Course Procedure
Every weekend, the schedules for the various groups of the following week are planned out. They’re arranged so that everyone is at the best place and time according to their level and the week’s conditions. A meeting point and time will be provided over the weekend before your lesson(s).
It’s crucial to be on time so you can choose the appropriate equipment for each person’s level and body type.
For multi-day courses, you’ll be given a wetsuit on the first day. On subsequent days, you’re expected to be dressed and ready to go, on time and at the meeting point.
The duration of group surf lessons is 1 hour and 45 minutes*, from departure to return to the van. Generally, there’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes in the water (on multi-day courses, the briefings are shortened and practice time increases as the course progresses).
Get Wet group lessons consist of a maximum of 6 surfers*, unlike most establishments which have 8, to maximize student/instructor interactions and encourage progression.
*Lessons for those under 12 years old last 1 hour and 15 minutes and are composed of a maximum of 4 people.
Once the group is geared up, we head over the dune to the beach.
At the top of the dune, depending on the age of the participants, we take advantage of the height for a brief observation of the beach, highlighting the practice area and its features: rip currents and sandbanks.
On the beach, we have a short briefing.
– Expectations from each individual:
“What I’m looking for in surf lessons,” a brief personal introduction from each participant, specifying physical fitness, experience in aquatic environments, and surfing level if it’s not an initiation.
– Establishment of the practice area and safety measures:
The goal here is to understand the marine environment to be able to navigate safely. What factors affect the conditions, how to analyze them (swell, wind, tide, sandbanks…). We also discuss attitudes to have in the water and how to behave as a group. We aim to prevent accidents by respecting priorities and being friendly.
“What are water movements like and why?”
“What waves will I try to catch?”
“How do I achieve that?”
These are examples of questions we answer as a group to prepare for the session.
– Warm-up and Body Surf:
Next comes the warm-up (even though crossing the dune in summer is already part of it). We aim to prepare the body for surfing movements without risking injury (increasing body temperature and joint flexibility).
The second part, body-surfing (gliding on the water’s surface, propelled by a wave, using the body as the only support), allows for initial contact with the water. Here, we become aware of the movements and power of the waves highlighted during the briefing.
– Technical explanations:
Depending on the levels, number of surf lessons, and the group’s homogeneity, the instructor adapts instructions before a quick demonstration on the sand. Now it’s your turn, first on land, then in the water.
The instructor is in the water with you, helping you catch waves and correcting your movements. Individual feedback is given on the beach for more relevance and a personalized experience.
– Conclusion and end of the lesson:
We have a brief individual and group debrief at the end of the session.
Have a question? Contact us.
