As a surfer who has visited Costs Rica many times over the last 31 years, I have to say this would not be my cup of tea! Despite the massive of growth in tourism, with all the good and bad that that entails, Costa Rica still offers the chance to get off the beaten track, visit pristine beaches, meet some of the nicest people in the world, surf uncrowded waves, and have a real adventure. It does not have to be difficult or expensive! Would I benefit from some serious surf coaching? Absolutely!
1
Sounds like a nice vacation on the water..or perhaps in the water.
But, there is NO WAY a person without any surf experience to become even close to being competent in the sport...no way.
Having surfed since near grammer school..Pier Avenue School-Hermosa Beach..a few months out of the water makes alot of difference...practice does make perfect.
$4,500 for one week...sounds like a great business..but, for the would be surf guy-chick..best best is the local beach beginning with a long board..then progressing to something smaller if that is your thing...."Longboarders forever"...and, lastly, I used to have a house in Tamarindo..down the beach from the village with the blue tile roof...Casa Azur. RH
3
Attention: Adult Learners
If you don’t surf, don’t start.
Surfing is hard.
Take up rollerblading instead. It’s cool!
4
Gosh - it’s be really hard to destroy surfing - but there’s been a ton of progress lately,
The coup de grace being Kelly Slater’s wave pool - but this is up there.
8
Please don't think Costa Rica is as high maintenance as this article sounds. Travel at a time when flights don't cost a lot, and make sure you have a car that can handle bumpy roads - and check out VRBO.com for great rentals, with entire homes that have price tags closer to 150 dollars a night-the price of a red roof inn room in the United States.
We just had one of our lowest cost - but most rewarding - surf vacations to Costa Rica. Instead of lessons, my son rented a board from Tico's on Samsara beach (next to Gusto's) for 20 dollars a day, and surfed with a great group of Costa Rican boys of all ages every day. He learned so much from the boys - Costa Rica's school system is top-notch - and made great friends. Tico's also gives great lessons if needed!
Another way to keep costs low, visit some of the restaurants off the beaten track instead of at resorts - we loved Cambute/Kimbute near Punta Islita - gorgeous location, wonderful food and, with the exception of some of the fancier entrees, the price tag of a diner in the US https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g6003263-d8665244-r315587239-Kimbute_Restaurant-Punta_Islita_Province_of_Guanacaste.html
Pura vida!
9
I've always wanted to learn to surf as it seems an excellent form of exercise, both cardio and all-muscle utilizing. It also seems meditative. Outside of my fear of sharks, the most discouraging element is what appears to be an exclusionary culture that frowns upon beginners or outsiders. Perhaps these coaching sessions include how to ingratiate oneself as a newbie and get over the initial fear of fitting in. (Before ultimately being eaten by a great white.)
4
Highly recommended reading for surf campers who feel they’re ready for real-life surfing: “Surf Rage” by Nat Young, which covers the confluence of surfing, overcrowding, and violence.
2
it's not exclusionary, it just requires a great deal of fitness, courage, humility and patience. If you don't have high levels of those 4 attributes, no amount of money, gear, coaching, or anything else is going to make much of an impact.
2
It's beautiful and great teaching plan, but too perfect, and not for the average traveller. I mean, come on, 5 grand for 1 week for one + air? So with air, ground transport and all those little extras you end up buying- from souvenirs to top shelf liquor 6 Gs easily. Yikes. Hawaii would be cheaper to get to, and to stay- and if you're a novice, there are easy waves to learn on in Waikiki or even on the north shore (Haleiwa) in the spring, summer, with or without lessons. And cheaper lessons there too.
4
So beautiful! But I guess it's not for everyone. Air travel, several thousand dollars per person, and other expenses. But it looks like fun! I remember going to Los Cerritos in Baja back in the early 1990's. It cost $3 a day for my palapa palm hut. Now its a resort, that costs considerably more. But I had to fly there, rent a car, and deal with dangerous ocean conditions (people drowned there every year we went). It's hard for me to criticize something so well considered, and executed. I'm going to start saving now, so I can go next winter. Bravo Bonnie Tsui! Get paid for having fun!
2
'A week at Surf Simply starts at about $4,500 per person double occupancy.' So for say an even 10 grand (with airfare and pina coladas) at the suggested 'new' minimum wage of $15 per hour, you would have to work 666.66 hours. Yet another sign of the impending apocalypse. The ship, it be sinking.
9
@Micheal Ray Richardson
It's a school. I'm sure there are plenty of place to surf for free if you don't want lessons
1
The commercialization and monetization of surfing is one of the saddest things that has happened in my lifetime.
17
@mysticknightsofthesea
The demise of surfing began with the leash.
1
@ralph tieleman im not a surfer, but greatly admire and enjoy watching them (john john florence is my fav).
why is the leash a problem? dont you need it to prevent your board from being swept out to sea when you crash?
@mysticknightsofthesea you must be about 110 years old then because surfing has never not been commercialized
It's 5 degrees here now and tomorrow's high will be all of -8. And I'm forced to read this article about surfing. Surfing and learning there looks absolutely amazing. Even more so right now, as my fingers are almost too cold to type. I'm definitely putting this place on my wish list of where to go. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make it there, but maybe. Thanks for helping to keep my thoughts a little warm.
5
Even better way to work on your technique is to learn to skate transition in pools. You can record your progress much more easily, hit multiple more waves and do it repeatedly over and over. Add and Esk8 to the mix and you’ve found the endless wave.
Another example of surfing becoming a "status sport" just like skiing and golf. At least this resort claims to teach etiquette...so many rich adult learners come with an unearned sense of self-entitlement that is so different from the classic surf culture, where dedication, time spent, and keeping secrets are valued.
13
@Dash So what's the "right way" to enter surfing if this is the case? Is it just a matter of having the right attitude and maintaining a low profile or is there just a lack of decent spots that make it impossible to support the newcomers (rich or otherwise)? Does one have to be born in the right year and wait for a sufficient number of dedicated, secret-keeping old surfers to die off?
No problem with adult learners if they stick to beginner spots (like Nosara) and stay out of the way. Problem is that they don’t, ruining many waves and sessions for those that have spent their entire life surfing, working up skill level to feel confident in the ocean. It does take time, dedication and commitment to become a surfer. Happy to share the lineup with other competent wave riders.
Wonderful surf and beach but the seemingly uncontrolled development around the Nosara area and the poor roads indicate to me that the place is being loved to death. Please surf nerds, spend some time with the locals to help them develop this place sustainably and equitably.
6
Acheive, acheive, acheive. Optimize, optimize, optimize.
(And throw in an expensive glamping "retreat" so you have something to Instagram for your ego and your fellow materialists back home).
Is there anything the techies can't make a total drag?
15
For $5000 I can live in Central American for a year
19
where?
1
I,ve been surfing for over fifty years, never needed a high end ,
bouge, surf camp to learn and experience the true experience
of wave riding.
16
That’s the entire point of this article, dude – for 50 years you’ve had nothing better to do than be a surf bum, which is how you got good, Meantime the folks in this article have led rewarding successful productive lives, and so have the money but not the time to properly learn surfing. That’s where these surf resorts are priceless.
Of course this begs the question of the better approach – a week of bougie surf camp, or a lifetime surf bum? And all things considered, the bums have the advantage.
1
@Observer i know this is shocking to consider, but so called "bums" have real jobs.
i would know, being a snowboard "bum" and all.
1
@Observer
Why do you assume "cbarber" has had nothing better to do than be a surf bum, "dude"? How do you know cbarber hasn't led a "rewarding successful productive life? What makes you think that geeks obsessing with multiple data inputs is the "proper" way to learn surfing. One last thing, "Observer", I would wager you couldn't stand up on a surfboard if it were nailed to the beach.
4