Watching someone catch their first wave and turn around looking for their instructor with a "did you see that?" face has been the best part of our job since 2015. To get you to that moment as soon as possible, here is exactly what a first lesson with us looks like, no surprises.
What to bring to your first surf lesson
The list is short, and that is good news:
- Swimsuit: a snug one that will not move around in the waves. You wear it under the wetsuit.
- Towel: for changing afterwards (and for the mandatory soaked-hair photo).
- Sunscreen: water resistant and applied half an hour before. The Mediterranean sun forgives very little, even in winter.
- Water: paddling makes you thirstier than you would think.
- Optional: flip-flops and a hair tie. No watches or rings; the sea collects those.
What about the board? And the wetsuit? Relax, that is on us.
What we provide
At the school we have beginner boards and wetsuits in every size, so you do not have to carry a thing: you add them as an extra when booking and that is it. And every lesson includes what really matters:
- A certified instructor in small groups, with more than 20 years surfing this coast.
- A safety briefing before entering the water: currents, swimming zones, how to fall and how to protect your head.
- Activity insurance, because we do things properly.
- The best beach of the day: we are a mobile school and we take the lesson to where the waves are. The meeting point is confirmed one hour ahead; come straight to the beach or leave with us from our base at Somorrostro, in Barceloneta.
What the hour and a half looks like
Each session is a full 1h30 of coaching, and it flies by:
- On the sand (about 20 minutes): warm-up, how to paddle, how to stand up (the famous pop-up) and the safety rules. It feels like theatre, but this rehearsal is what gets you to your feet later.
- Into the water: you start by riding whitewater, the already-broken waves, which are the best teachers. Your instructor positions you, pushes you into the first ones and corrects you wave after wave.
- The moment: in most first lessons, most people manage to stand up. We do not promise manoeuvres; we promise you will leave the water wanting more.
You will come out tired, seriously hungry and mentally replaying your best wave. It is the usual side effect; no known cure.
Will I be cold? The star question
No. Wetsuits exist precisely for that, and they work. In summer the Mediterranean sits around 24-25 degrees and many days you will not even need one. In spring and autumn, a shorty or a full suit is more than enough. And in winter? The water drops to around 13-14 degrees, but with the full wetsuit we hand you at the school you surf in complete comfort; in fact, people who try winter usually come back for more, because that is when the sea is most generous and the beach most peaceful. Golden rule: in the water, moving and catching waves, you feel less cold than watching from the shore.
Another common doubt: what if the sea turns ugly that very day? Two days before, we check the forecast and tell you how it looks, and if there are no waves in the end, you choose: surfskate and technique for €20 with the rest as credit, or everything you paid as credit for another day. Nobody goes in the water in conditions that are not right.
The requirements (only one is serious)
Knowing how to swim is essential. We do not negotiate on that, for your own safety. No need to swim like an Olympian: being comfortable out of your depth is enough.
Age? The summer surf camp starts at age 5 and, during the school year, so does after-school surf. There is no upper limit: we have seen first waves at 6 and at 60. Fitness? Whatever is normal for a sea activity; adrenaline covers the rest.
Three instructor tips to make the most of it
- No big meals right before. Leave a couple of hours after a heavy lunch.
- Tell us your fears. Wary of deep water? A bad past experience? Tell your instructor at the start; we adapt the lesson and the sea becomes a much friendlier place.
- Come back soon. Muscle memory is short at the beginning: a second lesson within a few days is worth double. That is what the lesson packs are for, and they cost less than single lessons.
Booking is the easiest part
The group surf lesson costs from 30€ and is booked online in under a minute: pick a day on the schedule, add a board and wetsuit if you need them, done. There are lessons every day and we confirm the waves 48 h ahead; if the sea doesn’t play along, what you paid stays as credit for another day. Before coming, have a look at when the surf happens in Barcelona so you arrive with your homework done.
Your first wave is out there waiting. We just take you to it.