How to choose a surf camp?

[LiveSwell]

I've been on many types of surf trips and consider myself an intermediate to advanced surfer - sometimes a surf camp is a better choice the problem seem to be in the variability of surf camp operators.

If you, like me, take a few surf trips a year what are the best practices you have found to ensure that you are choosing a quality surf camp and not a bunk operation? A few ideas I have found so far are, please add to the list if you have a good idea to help not to get skunked

1. Check the wave season - to make sure you have the best possible chance at getting good waves
2. Peer reviews on sites like yelp
3. Your skill level
4. Services offered

Thanks

[jaffa1949]

Just maybe nice to know!! There is this concept called 'van surfari' it is a mobile surfcamp, where you will be chasing the waves, so no problems with not having the right weather etc.


Cheers!

[frillyflapjack]

Most surf camps are aimed at beginners, unless they're advertised otherwise. If I'm inquiring about a surf camp and they ask me of my skill level and my expectations, then that's a good sign. I would ask them if I'll be grouped with beginners.

[waikikikichan]

3. Your skill level

How does one go about finding his/her true surfing level ? Is there a interactive Surfing Level calculator like the Board Volume calculators that are all the rage now. Seems "everyone" is Beginner-Intermediate level and good at "other" sports. Where have all the true beginners and advanced surfers gone ? Is a Pro-level surfer in Japan as good as a Average surfer from Hawaii ? Can a contest winning surfer from Arizona handle more than a bath tub sized wave on the Northshore of Oahu ?

[jaffa1949]

Can a contest winning surfer from Arizona handle more than a bath tub sized wave on the Northshore of Oahu ?

Tell me it isn't true waikikikichan , you watched "North Shore", eeeeek that's right up there with blood beach!

[Sylvia]

Surf camps will provide all the best need of their clients based on surfing.
most camps are aiming for the beginners.Beginners may get right guidance by their best surfers
Indonesia,morocco and Africa have best surfing spots.

[jaffa1949]

Hey Sylvia what are your actual surfing experiences?
Love to hear them rather than cut and paste posts!

[BaNZ]

The best surf camps are the ones that do not take beginners to the lineup and push them into every wave.

[Big H]

The best surf camps are the ones that do not take beginners to the lineup and push them into every wave.

........which defines every surf camp here.......I'm sure they have a "ride the wave" guarantee. Only thing worse than being dropped in on by a pushed camper is being dropped in on by the instructors who abandon the campers when sets come through.

[Big H]

3. Your skill level

How does one go about finding his/her true surfing level ? Is there a interactive Surfing Level calculator like the Board Volume calculators that are all the rage now. Seems "everyone" is Beginner-Intermediate level and good at "other" sports. Where have all the true beginners and advanced surfers gone ? Is a Pro-level surfer in Japan as good as a Average surfer from Hawaii ? Can a contest winning surfer from Arizona handle more than a bath tub sized wave on the Northshore of Oahu ?

I retroactively check surf camp reports esp. when I run into a surf camp on the waves....they post where they take groups later the same day....details of what "level" the groups are.....I look and after seeing and surfing with them have gotten to understand the local grouping levels.

Beginner...raw, barely able to balance on their boards while paddling.....100% get pushed into non set waves. If they get a wave it's straight all the time.

Intermediate.....wobbly, legs apart paddling, sometimes pushed, sometimes paddle for their own....miss a lot when going for their own.....instructors hold their tails to position for waves. Can turn and trim when on the wave.

Advanced.....instructors tell them where to wait for the waves.....paddle and catch their own waves some of the time......will drop in on you with impunity.....can do rough, boggy turns.....are real pr**ks in the water because they have 5-8 instructors and assistants blocking for them and since they paid X amount of mucho dollars, they seem to act like they own the break, which defacto with the aid of their guides who vary in degrees of thuggishness from camp to camp, do a great job of making sure their campers are kings.

[kookRachelle]

I just returned from a surf camp and while it was definitely a confidence booster to say the least, I was a little disappointed that everyone was a beginner. As in, surfed once or twice before and were too beat to go out for the second session everyday. I also consider myself a beginner, hence the camp, but I was the only one NOT on a foamie, the only one catching green waves, the only one who didn't have to practice her pop up on land for a half hour before entering the water, etc. I had one on one instruction which was nice but a little lonely, and I did learn a bit, but it would have been cool to be around others at my skill level for sure.

[Big H]

Skill levels are definitely gauged differently in the surf camp community it would seem. Was a guy the other day who could get waves so long as the instructor would position him and hold the tail of the board and choose which wave to paddle for......and once it was on it was ON because there was no stopping this cat once he was paddling for a wave as I and everyone else he burned can attest to.