Surf Lessons

Surfing is a healthy, natural sport. It gets you in good shape, gives you a nice tan, and most of all is FUN!!! In Playa Dominical, Costa Rica, the water temperature is around 78 degrees year round, so you can leave your wetsuit at home.

Ask any experienced surfer, and they'll all tell you the same thing: nothing in the world compares with riding nice, glassy waves. At Green Iguana Surf Camp, we teach much more than the simple act of riding a wave; the true spirit of surfing is a very special thing, and is why so many people change their lives to be close to the ocean and the surf. There really is something magical about surfing, and for many people, it's that missing link that makes their lives complete. This philosophy is shared by the Green Iguana staff, and is something we consistently impart to our guests.

Green Iguana's teachers are trained lifeguards, and are all highly experienced in teaching you everything you need to know about surfing; including the basics of reading the ocean, how to stand up properly, and how to ride the wave. Our surf instructors are bilingual Costa Ricans, and have an unparalleled knowledge of local waves and conditions. They know where all the secret spots are, and take you where it's going to be best each day, at the right time of day. Most importantly, Green Iguana's surf instructors keep a smile on your face,and show you how to squeeze every drop of fun out of your surf sessions!

 

 

Here's a description of Green Iguana's beginner's surf course:

Day 1- First lesson, held during low to medium tide at Dominical Beach. This lesson teaches you the fundamentals, and how to avoid and get out of rip currents. You'll learn all about surfing etiquette; how to avoid accidents in the water, which surfer has the right-of-way, and how to both give and receive courtesy in the surf. The first half of the lesson is spent on the beach, where you'll learn about the effects that tide, wind, and swell direction have on the surf, how to read and avoid rip tides, and how to read ocean swells. The second half of the lesson is spent in the water, learning how to paddle, getting to your feet, and riding some beginner waves.

Day 2- Day two is where you step up a notch, from the whitewater to the outside break. Lesson two teaches you how to paddle out farther and deal with incoming waves, how to sit up on your board (tougher than it sounds), and how to catch waves and get up to your feet. Lessons two and on are normally held at several other beaches south of Dominical, in order to find the best waves for the day's conditions. These are all very beautiful, secluded beaches, ideal for beginning surfers.

Days 3-On The next series of lessons are held at the area's beachbreaks. These lessons are designed to teach you to ride the face of the wave, with the main focuses being on wave judgment and timing, catching waves and getting up to your feet properly, and learning how to make basic turns. The object of these lessons is to build up "muscle memory" - a term that refers to the body's ability to learn a particular movement, after many repetitions, without the mind consciously thinking about it - very important when you're learning to take off on a wave.

-Green Iguana's surf school courses include one or two surf lessons per day, timed according to the tides. The five, seven, and ten day surf courses also include unlimited surfboard use, and guided transportation to local surf spots.

-Please Note: As with all sports, some people learn to surf very quickly, while others are more comfortable taking their time to learn. Kids are different - they surf like seasoned pros after about 5 minutes of instruction! It does help to have experience swimming in the ocean, but it's not entirely necessary. However, we do require that all surf school participants, kids and adults, have some basic swimming abilities. If you can tread water for ten minutes, and swim a few laps in a pool without feeling beat, then no problem - you're ready to go surfing.

-What to bring for your surf lessons: sun block is imperative - rash guards (spandex) and Aloe Gator surfing sun block can be found in local surf shops.
If you manage to forget your swimmin' trunks, you can find surf shorts and bathing suits/bikinis here as well.

-Green Iguana Surf Camp's Surf Science page is the most comprehensive and informative web page on surfing's basics and ocean safety to be found anywhere on the internet! We highly recommend that anyone traveling abroad on a surf vacation read this page before departing.

 

Surfing is a lot of fun. Surfing is also a science.
I have put together a brief course on the science of reading the ocean for a quality ride.
Click here for more information