Best place and way to learn to surf this summer

[bsmith11]

Hey guys,

I want to learn how to surf and have about 4-5 months and roughly $5000 in the bank. My question is both where in the world would you recommend going to learn between April- September and what is the best way to go about learning.

Cheers, Brendan

[jaffa1949]

Brendan , where are you based? I ask that because $5000 will disappear in airfares and or accommodation, very quickly!
Next question how old are you? Because putting your with a greatly different age group won't help either.

Recommendations would be to learn with a good emphasizing good surf school on suitable boards.
DO NOT decide to buy any surf board before posting your thoughts here. Age weight and height will help us advise in that.
Your stage is definitely try before you buy and good series of surf lessons have the possibility of getting you hooked on surfing.
The way forward after that is also where people here can guide you!

A good sign for good surf school includes teaching the rules of the surf beyond just standing up!
Enjoy the journey

[Big H]

Nationality could be an issue as well depending on where you go.....what is your level of comfort in the water? How well do you swim? How familiar/ experienced are you in and around the ocean? Is your goal exclusively to learn to surf or do you/would you like other experiences (learning a language, side trips to the interior, nightlife, jungle seclusion, urban access). What is your general fitness level.....are you athletic? Would you want a structured environment dedicated to learning to surf like a camp or to be in the mix of a lot of distractions where surfing was one and you carried yourself to the beach when you felt like it.


Jaffa had a good point.....have you ever tried surfing before? If possible before embarking on a 5 month adventure, take at least one lesson, even better the series of lessons like Jaffa recommended (even a long weekend where you surfed three days in a row would be a taste of daily surfing) and see if it still holds appeal.

If you are US based, money goes a long way in some parts of Mexico, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

[bsmith11]

Should've gone in to more detail. I'm 19 and from the UK, I'm definitely athletic having played to a pretty high level in other sports and am a competent swimmer. I was thinking somewhere like Morocco would be cheap because of the air fair or as mentioned Nicaragua because the cost of living would be pretty low out there.

[Big H]

Don't forget to factor in Ramadhan if choosing Morocco.

[Namu]

Why not take some lessons and rent some surf gear on the Atlantic coast of the UK before your big trip? There are UK surfers on the forum that can recommend some good places for beginners. Get a taste of it first before you commit that much time and money.

[Oldie]

I suggest to spend a few weeks in Cornwall or North Devon befor embarking on such a tour, some great learning spots there. Then you know wether spending your savings is worth it. Morocco has some cool places, but a stay of many months will require adapdation to a very different culture. Lots of positives in that, but you should be ready for a big change.