. This may determine the price and quality of the camp and it all comes down to personal preference. So, let’s take a look at what the best surf camps include:
Airport Transfers
Most surf camps are located pretty far from the airport, in developing countries which makes the transit from the airport to the camp stressful at times. The best surf camps and surf retreats will include airport transfers as part of your package. This takes a lot of the stress out of traveling so you can be fully immersed in the experience. We offer airport transfers as part of your package at all our surf camps and surf retreats.
All Meals & Drinks
This type of amenity or inclusion varies from place to place. Some surf camp and surf retreat experiences will offer a few included meals, while other more luxurious experiences will offer everything included. We believe that you shouldn’t have to worry about a thing when you get to our surf camp or surf retreats. So, we include all your meals and drinks in the price of the experience, so you don’t have to worry about a thing when you arrive. All you have to do is surf and have fun.
Private or Shared Accommodation
Everyone has a personal preference on the type of accommodation they want to stay in. This is always included at every surf camp or surf retreat experience and will vary depending on the price of the camp. We typically offer a boutique luxury experience because that’s what our guests love the most.
Complimentary Massages
There are only a select few surf camps and surf retreats that offer massages as a part of your package. Not many even offer this at all, so, choose wisely if you it’s something you would like to receive as part of your experience. We do offer this as part of our surf camp and surf retreat experiences at select locations.
Recovery Centers
There are only a select few surf camps and surf retreats that offer recovery centers as a part of your package. Recover is a large part of learning to surf and not many even offer this at all, so, choose wisely if you it’s something you would like to receive as part of your experience. We do offer recovery centers as part of our surf camp and surf retreat experiences at select locations.
Equipment Rental
All surf camps will offer equipment rental, but not all surf camps will offer equipment rental included in the price of your booking, some surf camps will offer equipment at an additional charge. Be sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what is included when booking your next surf retreat or surf camp adventure.
Excursions
Surfing every single day is taxing on your body. A lot of surf camps offer a rest day where they organize an adventurous experience like sand boarding, horse riding, water fall trecks and more. We personally organize the best possible experiences that the location offers. Our favorite and most adventurous surf camp excursion so far is sand boarding down an active volcano in Nicaragua!
Surf Footage
Most surf camps offer your surf footage at an additional charge. We do include all your surf footage as part of your package. So, at the end of your stay you will get all your surfing footage free of charge.
Child Care
Ever been frustrated because you wanted to visit a surf camp or surf retreat but you had no idea what to do with your little ones? Well, very few surf camps or surf retreats offer child care. However, we do actually offer child care at select surf camp experiences.
Is A Surf Camp Worth It?
This question is often asked by people who have never been to a surf camp or surf retreat, because those who have been to one will tell you that visiting a surf camp or surf retreat is totally worth it! As long as you choose the right surf camp or surf retreat to suit your needs and preferences. As mentioned above, choosing the best surf camp or surf retreat for you depends on a variety of factors like proximity to surf, the price, what’s included, level of surf instruction and so much more. Let’s take a brief look at what you should consider when choosing the best surf camp for you.
Price vs What's Included
When you consider buying anything, if you are price sensitive you will want to consider the price relative to what you will get out of the experience. Considering a surf camp or surf retreat experience is exactly the same. While one surf camp might seem like it’s a good deal because they have a cheap offering, it might not actually be a good deal because you will have to pay for a whole bunch of added extras once you arrive. While other surf camps may seem overpriced but you actually get more value for money.
Level of Surf Coaching
As previously mentioned in this article, the level of surf coaching will dramatically vary from place to place. As an ISA qualified surf coach, let me tell you that just because a surf coach is ISA qualified, does not mean they are a good surf coach. Not to hate on the ISA surf qualification but it’s sub par to say the least. We suggest paying close attention to reviews and their social media accounts to see whether or not they take their surf coaching seriously. Because, at the end of the day, that’s one of the main reasons why you want to visit a surf camp.
Surf Instructor To Guest Ratio
The ISA, which is the governing body of surfing and surf coaching recommends a guest to instructor ratio of four to eight students to one instructor. As a seasoned, professional surf coach with over 10 years of coaching experience, let me tell you that anything over a ratio of four guests to one instructor is unsustainable. So, keep an eye out for surf camps and surf retreats that offer only white water lessons and an instructor ratio of more than four to one because you won’t get a lot of coaching out of that. We keep our instructor to guest ratios at a maximum of one instructor to three guests so you still get a personalized experience.
Length Of Stay
Surf camp durations can range anywhere from two weeks and there is no real recommended length. It all comes down to personal preference and budget. However, the longer you stay, the more you will progress in surfing. Our surf retreats are typically eight days long but they can vary between 7 and 14 days.
Group Size
Group sizes can vary from surf camp to surf camp and it’s not necessarily a bad thing if the group size is large but you should consider that large group sizes mean crowded line ups, large instructor to guest ratio’s and over all a less personalized experience. We aim for smaller groups because we focus on surf coaching and surf progress at our surf camps.
Surfing Ability
Does the surf camp you are booking cater to your surfing ability. Will the surf conditions be suitable for your surfing ability. Will you be paired with other surfers that are of a similar ability. Are the theory classes designed for you surfing ability. Are the surf coaches trained or experienced enough to coach you at your surfing ability. These are all questions you should ask when considering a surf camp. We offer specially curated weeks that group surfers into similar ability categories to create a cohesive surfing experience for everyone. We offer beginner, intermediate and advanced surf camps and surf retreats.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect surf camp is an exciting and challenging task in itself. By carefully considering factors like amenities, pricing, proximity to surf spots, and the number of surf sessions offered, you can find a camp that aligns with your unique needs and preferences.
Remember, the best surf camp or surf retreat is the one that provides you with an unforgettable experience, whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced surfer seeking to refine your skills. So, pack your bags, grab your board, and get ready to embark on an epic surfing journey!
