Women Surf Coaching Boat Adventure

Often, you feel frustrated with your surfing, you think it’s not even worth continuing, and you even question if your window for improvement is over. Tired of close-outs and grumpy, crowded lineups. Tired of inconsiderate people; having to hassle and fight for a wave, even though it’s your preference. Your ups and downs in confidence. The winter harsh conditions where you cant even reach the lineup, all for just a few seconds standing up on a board, then you return back to the car and cannot even open the car, your hands are frozen and stiff, you cant even feel your body, not even to mention how painful it is to stick your feet and hands in a hot shower.

Of course, we feel stuck and frustrated; surfing is damn difficult. I reckon we have chosen the most difficult sport/hobby/lifestyle (you name it). And the conditions we have at home are not great or inexistent (if landlocked or day-to-day lives filled with responsibilities where surfing or even oneself is not a priority), we got to be realistic and honest.

If it’s all so downside..why do we continue surfing?

We often need the reminder that we never started to surf to become pros. We started so as to be closer to the ocean, nature,  freedom. You know, that meditative state, leaving our worries at the beach, having fun.

What about those sessions where you cannot have caught anymore waves, when you can’t even raise your arms to take your wetsuit off. Surfed out with a smile from ear to ear and a floating-on-clouds feeling. Or those sessions where you do a bit of a something (you name the maneuver) or you catch a big one, hell yeah. You feel proud, fulfilled, accomplished, stocked.

We surf because it fulfills us, it’s rewarding, and we have fun; it’s part of who we are.

…whether to do the self-investment of money and of the ‘limited time-off’.

“Will I score? Will there be waves suitable for me? Will I feel alone? Will I feel integrated into the group? Will I have issues with the food/digestion? What if there are crowds? What if the group is better than me? What if I’m the worst? What if I just end up wasting my money and time once again on this ridiculous hobby of mine? I should just go with my family/friends/partner to a ‘normal’ vacation.”

We feel you, we were once where you are (and more than once).

I (Silvia, talking to you now and throughout this page) always struggled with the decision of going on an overseas surf trip, concerned with whether it was the right decision. Whether it would be a trip where I could make the most of my surf and the waves (if I would be able to actually catch waves), whether I would receive support from the team (if they were motivated and well-paid to give a good service, or if they were just young surfers looking for a summer job), whether I would have to fight to catch waves with the group or with the crowds, if I would feel integrated within the group, if the food would be ok for my funny belly, if I’d get to do more than just searching for waves. I felt that the trip organisers just wanted my money, regardless of whether it was a trip that I would enjoy.

As a product-design engineer, functionality is, for me, the most important characteristic of any product or service when designing. It may look nice or cool, and it may have a low price, but whether it will be successful or not depends on whether it will meet the needs and expectations of the user. Same with the trips we organise. We have a large percentage of repeaters, 85%. We believe in high-value surf experiences and the satisfaction of our guests and team.

We offer high-value surf experiences. 

Since the moment we start organising a trip, we have in mind all the possible details to create our dream experience (yes ‘our’, we also got to have fun, our team has to be motivated, just like our guests, to be able to offer the best of ourselves for our guests in these experiences).

When selling the trip, we spend time (which is precious and limited), having videocalls with the people that are interested in the group trips, making sure they have the right expectations of what we are offering, and if that trip is a right fit for them. 

It would be far easier to have a selling page with a paying button, selling a low-value experience filling up a budget boat with random people like a tin of sardines (ignoring the fact that each person has a different level or preference of waves or may have wrong expectations of the trip), with an itinerary around a small area close to the international airport (hence crowded spots), not being able to move the boat depending on the swells due to the restricted fuel consumption as the itinerary would be limited, without a responsible team (possibly sleeping in and surfing only when the best conditions are on), to keep the expenses to a minimum so as to have a low selling price, to look affordable in order to sell fast. The trip would definitely sell fast, (or not), but possibly not many guests would feel like they made the most of the trip, eager to repeat.

We have actually had people enquiring why our trips are more ‘expensive’, and following year pleading for a spot on one of our limited trips, and sharing how never-again they would join an affordable group surf trip: the group had way more level (or less, we’ve heard stories from both sides, with a group with less level the guest with higher level would always feel stuck heading out to beginner waves; with higher level they would be stuck always in pumping conditions), the guides were doing their own thing, the group itself was already a crowd (14+ guests), or the organisers did not have any experience in the area, etc.

A waste of their money and time. Feeling even more frustrated than surfing at home, a surf boat trip should be a chance to reach that surfed-out state in consistent and hopefully less crowded waves than when you are at home.

We cannot guarantee what kind of waves or weather there will be; with nature, anything can happen.

We can guarantee that we will do our best to take you to the best current conditions for the level specified for the trip and with the fewest people. We are the kind that prefer lower-quality waves to crowds (understanding that lower-quality waves in the Maldives, would still be epic conditions back home).

We cannot guarantee that there will be no crowds; surfing is becoming more popular. We can guarantee that we will be in touch with the local guides of other boats so as to try and avoid being in the same spot at the same time. And if we do coincide, we try to coincide the least time in the water by communicating with their guide.

We do not function according to a schedule. It’s a surf adventure, swell and winds dictate, and it’s the Maldives, an island lifestyle where anything can or cannot happen (forget about the forecast apps).

Our priority is surfing, and our day-to-day will depend on the conditions, what the swells and winds are doing. And hey, whenever there’s a surf, you can choose to chill, snorkel, or join the surf. You are not in the army; this is your holiday.

This is not a kid’s camp with everything set on stone. This is not a retreat organized by a third party who only cares about filling up the group.

Our day-to-day varies; however, in the midst of our “no schedule,” we love waking up early if we know there is a good surf. Normally, this early session is filmed for video analysis (a great tool to see what we are doing wrong, with the coach telling us what and how to improve). Good, healthy breakfast to refuel our bodies for a second surf after video analysis and the power nap. Second surf, lunch for more healthy refueling (to catch even more waves), a power nap, and a third session at sunset if the body is up for it. Before dinner, we tend to do a bit of stretching to loosen up our bodies in preparation for repeating the “surf-eat-sleep-repeat modus operandi” the following day. After a wholesome, refueling dinner, we typically all pass out. (I must say that this varies; sometimes theres a bit of a karaoke scene or a few beers—you name what you like drinking—sharing surf stories.)

As mentioned, this is not set in stone; you can join the pace or surf just when you feel it.

On the days that we are cruising with the boat changing spots, the pace of the day is a bit different. If we know that the surf is not good in the morning, we advise everyone to sleep in, and the boat sails to the next area, and normally we fit in 1-2 sessions. If we know that the surf is good in the morning, we wake up early, have a long session, head back to the boat. The boat starts cruising to the next spot, and we have breaky, video analysis, nap or chill..and by the time we have gained back some energy, we are in the next location, ready for another surf.

Even though surfing is our priority, we have to give the kitchen staff a schedule so they can organise and have meals ready. Often, they worry if we overstay in the water, and lunch is cold. If the waves are pumping and there are no crowds, we prefer to make the most of it and enjoy later our cold, yummy lunch with a surfed out feeling and a grin from ear to ear.

• Everyone is welcome on our trips, as long as they are respectful and considerate of everyone. Note: Agro-vibes are not welcomed.

• Making sure our guests are having a great time, feeling at home, and keen for more adventures.

• Being considerate with the boat crew we work with. There are boats whose crew requests their bosses to offer us more dates and trips because our guests and our team actually treat them respectfully, “like people.”

• Being considerate and caring of our team and of our whole group.

• Being mindful if there are other surfers in the water. We will make sure they have been a while in the water, we will paddle out in small groups, sitting at the end of the wave and respectfully making our way up to the peak. If there are locals in the water, they always have priority. We encourage more communication in the water to make the most of all the waves and the session.

• Avoid bringing single-use plastic on the trip. If you do, we ask you to bring it back home, as in Maldives it will end up either burned or thrown into the water. There is no national waste management procedure.

• When visiting local inhabited islands, we ask you to respect the local culture. For example, if we are in Maldives and it is Ramadan, we should not drink or eat publically outside of the allowed times. Covering yourself a bit, clothes-wise, be considerate and respectful of their culture.

• Our trips are more than waves and beers; we believe in the sustainable integration of the local community with tourism. We have a lot to learn wherever we go.

• Improving and becoming more environmentally friendly, creating awareness.

Inconsiderate disrespectful people are not welcomed, whether it’s with our local team, our crew, our guests, or other people. They are simply not welcomed.

• Completely unknown people become good friends. New friends for more overseas surfing adventures. Just having to do a videocall and the high-value experience, function as filters for a large percentage of people. So at the end of the day, it is special, amazing people (very different from each other yet very similar)—the ones who are keen to be a part of the adventures we create.

• During the trip, people improve their surfing more than in a year surfing back home. Combine the following ingredients:
  • having a group of like-minded fellow surfers;
  • our team supporting, encouraging, and guiding;
  • our coach telling you what you are doing well and what and how you could improve;
  • seeing yourself in video, to better understand what you are doing wrong;
  • perfect long waves (not close-outs) where you can actually practice and think about what you are doing;
  • surfing 2-3 times a day these perfect long waves;
  • healthy refueling food suitable for your dietary requirements, avoiding bad heavy digestions and tiredness, feeling energized and ready for more surfs;
  • actually having fun and switching off;
  • getting to surf different kinds of waves and conditions with someone telling you where to sit and guiding you;
  • hey, 11 days, not the typical 6-7 day trip where you are starting to feel more comfortable with your surf, is actually when you are packing up your boards to fly back home. Plenty of time to reconnect with your surfing while your muscles get used to the intensity (if you haven’t had the chance to surf as much before the trip), plenty of time to get used to these new waves, and  to build your confidence up.
  • No wonder magic happens and people improve with these ingredients.

• We have two auxiliary boats; if you decide you want to sleep in, you can join us for the morning surf a bit later with the dingy. Nothing is set in stone; if we can do it, we will tell you, and if we cannot accommodate your request, we will also tell you.

• You will get to surf in different kinds of conditions; some days it will be in your comfort zone, and some days it will be more challenging. We cannot control nature, but you can choose to try (supported by our team), or go for a snorkel, or chill and watch the others give it a go.

• With a supportive team in the water, you leave your fears and judgments to the side and start believing in you and trusting your abilities. And may be you start enjoying the wipeouts (like me) or not, and you prefer just to chill if conditions are a bit more challenging.

• You will have done a surf trip with comfort and a high-value experience, yet in a surf-eat-sleep-repeat mode, some surfers like some good comfort and service whilst on their time off.

• Forget about having to decide where and when to surf (nothing is worse than spending hours at home checking out different spots, to end up where you first started—hearing someone say, “Yeah, it was better before”). We know these waters; we will call the shots. You will just see how we rock up to the best spot for the day. Our team will check with other guides, local surfers, captains, fishermen, etc. and decide where the best spot is for our group. You just worry that you have plenty of rest, hydration, zinc, and wax.

• You return home with plenty of homework from the coach to keep on training when you can go surfing.

• Your confidence levels are also boosted, and you are eager to jump again in the water, buy new surfboards, or plan your next overseas surf trip.

• You will experience the real, authentic Maldives. Part of our team is formed by locals who are keen to share about their culture and country. We will visit inhabited islands, try the local gastronomy, and see the island lifestyle. This is not experienced when staying at a resort (we call them bubbles; they are not the true Maldives) or when joining a normal boat trip (people tend to underestimate the local culture and communities).

The bad news is possibly that you will be hooked on our vibes, our community, and our modus operandi, and you will be ready in the future for another trip with us.

• When you return to your happy life back home, everything will be the same. Waking up early for work, your responsibilities, the house, meals, the kids, your family, walking the dog, the traffic—you will still be getting annoyed at (you name him/her; someone will surely keep doing their usual annoying things). Those things will not change. The happiness of your comfort place, routine, and loving people will be there.

• There will be some slight inner changes:
  • You will be feeling stronger, more confident, and a bit less stressed—just like a self-reset. So those annoying moments (mentioned before) will not be as annoying, and returning home will be comforting.
  • You will be able to internally savor the memories of those waves and fun moments, pulling up a grin on your face and a comforting inner feeling.
  • It will almost feel as if it were a dream, but the photos will remind you that those memories were real; you did surf those waves.
  • When you go surfing, you will feel more confident, and you will know what to focus on if you decide you want to continue with the coach’s homework.
• Possibly you will start thinking about a new trip with us. This may sound a bit arrogant coming from me, but it’s true. You cannot believe the number of emails, messages, WhatsApps, and calls from repeaters we receive, requesting new trips and dates.

“What about thinking I only know how to surf when in the Maldives?”

If you jump straight in the water when you get back home, there are very very high chances you will feel like you don’t know how to surf.

It has happened. I have had guests call me, upset, saying, “Silvia, I only know how to surf if I’m in the Maldives; what’s wrong with me?”.

Same old story, there is nothing wrong with you other than you are surfed out, over 10 days with 3 surfs a day, a long flight back home. How can you pretend to be?

Your body and mind will feel surfed out, collapsed. Of course, you won’t be able to surf. Leave some time, rest, and take it easy.

Also, remember, in the Maldives, the waves tend to be perfect. It is not a close-out kind of wave setup; they are long, rideable waves. And you have a channel, so remember, you were catching wave after wave, surfing till right before the end, kicking out, paddling towards the channel, and then paddling back in the channel where it was deep and no waves broke,without having to duckdive or do the turtleroll, while watching your new friends ride away too. We have to be realistic and honest. At home, normally it is a beach break; you will have to fight through the waves and whitewash to get up to the peak, plus the crowds, to catch a close-out that possibly allows you to just stand up and not much else.

Of course, it will be different from surfing in Maldives; the kind of waves affects your performance; remember, it’s not you.

For the right people, it is a good investment. We know our trips are not for everyone. Yet we have a huge community of repeaters.

I think I have not left out anything, so if you are interested and you see yourself being part of this adventure, contact us and let’s schedule a chat.