Surf Camps - Best way to go Intermediate to Advanced?

[Bonelord69]

Hello, I am an Advanced/ Intermediate surfer looking to raise my skill level to become Very Advanced. I'm looking for a Surf Camp or Surf School that is focused on video feedback and/or surfskate training. I'm not looking to party or socialize -- I'm looking to focus on hardcore surfskill improvement. Tthinking about taking the entire month of June to take my skill level UP A BIG NOTCH...budget is not a consideration. Does anyone have any ideas about how to best accomplish this?

[waikikikichan]

I do video analysis as a surf instructor ( and also use Carver sk8 boards for land training )

But if you upload a video of you surfing here on this forum, you'll get comments from many experienced surfers on what they think you should do / not do ................ and it's FREE.

[oldmansurfer]

Spend a lot of time surfing and pay attention to the waves. Learning what the waves are doing is the key to advanced surfing. Repetition of maneuvers is how you master those skills but learning where to do them is what makes the best surfers in my estimation

[Lebowski]

I think your expectations are unrealistic. If there was a surf school that could take someone from intermediate to 'very advanced' in the space of a month then everyone would be doing it. There simply aren't really any shortcuts. And what if you get bad waves for 3 weeks?

You'd be better off hiring a surf coach and working with him/her rather than going to a surf school. Surf schools are generally aimed at (groups of) beginners because that's what makes up 99% of their customers. Making sure that everyone is having fun is more important for them than hardcore progress.

[waikikikichan]

I am an Advanced/ Intermediate surfer looking to raise my skill level to become Very Advanced.

I think your expectations are unrealistic. If there was a surf school that could take someone from intermediate to 'very advanced' in the space of a month then everyone would be doing it.

I think the varying terminology might be confusing. Isn’t an “ Intermediate surfer ” half way there to be an “ Average surfer “ ?
And an “ Advanced surfer a step above an “ Average surfer “ ?

Also from region to region classification differ. In Hawaii, I’m considered “ Average “. Here in Japan, I’m treated as “ Pro “ level.

[Geezer]

Seems like a wave pool would be the quickest way to rapidly improve on wave mechanics. I’ve never been to one but daily repetitive waves with limited competition and not having to paddle against currents, etc would seem a shortcut. This Aussie place even has the Surfskate lessons you were after. Not cheap but that wasn’t a stipulation.


https://urbnsurf.com/


Urbnsurf – Melbourne Australia


The Lowdown: The first public wave pool in Australia located 20 minutes outside of downtown Melbourne adjacent to the Melbourne Airport opened in January 2020 and has since set the benchmark for surf park operations. You will find surf club competitions, concerts, corporate events and heaps more here as Urbnsurf redefines the wave pool business model. But for us just wanting to go for a session, see below…

Accessibility: Open to the public, all-ages

Type of wave(s): Everything from a killer ‘slab’ setting to gentle beginner rollers to their super popular cruiser sessions.

Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove

Wave’s Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of rides: beginner 8-10 seconds, intermediate/advanced 12-16 seconds

Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours At this time it’s seven days a week with the first surf slot kicking off at 6am and the last session logging in at 9pm. Note: Not all wave settings are available at all hours. Check schedule.

What it costs to surf at Urbnsurf: Prices start at $69AUS for intermediates and go up to $129AUS for expert sessions. Urbnsurf has an advanced pricing system, offering memberships and punch cards for heavy users which helps bring the price-per-surf-session down. See extensive list below:

Sessions
Cruiser / Cruiser Turns $69-$79
Intermediate $79
Advanced / Turns $89
Expert $129

Multipacks
3 x Beginner Lessons $210-$240
3 x Cruiser / Intermediate Lessons $289-$319
10 x Cruiser / Intermediate Sessions $620-$710
10 x Advanced Sessions $799
10 x Expert Sessions $1160
20 x Seasonal – Winter $1299-$1469
20 x Seasonal – Autumn / All Year $1379-$1549
20 x Seasonal – Spring $1399-$1509
50 x Seasonal – Winter $2759-$3109
50 x Seasonal – Autumn / All Year $3159-$3559
50 x Seasonal – Spring $2959-$3329
5 Week Challenge $289-$379


Coaching
Beginner Coaching $149
Cruiser Coaching $199
Intermediate Coaching $199

Lessons
Learn to Surf $74-$89
Beginner I Lesson $74-$89
Beginner II Lesson $74-$89
Cruiser Lesson $109-$129
Intermediate Lesson $109-$129
Surf Skate Lessons $39-$89

Memberships
Gold Membership $2800-$3100
Aqua Membership $1200-$1600
Foundation Membership $2800-$3100

Hires
Surfboard Hire 2 Hrs / All Day $25 / $30
Softboard Hire 2 Hrs/All Day $10 / $15
Wetsuit Hire 2 Hrs / All Day $15 / $20
Skateboard Hire 2 Hrs / PPE $10 / $10

Pool Structure: Concrete Pool with surrounding amenities including Three Ducks restaurant, bar and shop

Waves per hour: 900-1000 waves per hour. Surfers can plan on 10-12 waves per fully booked session.

[Geezer]

You can do some things starting now wherever you are including cardio training, breath hold practice, active breathing training, and surf specific gym work. Balance boards, surfskating, swimming at the local pool and good old push-ups, crunches and pull-ups together with daily pop up practice will at least get you going if you live away from daily surf. Even if you do surf daily this stuff helps and can prime you for your one month of training.

[Lebowski]

I am an Advanced/ Intermediate surfer looking to raise my skill level to become Very Advanced.

I think your expectations are unrealistic. If there was a surf school that could take someone from intermediate to 'very advanced' in the space of a month then everyone would be doing it.

I think the varying terminology might be confusing. Isn’t an “ Intermediate surfer ” half way there to be an “ Average surfer “ ?
And an “ Advanced surfer a step above an “ Average surfer “ ?

Also from region to region classification differ. In Hawaii, I’m considered “ Average “. Here in Japan, I’m treated as “ Pro “ level.

Fair point. Personally I'd consider 'Intermediate' to be 90% of the competent surfers at an average break. 'Advanced' to be the best few surfers at most breaks. 'Very advanced' I'd consider to be better than almost everyone at any break, anytime.

Either way, I don't think it's really likely to go from 'Intermediate' or 'Average' to very advanced in 1 month. That sort of progress takes years.

[Bonelord69]

Hey, THANK YOU all for the feedback on this thread. I really appreciate it!!! To clarify a few points.

1. I've been surfing 30 years. I'm definitely a solid intermediate to advanced surfer but I've never been PROPERLY barrelled which I'm kind of ashamed of. My #1 Goal is to get the barrel of a lifetime.

2. I'm in pretty good shape and regularly surfing 6-10 foot surf all winter here on the North Shore of Maui but my goal is to step it up and go all out!

3. I'm close to turning 50 this year, so it's kind of now or never!!!

Outside of this: I like the wavepool suggestion, but wondering if there's a surf camp out there that specializes in hardcore video feedback analysis / surfskate and has access to some serious waves? Any super exclusive stuff I should know about?

Thank you!

[oldmansurfer]

What? No tubing waves on Maui’s north shore? Are other surfers getting barrels where you surf? Just watch what they do, where they lineup how they takeoff where in the wave are they getting barreled and how they’re pulling up into the barrel. There’s a skill to getting barreled and it involves knowing what the wave is doing and also skills to slow down or speed up as needed

[waikikikichan]

1. I'm definitely a solid intermediate to advanced surfer but I've never been PROPERLY barrelled which I'm kind of ashamed of. My #1 Goal is to get the barrel of a lifetime.

2. I'm in pretty good shape and regularly surfing 6-10 foot surf all winter here on the North Shore of Maui but my goal is to step it up and go all out!

Wait a minute, you surf Maui 6-10 feet and never been barreled ?

Or maybe it's because you're on a longboard ?

If so, find Dino Miranda , former longboard world champion that now lives on Maui. Tell him you'll pay him to teach and set you up to get barreled out at Honolua.

[Geezer]

This is your place.

https://youtu.be/FCE8bhHjQhY

[oldmansurfer]

Perhaps a place with lots of tubing waves might be good to get barreled. However what would really be good is a wave with an easy takeoff and a section that walls up on the inside so it is easy to takeoff and all you need to do is adjust your speed for the tubing section.