travel: surf camps
Choose Surf… Choose a Surf Camp A surf camp trip can be a bit daunting if it’s your first time, but fear not: here’s SurfGirl’s guide to get you hooked up with friendly guys who will take the hassle out of your trip, make sure you score some decent waves, and ensure that you have a fantastic time to boot...
Why choose a surf camp? Our generation is super lucky. Getting to international surf destinations is becoming ever easier and cheaper as transport links improve and prices are driven down. But when you get there, you still want to get the best bang for your buck, especially when lots of us are operating on four weeks leave per year – you need to make sure that your waves-perleave-day ratio is right up there! If you’ve chosen a destination but don’t have a local contact, then get yourself booked in to a surf camp. There's lots of advantages – whether you're on your own or in a group – here’s why: Logistics. You’ll often be met at the airport, ferry or station by a friendly rep from the camp, so the initial drama of finding a surfboard friendly taxi driver who isn’t going to rip off the lost white-girl tourist, and the time spent getting lost on the way to your accommodation is removed. Also you don’t need to worry about hiring a vehicle, familiarising yourself with the crazy local road system or trying to steer and read a map at the same time. Surf guides will deliver you safe and sound to the beach each day – plus they’ll use their knowledge to get you to the right spot, so you’re not bouncing your hire car down the hundredth dead-end track of the day looking for ‘that spot’. Hospitality. The sleeping arrangements at surf camps will consider the fact that you’re there to surf, and that 066 SURFGIRL
that’s priority numero uno. So you should be able to get a good, safe night’s sleep and be raring to go for the dawnie the next day. Most surf camps will have their own chef cooking up carbo filled meals that will take the hassle out of tramping the streets looking for somewhere with a cockroach free kitchen. Plus if you want to eat out of the surf camp, they’ll be able to recommend the best local places. Surf. On the surf side of things, choosing to stay in a surf camp means that you’ll have a friendly, knowledgeable local surfer at your disposal to guide you to the most suitable spots for the day and for your ability level. If you’re travelling without a board or you ding, snap or aren’t getting on with your current board, then the camp will have boards that you can hire, or facilities to get your board fixed. If you decide that you want some lessons or coaching this will often be available, and there will probably be a camp photographer and videographer to capture the action during your best sessions (a new Facebook profile picture awaits!). If you’re travelling alone, a surf camp offers the opportunity to meet other likeminded wave riders, make some friends and swap tales of home and abroad. If the surf goes flat you’re also have more options to stay amused. Most camps offer extras like yoga, visits to local sights, shopping trips or can just tell you the best place to go for a hassle free sunbathing session!
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So, you’ve seen the photos in the mags and you know it’s only going to get colder over the next few months. So what’s the best thing to do this autumn? Think about getting the hell out and booking a trip of course – and a surf camp might just be your best bet.