Opinions on what i should do with my 3K to surf

[Guest]

Hey guys.

Ok here is my situation:

Starting May 2004, i finish my job. I will have 3k of hard earned cash to spend on a trip. [technically i have 5k, but mum wants 2k saved for uni!!!! lol ]

Basically i want to surf as much as possible in the 3 months, and also to travel a bit. I also want to do this in a more interesting place than i am in now - i.e not England. I want some sun, and preferably some babes too [well can you blame me ey?! ;) ] .

I have looked into things like "flyingfish" - fylingfish.com which offer 12 week surf courses in australia where you learn to be an instructor. The advantage of these is you have acommadation and a programme set up for you, and people to organise you. Though this could also be a bad thing. Unfortunately this course doesn't co-incide with when i want to go [i have to be back for september 04 to get ready for uni.]

I also have a mate who is moving to California and should have a house there i can stay in for a while. Though i am not sure how close to the beach it will be...

I have done a weeks surfing in Croyde, though i am basically a beginner. I quite fancy surfing in Costa Rica for a bit, and i have friends travelling through south america, who i might hook up with for a bit of surfing. But generally i will be on my own in sorting out the trip.

I am really not sure what to do. I mean, i am 18, so hiring in a car/van in most places is probably not an option (i do have a british driving licence). I also dont have a board, so would have to hire/buy one wherever i end up surfing, this may be difficult to move around with if i dont have a car...

So. Basically i need a permanent place i can stay for a while, learn to surf properly (maybe a surf school/course), or maybe a mates house, or just a beach side hostel...hopefully with lots of people around to hang with!!!
Then maybe i can bus it or train it/ or fly to a new place and surf some more there...

I am stuck!!! What do you all reckon? Im thinking maybe not Australia/NZ - it'll be winter there...so maybe central america/california?!

Any body else out there who wants to go on a surf trip May-Aug!?

Advice welcomed!!!!

Thanks,

Duncs

[Duncs]

^ that was me by the way :S - such a dumb ass

I have a similar post in the "Surfing Information" area - but no one really looks at it there so i thought id move it here...

[kieran]

mm difficult, i would not worry about going to australia during winter, youll get the best swells plus if you go south the water will still be pretty warm. What about indo they get some sick action and not too many crowds.
If you say your a beginner id be tempted to wait till you were better and get more out of it. Where you going to uni anywhere near the sea?

[Duncs]

Hey Kieran, thanks for the reply.

I am going to Warwick Uni, which is one of the most land-locked uni's you can possibly get! However they do have a really active and good surf club, who organise regular surfing trips etc etc.

You see, this is my GAP year, so i am definitely going to travel anyway, if i don't use the money now to travel, ill end up spending it at uni gradually, on lots of things not as great as travelling.

Plus i want to travel, so the plan is just to include as much surfing in it as possible! I am heading to ecuador, peru, bolivia, and chile in may/june and then going back up to the USA fo july (mostly california) and then in august i will head into central america to do lots of surfing-panama/costa rica. I am sure i can surf when im in CA too.

I agree about the beginner bit, it would be better to learn in cornwall etc etc and travel when im atleast an intermediate. However the travelling is right for me NOW, so im just gonna have to do most of my learning abroad!

There are supposed to be lots of good surfing beaches in Ecudaor/Peru, do you reckon most of em will be ok for a beginner to surf on?!

Duncs

[kieran]

Well if your gonna go your gonna go id love to do what your doing. My trips still a couple of years down the line yet.
I think your best bet is to buy the world stormrider, although ive heard its not aswell detailed as the european but its got a lot more to cover. It will still give all the best places to go. Where ever you go there are waves for all abilities, itll just be so tempting to hit the 8ft reef break glass in peru. Sounds like youve got the trip planned to the final detail anyway, just get a board when your out there and take it on all the planes for not much extra

[Pointbreak]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing - tried posting on "beginner" but no reply yet.

All I would add is that the Canaries are pretty close and cheap to get to, not a bad place to get to know since its more likely you will return. Then again maybe this is a good time to see the far off places you won't be able to make it to on ordinary hols.

I'm also looking at Australia. South Australia is definitely cooled off by the time you're thinking of going. NZ would be cold, but Northern Australia is completely different - plenty hot year round. I just haven't figured out when the right seasons are for good surf and avoiding jellyfish.

Sri Lanka (east coast) is an option. Dirt cheap, not indo-sized waves. Bit short on tourists though so you might get a bit bored at a long stretch.