Surfing in Lanzarote: Europe’s Hawaii

I stand waist-deep in the water. See the next wave approaching. Jump headlong on the board and paddle as if it’s a question of life and death. Feel the wave under the the board. Four more paddle strokes. Right. Left. Right. Left. Jump to standing; stretch out my arms. Eyes on the beach.

If flow is when everything fades away and you’re lost in the moment, this is it.

After the day’s lesson, everyone gather round Vanessa and Dan, our instructors, for feedback. The Danish windsurfing-interested dad and his son, three sisters from Sweden, two siblings from Barcelona, a French teenage girl, a couple of friends from Germany, and my sister Frida and I. According to Vanessa, we were complete opposites. Frida could catch one good wave after the other but never quite found the balance. I was lousy on choosing good waves but (once I did) could stand still until the board lost its speed near the water’s edge. We appreciate her approach of giving one positive and one negative comment and look forward to improve next day.

Does not happen. No waves in sight. Accepting the change of plans, we head out to explore Lanzarote and return to the old fishing village Caleta de Famara on the north-western tip of the island in the afternoon.

An accident on the beach involving me, a big, slippery stone and a fall backwards result in an arm fracture and no more surfing for my part.

Fortunately, as Surf School Lanzarote offers the whole picture of surfing, not only the practical stuff, I can still partake to some degree despite my temporary handicap. Throughout the following days, Vanessa, Dan, and Tim Jones, the director of the school, teach us about the history of surfing, common rules and manners, surf prediction, surf boards, where to surf, surf spots, surf terminology, fitness for surfing, and how tides work. The practical lessons on balance techniques, footwork and stance, how to paddle out, efficient paddling, turning in white water, and so called duck-diving make me realize surfing is far from as easy as it looks. But when I see the joy on everyone’s faces after hours in the water, I know learning is well worth the effort. No matter how many times you nose-dive until you catch that next wave.

After a day of surfing, consider a a picnic on the beach, the fish restaurant Casa Ramon in the heart of Famara, or a visit to one of the resorts, Puerto del Carmen or Costa de Teguise, on the other side of the island.

Surf School Lanzarote is a British Surfing Association Level 4 Approved School and the only International Surfing Association Registered school in the Canaries. The client to instructor ratio never goes beyond 8/1.

If you’re a rookie like us, expect a jog and stretch on the beach, surf safety talk, jump-up techniques, and an initial test of lying on the board and gliding on the wave toward the shore on your first lesson.

A 5-day Surfing Course package with accommodation in private apartments in Famara and all necessary equipment plus picnic lunch starts at 240 €.