Beginner going to Portugal

[Leica]

Hello! I'm very beginner in surfing, but i really want to get touch with it. So far I've been looking for 1 week surf camp in Peniche Portugal, and by now I've been in touch with three surf camp agency:
- Peniche Surf Camp http://penichesurfcamp.com/mod.php?lang ... &w=default
- Baleal Surf Camp http://www.balealsurfcamp.com/
- Ripar Surf School http://riparsurfschool.com/

Does anyone know anything about these alternatives? Can anyone recommend me which of these (or something else near Peniche) would be the most suitable camp for beginner? I think the one week's camp would be the best duration for me, also in economical ways.

- Cheers from not-so-cold North!

[Deepwaterdesigns]

Go with Baleal surf camp, i stayed with them back in september, and had an awesome time, the instructors where fantastic, very friendly, i was doing the advanced course and had such a blast, and all the begginner groups i spoke to said they had a blast and even the most hopeless of guys was up and riding with the help of the instructors.
the areas really nice, some good bars and the beaches are nice, the accomodation is really good, i stayed at the delux accom at the cocktail house but the other houses are also quite nice and the hostel style accom is also nice.
they also provide quicksilver wetsuits and NSP boards which are ideal for begginers, i took my own board with me, but they seemed to have a good selection of sizes.
the best bit is they have a reseved area for begginers on the beach that no other surf schools can use so you get just your group surfing in that spot and dont have to worry about crowds too much, plus their base and bar is right on the beach.
im definately heading back there this september, hope to see you there

[Leica]

Thanks dude for nice information flood

[rachidsystem]

hello
Peniche is the best surf destination in portugal,it offers more than 20 surf spots along 15 km of the coast-line.
The wind is always offshore there,it create perfect waves for all surf levels.
I knew a very good surf camp and surf school there,one of the most established,best located and most known in Portugal.
http://www.surfberbere.com/portugal
have a nice trip
and good luck

[Leica]

I just booked flights and the camp for september. Can't help waiting, I'm so enthusiastic! First I have this up-coming summer, and then when every other will be here just standing stupid in the rain and cold breeze, someone's gonna have fun in Portugal!

[Deepwaterdesigns]

which school did you end up booking with? if your in peniche at the end of september maybe ill see you there, ill be there sometime around the 26th, depending on flights

[Leica]

I chose Peniche Surf Camp, the cheapest alternative Sure we'll see, hope you won't see my wipe outs. Do you use to hang around there often?

[Sar]

I chose Peniche Surf Camp, the cheapest alternative Sure we'll see, hope you won't see my wipe outs. Do you use to hang around there often?

Its a great choice! Have a good one.

[Deepwaterdesigns]

i usually go on my surf trips to portugal, not too expensive, not a long flight and with easy jet it only costs 18 quid each way for any board under 9ft if you check it in online first. been to lagos and to peniche, i always head there in september/october when the swells are up, the waters still warmish and the summer crowds are gone. i prefer peniche coz its a little less touristy than lagos. and will definately be back there this september, and no worries about the wipeouts, we all wipeout once in a while, if you dont, you arent trying hard enough! hope you have a great time out there.

[Leica]

Hey that's one thing I've been thinking about, what are the cost for surfboard when flying and putting in hold? And yes, it'll be more comfortable to wipe out when the beach's not so crowded =) Thanks for encouraging me. So, what country you said you come from again?

[jeffdauga]

I stayed in Peniche 2 months last summer,It was amazing
i had great times and nice surf there.
It's my best surfing holiday,i surfed all the points around.
I stayed at a beautiful and good located surf camp called Surf berbere Portugal.
I already miss the peniche perfect waves,and the surf camp nice atmosphere
Hope i'll go back this summer.

[Deepwaterdesigns]

Hey that's one thing I've been thinking about, what are the cost for surfboard when flying and putting in hold? And yes, it'll be more comfortable to wipe out when the beach's not so crowded =) Thanks for encouraging me. So, what country you said you come from again?

The costs for flying with surfboards vary from airline to airline, some companies (like B.A) dont allow surfboards at all, some will charge you a small fee, easyjet has been the cheapest so far, 18 pounds each way for the board, and a rare few airlines will let you include it in your luggage allowance, provided its not too large. Im from England, but i work for a cruise ship company and so spend 9 months out of the year over seas, but usually on my vacations i try to take a surf trip somewhere, alot of the time i get to go to some awesome surfing destinations for work, like the mexican pacific coast, some of the carribean islands, cocoa beach Florida (kelly slaters home wave)

but i always go to portugal if im in the UK for any amount of time, waves are consistant, atmospheres good, locals are friendly (mostly) and its cheap to get there and stay there, im sure you will have an awesome time.

[Leica]

Hmm, I did not quite follow you.. Were you speaking about handling surfboard as hand luggage? You know, take it inside the cabin, just like that? I wonder where would I put it, if so... And when putting the board in the hold it may get grazed or worse, break into peaces. Am I too perfectionist?

[Deepwaterdesigns]

ha ha, no i meant it goes in the hold, some airlines dont even allow boards in the hold though, like BA.
when mine goes in the hold, i put it in a 5-10mm travel bag, bubble wrap the board completely, reinforce the nose, rails and tail with cardboard and remove the fins, i also put my wetsuit in there for extra padding. i havent had any issues so far, even with Easy Jet.

[Sar]

when I went to peniche last a guy used an airline that didnt charge for his board at all - i think it was KLM or something

[Leica]

Nice. So I quess have to start preferring KLM when travelling with surfboard. Oh yeah, can't help waiting the trip, even though it's nearly 30*c degrees here in Finland. Hope there will be bearable weathers in Peniche during September.
- see you guys there, cheers!

[Leica]

I think it's a good time to wake this topic up again. Since my last calculation it's 10 days exactly till the take-off towards the Lisboa, can't help waiting. Will I be seeing anyone there between 20.-26.9.? Hope we'll have some fun, cheers! Let's explore amazing Portugal!

[Deepwaterdesigns]

sorry leica,
looks like im stuck working, wont be back in england till sept 27th, thinking of a trip to morocco in mid october, girlfriend doesnt like the thought of water temp below 20 degrees! just got a new fish to try out too, cant wait!
i hope you have an awesome time there and enjoy portugal as much as i do, hopefully ill see you there some other time