Six Totally Awesome Family Surf Camps

As a veteran surf bum, I know in my heart that our sport is best learned over a (very) long sabbatical spent at a sleepy tropical beach. But if real-life responsibilities prevent the whole family from going on extended surfari, kids and adults can still get acquainted with the sport through the next-best thing: surf camps, which offer immersion in the surfing lifestyle for days or weeks at a time. Unlike surf schools, which break the spell of the ocean with gaps between classes, destination surf camps allow surfers of all ages and skill levels to dedicate themselves fully in watery fun in the sun, at least temporarily.   

What to Expect at a Family Surf Camp

• Daily, professional instruction on land and in the water, usually split into two sessions of about three hours each: one just after sunrise, and one after lunch, opportune times for surfing at most breaks.
  
• Parents often enroll along with their kids. (Moms and dads should remember to bring cameras, too.)
  
• Accommodations can range from dingy to deluxe, with most outfitters offering a range of options suited to different budgets.  
  

Surfing’s certainly suited to teens, tweens, and adults, but are very young children ready for the surf camp experience? Not really. Most surf-ready boys and girls have ages in the double digits, says Pat Weber, owner and head coach of San Diego Surfing Academy. “It’s not swimming lessons,” he adds. “You’re going to get knocked around. You have to have fortitude and swimming proficiency.” Non-swimmers need not apply. And strength is needed, especially for paddling out through the whitewater, which is often the most tiring, and challenging, part of surfing.

One last thing, says Weber: Make sure that surf camp instructors are CPR trained, insured and versed in safety procedures. With the right teachers, surfing families can expect “measurable tangible results within the first hour of instruction.” Also check with your surf camp in advance about any sea life concerns at the location, such as sharks. While bites are rare, you want to be aware of what the potential risks are.

• A group photo of Green Iguana Surf Camp participants in Costa Rica.
• Courtesy of Green Iguana Surf Camp

Where to Wipeout

I learned to surf as a teenager in the waters off Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz in Northern California, but nowadays my favorite places to surf are in Indonesia and Nicaragua: The waters are warmer, and there are fewer great white sharks to worry about. For families with varying levels of surf experience, here are six surf camp destinations definitely worth checking out.

1. San Diego

Southern California’s surfing mecca is an excellent surf camp destination, especially during the warmer months of the year. From May until September, air and water temperatures typically hover in the mid 70s, which means that a wetsuit is optional, not required. Also at this time, smallish west swells, broken up by the occasional stronger south swell, gently massage the coast from Imperial Beach to Oceanside, making San Diego a learner’s paradise, especially at beginner-friendly spots like South Carlsbad State Beach and Pacific Beach.  

San Diego Surfing Academy, tel. 800-447-7873, www.surfsdsa.com. Half-day, 24-hour and one-week surf camps available; one-week camp starts at $1,500 per person and includes 120 hours of surfing lessons, all rental equipment, tent (yes, it’s a real camp; you bring sleeping bag), all meals, field trips and more.

2. Oahu

The birthplace of surfing is a great place to learn to surf, especially during the relatively calm summer. Oahu, Hawaii’s most populous island, has a higher density of surfing schools and camps than anywhere on the planet, and for good reason: The North Shore offers expert surfers challenging and perfect waves during the winter months, while the South Shore’s easy breakers are an ideal spot for learning. Try Waikiki Beach, where mellow rollers ease in before the shadow of Diamond Head. That’s where Hawaiian royalty practiced the sport for generations before Captain James Cook “discovered” the place in 1778.  

Hans Hedeman Surf School, tel. 808-924-7778, www.hhsurf.com. Individual daily lessons start at about $80 per person. Overnight surf camps, run by Quiksilver/Roxy, from about $195 per day.

3. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is part of the small but lucky club of countries that has excellent surfing on two coasts from two oceans. The waves on the Pacific side are more suited to beginners, as coral reefs and erratic, powerful swells establish the Atlantic side as a Caribbean surf paradise for experienced riders only. Playa Hermosa and nearby towns offer the closest surfing to the international airport at San José, but a few hours’ farther away on the Nicoya Peninsula, sleepy towns like Malpaís and Tamarindo attract surfers from around the world to easy beach breaks like Santa Theresa, which are set before picturesque jungles.

Green Iguana Surf Camp, tel, +506-8825-1381, www.greeniguanasurfcamp.com. Overnight surf camps from about $230 per day. Basic surf camp packages in the low season (May 1-Dec. 14) for six nights start at $725 per person based on double occupancy, and include daily surf lessons, unlimited surfboard use, airport and beach transfers, and extra excursions.