Where Should You Go To Learn To Surf?

Surfing is probably the most iconic watersport out there – maybe people will argue with this point but hey, chill out man, it’s only a blog! Mastering the art of the wave-riding can take a lifetime, but anyone can enjoy this sport with a little practice. Below we’ve listed some amazing world surfing destinations. Even if you can’t handle the breakers, at least you can enjoy a great holiday, and watch the masters do their thing!

California

Is California the quintessential surfing destination? For many who live in The Golden State, surfing is a part of their daily routine and surfers from around the world come to get a slice of the action. Enjoy the glamour and stunning 

Santa Monica, California.

surf along the Malibu coast if you are a beginner or take to the wilder water near San Francisco if you’re a grizzled expert. Have an away day from the beach at Yosemite National Park where you’ll see nature at it’s finest, including the giant granite monolith of El Capitan. Surf’s up dude.

San Sebastian

San Sebastian on Spain’s Northern coast is without a doubt one Europes most under-appreciated cities. It offers a vibrant nightlife, a delicious, unique culinary scene, and some fantastic beaches! In addition to the dedicated nudist beach, San Sebastian is an awesome place to come and learn to surf. There are a number of Surf Schools working out of San Sebastian generally operating from late spring to early autumn.

Spain is also one of Europes best value countries by far.

Australia 

There’s no getting around it; Australia is one of the world’s great surfing destinations and for this reason it’s home to many of world’s best surfers. Head for The Sunshine Coast where laid-back coastal towns enjoy the Pacific waves all year round. People of all levels of experience travel to this surfing mecca every year to experience a combination of reliable surf, stunning scenery and chilled out vibes. Take time to go scuba diving and fishing if you like that sort of thing too.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has always been lauded for its many surfing opportunities by those in the know – it’s also a superb holiday destination in its own right. The south and southwestern corner of the country is full of secret and largely undiscovered spots that are big on waves and low on tourists. Between November and April, big swells hit the island from the south-west creating enjoyable 3-5 foot waves. Sri Lanka holidays provide more than just excellent surfing – in your downtime, visit colonial Gallé and take a look at the Buddhist temples in Kandy. Check out my mates guide for more ideas on things to do in Sri Lanka once you’ve surfed till your heart’s content!

Lanzarote

Known to many as a package holiday destination with year-round sunshine and low-cost accomodation, Lanzarote is also an excellent surfing spot. There are two main surfing locations on the island; Costa Teguise and Playa de Famara. Of these, Playa de Famara is undoubtedly the best, In fact, it is considered one of the best surfing beaches in Europe. It’s an ideal place to go if you are a family of surfers, as the whole island is geared towards relaxing family holidays and fun activities.

Hawaii

Our second American destination on this list – but you can’t do a surfing blog without mentioning Hawaii! Famous for the current US President and colourful shirts, this magical and mellow US state is also paradise for surfers and is considered by many to be at the pinnacle of world surfing. The North Shore of Oahu is an amazing place to surf if you are an experienced rider. The waves here are huge! if you’re looking for a more gentle pace, try heading over to Waikiki beach which is a little more relaxed. Well, having said that, everywhere in Hawaii is relaxed! Be sure to check out the Hawaii destinations on surfguide.com.

Spend an endless summer at one of these top surfing destinations and you’ll come home feeling refreshed, exhilrated and ready to go back again next year. Tubular! Hawai also has some class Scuba opportunities. You can either hire Scuba gear locally or buy it yourself. Either way, you can fine. more info on scubalist.pro.

Learn to read and ride (the waves)

I wanted to learn to surf ever since hearing The Beach Boys sing Surfing USA when I was 8 years old, they just made it sound like so much fun. As I got older and my musical tastes progressed, I discovered the Tarantino-esque Surf rock of Dick Dale which just buzzed with an adrenaline surge which supposedly reflected the sheer rush of riding the waves. If the music surfing inspired felt this good then how good must the actual sport itself feel I thought to myself?! I was just itching to have a go.

But there was just one problem…

…I come from West Yorkshire which is bang in the middle of Great Britain and about as far from the ocean as an Englishman can get. Therefore it wasn’t going to happen.

Consequently, I grew up completely & utterly unable to surf and I could barely even tell a surfboard from an ironing board. When I started travelling, I had to pass up the chance to head out surfing on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast because I didn’t know how to do it and didn’t want to make a fool of myself. (Also I certainly didn’t want to die as my travel insurance didn’t have repatriation cover).

Opened nearly 15 years ago, Art Surf camp is based in Razo situated on Spain’s Galician coastline. It is a happening setting where a combination of travellers & surfers come to hang out and learn how to surf. It is a great place to come and learn the sport and is possibly the coolest surf school in Spain if not the coolest surf school in Europe.

Surfing isn’t exactly rocket science and so you may be tempted just to dive in at the deep and try to figure it out for yourself. Indeed, in many ways, the waves themselves do make the best teacher and they are certainly the harshest teacher. However there is nothing wrong with taking some expert pointers from your fellow landlubbers and in fact, there is a hell of a lot to be gained. Aside from having somebody explain the basics, you will learn all about good posture and technique and the little things that will set you up for a life of surfing; things a self-educated wave rider is very likely to miss.

Also, and very importantly, you will learn all about safety. Safety is vital and the fully qualified teachers will not only look after you for the duration of the course, but they will teach you some health and safety best-practices, (such as how to read the waves) that will keep you safe for a long life of surfing. It’s exactly the same reason you go to a professional, certified, qualified & insured driving instructor when you want to get behind the wheel of a car rather than taking your Dad’s car keys and writing his Audi off.

Perhaps the best bit is that whilst you are learning you get to use their gear so you don’t have to make a big investment in loads of equipment before you’ve even had a go.

Why else?

Aside from having the coolest surf school in Spain there are many other reasons to come to Raza. Away from the waves, there are lots cool bars to relax, sip a drink and meet the locals.

By enrolling at the surf camp you also get to spend time learning with, living with and hanging with like-minded travellers and budding surfers. You know how you make the best friends at school? Well, now you can make some friends for life at surf school!

With rising sea levels surfing may soon become an essential life skill and you may soon find yourself needing to surf your way to work or to the shops; so get a head start on the impending watery apocalypse and learn to surf today!