We all had that moment, right? At a dinner table, your aunt, still sceptical on your new “I go to Spain to surf” chapter in life, hits you with the million dollar question:
¿¿¿¿But, do you know how to surf????
All your family turns around, they have been hearing about your new passion, saw how you empty all your savings in boards and wetsuits, and felt your new all-year-round tanning.
Your throat stretches, a voice inside your head starts asking the question, again and again, what can you tell them? The truth? And, do you know the truth? Do you suck at this? Are you really going to spend the rest of your life just trying to figure it out?
Well, we know that’s a struggle, and we also know that you experience the same feeling every time you want to book a lesson or a trip somewhere, what are you? Beginner? Intermediate? Expert? Super Mega Pro?
A difficult question, that requires a precise answer, of course, only if you want to have a good and fun experience!
So, getting into the meat and patatas of it, lets quickly disclose the different surf levels:
Beginner: 0 to 2 weeks
2 options here: you’ve never been on top of a surfboard, and still don’t even know what a whitewash is; Or, you are taking it easy, not wanting to get scared, and want to keep working on the easiest of surfing forms: Whitewash surfing, yay! No shame on this, with us, you are gonna get past here, quickly! 😉
Beginner – Int: 2 to 6 weeks
Here is when things start getting a little bit more exciting, your surf baptism is already over, and now you can… well, you can survive! Jokes apart, you will start getting into a bit more of what your family thinks you are doing, it’s time for your first green waves! In really controlled environment, with your instructor making sure on every moment that everything its alright. You form part of this group until you are able to catch waves on your own with different type of steepness and size.
Intermediate: 6 weeks to ? years
Maybe where we all spent the majority of our “surfing career”, here is where real challenges arise, you will be learning your first turns, including cutbacks and floaters! What you have been dreaming about while gliding on your surfskate? Now it’s time for it! Key points of intermediate level include:
· Being able to Duck Dive
· Catching waves completely alone
· First Cutbacks and turns on the wave face.
· Complete understanding of tides, currents, dangers and forecasts.
Advanced
After so much time surfing, you are able to catch a considerable amount of waves each session, you can choose the best spot checking the forecast, understand every “soft skill” of surfing, and you are able to do some radical turns, you understand and apply advanced concepts as keeping the energy, engaging the rail and staying in the pocket. Your Mum, Aunt, and Grandma are proud of you, and a bit worried about that stitches after your first tries on getting barreled.
Pro
No need to say a lot here, if you are a pro, you are traveling around the world enjoying your sponsor money, so better don’t send us a lot of photos (or do, maybe we send back some stickers).
So! Now you know what level you are, and how you should chose your lesson. Keep in mind, you can always specify a bit more about your surfing experience while doing the booking, so there should be no problem getting it dialed down. If you have any doubts, just text us on whatsapp or instagram and we will be more than happy to help!
See you soon and lets get some nice looking waves!