Which is the best surf school on Fuerteventura?

Which is the best surf school on Fuerteventura? In recent years, Fuerteventura’s location in the Atlantic Ocean has cemented its position as one of the ideal surf destinations in Europe. Its long coastline, with numerous spots offering high-quality waves, is visited every year by thousands of surfers of all levels from all over the world.

As more and more people want to learn to surf, the number of surf schools in this part of the Canary Islands has grown exponentially, with offers for every taste, ranging from super-intensive courses of just a few hours to camps of several days with accommodation and meals in an authentic surfer atmosphere.

“Surfing is like playing music—you play different melodies with different boards!”

– Skip Frye –

Any surf school you choose should be flexible when it comes to the schedule of its surf courses. Some schools only offer surf courses at a fixed time of day. The problem is that these surf schools don’t align their lessons with the tides and therefore with the best conditions of the day. The best surf school on Fuerteventura makes sure that the times change every day according to low and high tide as well as the prevailing wind and weather conditions.

A surf school should be flexible enough to take these points into account so that you can be taught in the best possible way.

The student-to-instructor ratio is important for beginner surfers. The last thing you want is to end up in a surf school that works like a production line. You can recognise such a surf school by the fact that it pushes the legal maximum of one surf instructor to eight students to the limit. In a surf school like that, you don’t get enough individual attention and probably won’t progress as quickly.

Unfortunately, some surf schools tend to form very large groups per instructor, which makes the lessons impersonal, poorer and less effective, and poses a latent risk to the students’ safety.

With a small ratio of one surf instructor to four students, the best surf school on Fuerteventura makes sure that you learn quickly and make fast progress. Surfing is fun, but at the beginning you need someone who makes sure you don’t have any accidents and who minimises that risk with the right theory and equipment.

Since you are already paying for the surf course itself, you shouldn’t have to rent the surf equipment on top. The surf school should provide you with the surfboard, a wetsuit, the leash, wax and a lycra for the surf course.

The best surf school on Fuerteventura provides all the equipment and also takes photos “on the side” so that your time in El Cotillo stays a great memory. The photos are included in the package free of charge.

The good condition of the equipment can make the difference between a good and a bad surf experience. That’s why the school should offer its students good equipment that is in perfect condition and replaced regularly.

The best surf school on Fuerteventura offers you very good equipment that is completely replaced once a year. Wetsuits and surfboards are therefore never particularly old, which makes learning to surf very pleasant. In addition, we only use gear from brand manufacturers and don’t buy it at “Decathlon” like some competitors.

The content of the lessons at a good surf school is very important. You should learn how to warm up before surfing and how to behave safely in the sea. What matters is a good mix of surf theory and practice. It’s important that you know how to choose the best waves. That means you should learn something about how waves form, the types of waves and how the wind affects them.

At the best surf school on Fuerteventura, in addition to practical surfing, you learn something new every day. Besides how waves form, these are all the topics you need to keep practising and surfing on your own: the most common mistakes when surfing, the right stance on the board, the right position in the line-up, proper paddling, the right equipment and surf etiquette (right-of-way rules). All topics are presented to you graphically in our surf theory lounge in El Cotillo. Here you can lean back on the sofa with some biscuits, review the surf course and dive a little deeper into the world of surfing.

In the following overview you can see what we teach you in the first five days of our surf course on Fuerteventura:

• Understanding the sea: tides, waves, currents
• Learning about waves: why they form, how they move, how they differ
• Learning about surf equipment: the surfboard, the fins, the leash, the wax
• Handling the equipment on land and in the water
• Safety in and out of the water (recognising hazards)
• Surfing waves both lying down and standing up
• Making small turns, accelerating and slowing down
• Surf etiquette (right-of-way rules)
• … and much more

Make sure the school in question complies with the applicable regulations. Not everyone is able to introduce you to the secrets of surfing or guarantee your safety in the water. If the surf instructors are qualified, the risks are reduced to a minimum. A real surf instructor wants to be by your side, encourage you and correct you so that you have a really good experience. Look for surf instructors who have experience in both surfing and teaching. Just because someone is a great surfer in the water doesn’t mean they can “teach” or give comprehensive lessons.

How important is it to have lessons tailored to your needs?

A surf coach who is committed to their students’ learning is the best guarantee of a high-quality service. To this end, the surf instructor is always at the participants’ side. That means the dedicated instructor goes into the water with them, helps the student onto the surfboard so they can catch the wave more easily, corrects their posture, encourages them to keep going and doesn’t tire until the student has managed to stand up on the waves.

It’s easy to spot an unmotivated teacher by their posture; they often stand with their hands behind their back, in the “typical waiter’s stance” on the beach, and give very little feedback.

The best surf school on Fuerteventura employs surf instructors who are all licensed, are all lifeguards and have been surfing themselves for a long time. Our surf instructors love teaching and sharing their passion for surfing with you. You are the focus here. No instructor wants to show off – the point is that you learn to surf at your own pace and with as much attention as possible.

More on this topic: German-speaking surf camp on Fuerteventura – a paradise for German surfers

When choosing a surf school, make sure the instructors hold a surf instructor licence, a first aid certificate and a lifeguard certificate. Even on calm days, the ocean can be dangerous due to currents and unexpected swell. One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of learning to surf is safety. All questions about safety must be clarified before you paddle out for the first time, including how to behave in strong currents or rips and how to avoid collisions with other surfers. So safety comes first.

At the best surf school on Fuerteventura, safety is at the very top of the agenda. On the first day of the surf course you get a presentation on safety in the surf theory area at the surf school. Here we explain how to handle your equipment and the flag system on the beach, and point out hazards that could come from surfers, animals or other things. We explain the emergency numbers, the signals the surf instructors use to communicate with you while surfing and everything else you need to know about safety. Only then do we head to the beach together with all the equipment, where you are introduced to surfing in practice.

Surf schools aren’t just for the inexperienced. Experienced surfers also prefer surf camps and surf schools because they know they can surf the best waves there, meet like-minded people and that there are people who want to make their time as pleasant as possible. If you’re interested in a surf school, you should look at its social media accounts to get a feel for what it offers. Sometimes it’s the environment that decides whether an adventure succeeds or fails.

At the best surf school on Fuerteventura, you can see authentically on Instagram and in our blog what conditions await you here. We don’t want to sugarcoat anything, because surfing is a sport that depends on nature. Of course we sometimes have paradise-like conditions, but unfortunately on many days it’s also windy and sometimes grey. Although the sun shines almost every day, that’s not always the case.

Another point to consider when choosing the best surf school is the range of courses it offers. It’s important that it has offers for all levels, from beginner to advanced, because that way we can progress in our learning without having to change school or instructor. This gives you the chance to come back on other occasions to continue learning to surf, knowing that you are progressing step by step with the same team of surf professionals, which in turn boosts your confidence.

A school that has been around for a while has figured out how to keep its guests happy and safe. If you’re going to spend money on a surf school, you should choose one with a long and successful history. It’s also a good idea to choose a school that is known locally, nationally and internationally for offering both locals and visitors high-quality surf lessons and related services.

Even if it’s not an exclusion criterion, the surf school’s many years of experience can be an argument for choosing it. As a rule, a school with many years of teaching experience brings a track record of satisfied graduates who recommend it. A very good surf school that has been teaching this sport for many years usually also has the best comments on social networks. It’s therefore advisable to look online for the opinions of those who have taken its courses.

The best surf school on Fuerteventura, FreshSurf, has existed since 2009 and has always been keen to keep developing ever since. We make mistakes too, as you can see from our reviews. But we see every mistake and every justified, constructive criticism as a tool to get even better.

Make sure that a good surf school is always close to the sea, so the surf school building is easy to reach.

The best surf school on Fuerteventura is only 2 minutes by car from our home beach, so you won’t spend much time in the car. However, we want you to find the best possible conditions every day. That’s why we sometimes drive to the east coast when it’s better there. That can mean spending 20 minutes in the surf school bus. But with good music and a good mood, the time flies by.

Is FreshSurf the best surf school on Fuerteventura?

We wish you lots of fun finding the best surf school for you. Here at FreshSurf we offer unforgettable holiday experiences for people looking for a surf camp for beginners or improvers, adults or families. We combine our surf courses with a suitable offer of active and passive relaxation so that you get the right attitude, flexibility and focus to succeed in the waves and in life. This is what our guests say about us: FreshSurf reviews

Our guests, many of whom have been coming back for years, believe that FreshSurf surf school is the best surf school because we offer a holistic, varied and balanced experience in surfing and everything around it. We have always believed in the concept of “small is beautiful” and therefore keep our groups small and personal. Our guests often say they feel like they are visiting old friends – and the feeling is mutual.

If you think FreshSurf is right for you, feel free to send us your enquiry. Otherwise, we wish you the best of luck with your search. Above all, surfing is our passion and one of the best additions to our life here, and we’re excited for your journey as you get to know the surfer in you better!