Archive for the ‘Urfing’ Category

Surf school sounds like a bit of an oxymoron. Talk to any salt encrusted, bleach blonde, grommet at Wrightsville Beach in the summer and he will quickly disassociate the two words for you. “School is where they keep you locked up when you’re not surfing!” would be a typical response. On the other hand, it is every kid’s dream to be able to show up to school one day and have it be all about getting in the water, riding waves, and learning under the sun at the beach. It’s no wonder that kids and adults alike flock to surf schools every summer to experience and live out this childhood fantasy. After all, the office is really just the adult version of school.

Surf schools come in a variety shapes and sizes, just like the waves themselves. The typical surf school can range from one-on-one private instruction to full blown travel camps for teens and adults to amazing destinations. Almost every beach has a local surf shop that, inevitably, offers a surf school in one form or another. Some higher end surf schools exist independently and are highly sought after. The main draw to these independent surf schools is their level of professionalism and focus on safety. Unfortunately, your local surf shops will often send you out with one of their in-store, high school/college age, seasonal employees. They may be great surfers in their own right, but have no formal training in the way of methodology and safety.

Within the upper echelon of surf schools you will find dynamic and energetic teams with a driving passion to properly educate newcomers to the sport of surfing. These surf schools stand apart from the “dudes” just trying to make a few bucks on the side, because they work with you at your level. Having fun is the natural by-product of safely learning an incredibly thrilling activity whilst being comfortable in a somewhat foreign environment. Unfortunately, we humans weren’t made to exist in the ocean. Being submerged in the ever moving, flowing, changing waters can be really frightening for some. However, learning how to read it, respect it, and enjoy it turns the ocean into a relaxing and, most often, therapeutic environment. A professional surf school will have the determination to reveal this to you no matter where you’re from or what age you are with every lesson, class, camp, or program.

The best of the best surf schools are the ones that can not only provide this experience at their local beaches, but the ones who’ve, over time, established long running relationships in other parts of the world. For more than 15 years WB Surf Camp founder Rick Civelli has spent an endless amount of time and energy pouring into establishing working relationships both locally and in exotic destinations such as Costa Rica, Australia, Hawaii, Barbados, and Eleuthera. So for several months throughout the year, his top notch team of instructors lead groups of novice and intermediate surfers on surf adventures around the globe as well as right his back yard in North Carolina. In every aspect and individual venture you will find the utmost level of professionalism, safety standards, surfing education, and fun!

As surfing has entered the mainstream, surf schools have become much more prevalent. From Australia to North Carolina to Ireland surfing is being taught on a global scale as a way of life. Like any new sport, activity, or subject there is a responsibility and level of respect that goes into the education process. It’s like choosing the best high school, university, or job for yourself or your kids. You always want to make sure that it’s safe, that it’s providing the best education or training, and that it’s something that you or your kids will enjoy as much as possible. After all, you wouldn’t hire some “dude” just trying to make a few bucks on the side to babysit your kids for the night, so why would you send them to a surf school offering the same thing? Do your homework and make sure the surf school you choose is the right one.