Surfing Camp Day 4 – May 25, 2023

• Baleal Surfing Camp: Day 4
• Weather: 73 degrees, sunny with blue skies

Morning Lesson: Right and left turning.

Surfers speak of the energy of the water. It’s power of two forces that simultaneously propelling the surf board. It’s the outward pull of the tide returning to the sea. The angles change but the direction is always deeper. It’s the inward pull of waves rushing to shore. The velocity and frequency of waves amaze me. In water as shallow as 8-inches, I’ve been knocked off my feet. The sand beds change the depth of the water adding to the energy. When lease expected, feet jarringly drop into deeper sand beds as if stepping in a hole.

Afternoon Lesson: Review

“Paddle, paddle, paddle” we find ourselves repeating it like a song chorus. Outstretched arms paddle water backwards until the wave begins to lift the board. Now the wave carries the board. It is the moment to pop-up. Feet are parallel and center on the board. Eyes focused on where you want to go. The lead hand, with the deliberation of a magician casting a spell, point the direction. Torso and knees adjusts for balance. Voilá you are surfing.

Green water is where the “real” surfers hang out. They appear like seals straddling on surf boards rolling on the waves. Here the water is calmer and patient is needed until the right wave comes. Meike is in this group. The good waves are great and it’s a long ride to shore. Caught in a bad wave is being in the “washing machine” tumbling, turning, twisting until you can surface. In turbulence the leash which attaches the board to ankle violently yanks the leg. The board can shoot straight into the air. Meike’s ankle is bruised from her time in the washing machine.

After class: party

It’s not all about learning to surf, it’s about making friends and tonight we party! Music, Sangria, Piña Coladas, Mojitos, Port shots, dancing, ocean sunset, toes in sand, and endless good cheer. Dorian is the DJ mixing the most amazing music. We are Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Polish, Chinese, German, Luxenbourger, Indian, Russian, and American. Collectively we believe we are the best class of surfing students Baleal Surf Camp has ever had. When I share this with the receptionist Ulysses, he says all groups at surfing camp feel they are the most fabulous. This truly is a magical place.