Looking for the ultimate surf school in Portugal? Ericeira is one of the world’s best places to learn the art of surfing. Here you’ll have access to a wide variety of waves that are consistent all year round. Enjoy sunny and warm summers, fresh seafood and delicious specialties, incredible nature, and an alluring local atmosphere. All members of our staff are helpful, knowledgeable, and eager to share their passion for surfing with people from all over the world.
Ericeira is a surf mecca: the incredible breaks and pristine condition of the local beaches and water prompted environmental organization Save the Waves Coalition, in co-operation with the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the National Surfing Reserves of Australia, to select Ericeira as a dedicated World Surfing Reserve — the first and only one in Europe.
The majority of Portuguese pro surfers come from Ericeira due to the high quality of its waves. One of the longest breaks, Ribeira d’llhas, hosts two WSL competitions annually.
Foz do Lizandro, our home sand beach represents the perfect stomping ground for beginners. Its mellow waves and sandy bottom make it is a great place to learn how to surf. All of the beach breaks we frequent are within a 10km radius of the camp. The Atlantic Ocean can get very cold and the reefs can be sharp so we advise you to wear a 4/3 wetsuit and booties. In the summer the air temperature can reach highs of 30+°C so the cool water feels nice and refreshing.
For more experienced surfers the immediate area around the village of Ericeira is home to a cluster of world-class surf spots with many perfect left and right-hand reef breaks and tubes to ride, including Ribeira d’Ilhas, a regular feature on the ASP World Tour Surf Championship.
We offer surf lessons for beginners, intermediates as well as sessions for more advanced surfers. The certified, knowledgeable instructors at our surf school make sure that you achieve your goals whether you are just starting out as a beginner or you are an advanced surfer who wants to improve their technique. If you are not sure which group you fit into, we suggest trying the beginner group for a few days and we can always move you if you need more of a challenge. Speak to any member of staff for guidance on which group suits your ability.
The schedule of our surf lessons always depends on the conditions in the water, that’s why our surf school always chooses the lesson times according to the best tides, winds and conditions each day of the year. Before/after the lessons you can practice what you’ve learnt by yourself at our home beach if the conditions are considered safe for free surfing.
The beginner category is for those who have never surfed before, or who haven’t surfed in a while and want to go through the basics one more time. It is a great fit for all people who are refining their techniques and gaining confidence. We’ll give you a fun introduction to surfing, and share the stoke when you catch your very first waves. We’ll make sure that you develop your skills in line with your level and that you’ll catch as many waves as possible while having fun with the other surfers.
A significant part of our guests at all camps are complete beginners, that’s why we offer lessons for complete beginners from Mondays to Saturdays and as you progress during your time at camp, so does the instruction you receive. Trust us, within your stay you might already be riding green waves with the help of our patient and experienced instructors and you will meet a new surfing family at camp that may stay friends for life.
Your first surf lesson begins with an instructor teaching you the basics on how to handle a surfboard, paddle out, catch a wave and get to your feet.
Here are some fundamental steps you will start with at our camp:
• Safety intro and beach awareness
• Surf equipment explained
• Paddling technique
• Catching a wave
• Standing up on your board
• Surfboard control
• How to ride a wave towards the shore
• Improving your stance
• Surf awareness
• Improving your technique
The main difference between beginner and intermediate surfers is their autonomy in the water. To be suitable for the intermediate group you should be able to get up on waves on your own, have a very strong paddling ability and be comfortable in the water in general. If this is still a challenge for you, you will benefit more from the beginner course instead.
The instructors will help you to improve your skills, you will learn how to read the water, where to position yourself and how to turn on waves.
This module is focused on getting to the outside (lineup) in waist high waves. We’ll teach you to catch green waves and ride the face of the wave instead of going straight in the white water. Our instructors will identify the important changes you can bring to your technique that will end up making a huge difference in your surfing style!
You will get personalised tips on how you surf and about what to improve as the quality of the waves you pick, the speed you are able to generate, your agility on the wave, Our team will teach you how to use rip currents and as well refine your timing while picking up the waves to surf etc. All these factors can truly make a difference in your learning path. The more you train, the better you surf and the more you’ll end up loving it.
Other important things you will learn with us in the Intermediate course:
To be suitable for the advanced group you need to be able to drop in confidently on 3ft+ waves, be comfortable surfing at low tide, and you should also have experience in doing top/bottom turns.
Other requirements for the advanced module are the ability to surf shortboards as well as the ability to duck dive, so if you’re not yet confident in head high or higher waves on your own we suggest trying to stick to the intermediate group for a while until you are ready for a bigger challenge.
Our intermediate and advanced coaches work together very closely. They communicate their students’ progress with each other, so you might start in an intermediate course and be suitable for our advanced sessions after a few days already.
We’ll give you the knowledge you need to feel confident in surfing most breaks, focusing on entry and exit from the break and we will help you decide which peak is the best for your level of surfing.
If you want to find new places to surf with a help of a local guide. He will tell you where best to surf. This only for surfers with experience of surfing alone .
Our instructors know the best spots according to each individual’s skill level and have a combined experience of 30 years surfing, they know many of the globe’s top surf locations and are extremely familiar with Portugal’s – and especially Ericeira’s – best break. They will take you to the best spot for your level depending on tides and weather conditions. Each of them is an expert in judging surf conditions, such as time and location, and all have a European license for surfing standards.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or seasoned expert, our instructors strive to provide you with a stress-free, fun, and enjoyable learning environment where you can advance your skills. We are serious about teaching surfing technique and knowledge, helping to choose the proper equipment, getting you to the right surf spots for your specific skill level and taste.
If you are taking surf lessons, our instructors will first teach you the basics in surf theory class. Afterward, they will advise you on which break suits your skill level. They’ll show you how to pop up onto the board for the first time or how to improve your existing skills and get from riding to ripping.
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Browse our FAQ for more info about our surf lessons in Ericeira.
A significant part of our guests at all camps are complete beginners. Every day we offer lessons for complete beginners and as you progress during your time at camp so does the instruction you receive. Trust us, within 5 days you’ll be riding green waves with the help of our patient and experienced instructors and you will meet a new surfing family at camp that may stay friends for life.
Read MoreDepends on how you like to spend your holidays. Main season (July, August, September) is probably the best time regarding to waves but off course there are more people in the water as well.
Read MoreAll our school wetsuits are 4/3, we strongly recommend this thickness if you want to bring your own wetsuit as well. In the summer months the temperature outside can get really high, however, the water temperature doesn’t get much warmer than 17°C. Don’t be scared though, that just wakes you up well for your lessons. You can rent a wetsuit directly in our camp – we have a variety of different sizes and fits.
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