Guide to choosing a good surf school

Want to surf for the first time and don’t know where? This is the dilemma of every beginner who wants to dedicate his holiday to learning this sport that is so fashionable and that everyone talks about. The options for surfing have multiplied in recent years and surfing schools are flooding the Spanish coast. With so many spots spread out over the Peninsula and the Canary Islands, there are countless places that have the perfect wave conditions for an introductory surfing course, but before launching into the adventure of a lifetime make sure you put yourself in the right hands. There are many characteristics that define a good surf school and we will reveal some of them:

Accommodation: absorbs the philosophy of surfing in and out of the water The schools with a surf house make you live a full experience because the 24 hours will be entirely dedicated to make you understand the basic concepts needed to ride a wave. If you have a place to sleep, you will have a cheaper price and you will have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, to practice English and to socialize, among many other things. Normally, students who go to surf camp choose the package with accommodation included.

TripAdvisor rating: don’t trust everything the corporate website says. It is easier to know what is going on from the inside because of what is commented on in the rating indicators than because of a catchphrase created by an advertising expert. In this sense, TripAdvisor is one of the most reliable pages when it comes to comparing information. Its score is based on the experience of former students and does not give away the certificate of excellence. By the way, you should know that Calima Surf has it.

Material: boards and neoprene have a limited life span. In places such as the Canary Islands, where it is possible to give surfing lessons every day, it is normal to change your wetsuits twice a year and once a year. When you pay you can demand and it is not the same to be received with worn out material as with top quality boards in perfect condition. O’Neill is one of those top brands that will not be offered to you everywhere.

Qualified instructors: make sure that the school in question complies with current legislation. Not everyone is prepared to teach you the secrets of surfing or to ensure your safety in the water. The dangers are reduced to a minimum if the instructors are qualified. Avoid places with spiritual guides who stay on the shore without a T-shirt, marking their abs. A real instructor suffers and enjoys being by your side, encouraging you, correcting you, getting wet and happy, just as much as you are when you achieve the goal of standing up for the first time.

Certificates for completing the course: if you choose a prestigious teaching centre, you will receive a diploma on completion of the course to certify your level. The certificate is a week’s effort translated into a role that will motivate you to grow and improve as much as you climb the belt ladder while practicing a martial art.

Repeating students: Repeating students are another sure sign that you are in the right place. Would you go back to a place you didn’t like? There is no better promotion than that of a satisfied former student. Use the social networks and spend some time reviewing what is being said on them about the surf school.

Location: find out if you are going to travel to a site with a surfing tradition or not. It is normal that if everything revolves around surfing you will find other surfers on your arrival and, above all, waves because, in the end, we are talking about a sport that depends mostly on the weather. Go where there are high probabilities of waves.

Packages of offers: be careful with the prices. The bargains are not always profitable. They have the power to attract at first sight, but as a rule they do not include in the basic package the same as other similarly more expensive promotions. The combination of surf house plus classes is always a good option because you avoid looking for accommodation elsewhere.

On the other hand, you may be curious about some other water activity beyond surfing, so it’s always good to get off the beaten track with a school that offers different leisure activities for those days when the sea is at your feet.

Free services included: small details make the difference. Teaching system Drysurf, Wifi, transport to the beach and food on the sand are some of the things that can make the difference when it comes to the final screening.