Surfing Lessons & Teachers
Our lessons:
Objectives
The objectives of the Algarve Surf School is to teach our students from seven years and older how to surf. We will give them the chance to take part in a fun and exciting sport, teach them about personal health and develop their awareness of local environmental issues.
Admission
Admission to the Algarve Surf School is available for all, swimmers and no-swimmers alike. For those who would like to take part in the surfing activities though, it's essential that they can swim completely and this will be assessed on arrival.
Teaching Plan
The classes will compromise a maximum of 10 students. Coaches approved by the Portuguese Surfing Federation will teach students at various levels. Lessons can also be tailored to an individual's own requirements.
We start with the lessons on Monday, so we suggest our guests to arrive on Sundays. The lessons are from Monday to Friday, 4 hours per day. The rest of the day they can practice by themselves. On Saturdays is free supervised practicing, that means that our students will be taken to the beach and surf the whole day by themselves supervised by our instructors.
Level 0 - Initiation (Surf)
Familiarization with the equipment
Warming up and stretching
Paddling techniques
Surfing broken waves
The duck-dive' or 'eskimo-roll'
Level 1 - Improvement (Surf)
Algarve shore geographic
Ocean knowledge
Warming up and stretching exercises
Surfing green unbroken waves (wave approach)
Initiation to take off, drop, bottom turn and trimming
Level 2 - Advanced
Personal communication for lesson tailoring
Initiation to manoeuvres and other advanced techniques
Advanced wave approach
Priority techniques
Body preparation - physical (anaerobic, aerobic) fitness and yoga stretching
Video support
Level 3 - Competition
Competition regulations
Applications of competition techniques and strategy
Video support and analyzing
Wave approach (competition)
Body preparation
Physical (anaerobic, aerobic) fitness, yoga stretching and core strength
Coaches
Head coach is Sergio Wu Brandao, who founded the Algarve Surf School in 1996. Since then he has dedicated his life to surfing and teaching with the philosophy of sharing the real spirit of surfer's life and the 'soul' side of surfing, emphasizing a respect for nature and the coastal environment, and of course ... catching the perfect wave.
He trains all levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced and competitors and is also head coach of the local Algarve Surf Club. Sergio was trainer of Grommet World Champion 2002 and Volcom team rider Gony Zubizarreta and Marlon Lipke, Quicksilver team rider. Marlon was Junior European Champion and 3rd in the world junior ranking in 2004, Top 60 WQS and 3rd in the European ranking in 2005.
His qualifications include:
Years of surfing: 20
Qualified as Ocean Lifeguard by the Portuguese I.S.N. in 1995
Qualified as Surfing Monitor by the Portuguese Surfing Federation in 1996
Qualified as Surfing Coach by the Portuguese Surfing Federation in 1997
Qualified as Surf Jury for the Portuguese Surfing Federation in 1997
Apprenticeship with the governing body 'Surfing Australia' in 2003
Qualified in Level 3 of the British Surfing Association & Algarve Surf Club head coach
And with help from other qualified assistants you can be sure to have somebody watching over you and helping you improve.
Local Meeting Points
Surf School
Praia Do Amado
Carrapateira
Algarve Surf Camp SAGRES
Rua Antonio Mestre Galhardo Casa 2 Palmeiras
8650 Vila de Sagres
Algarve Surf Camp CARRAPATEIRA
Algarve Surf Shop
Rua Dr. Joaquim Tello, 32, B
8600 Lagos
Tel+Fax: +351 282 767 853
[Enquire about this retreat]
