End of May this year we had the incredible opportunity to realize a surf coaching trip like no other. Nestled in the picturesque coastal region of West Galicia, we ran the #SurfingBrains surftrip, a unique surftrip combining expert surf coaching with neuro-centered training.
Over the course of 10 days, under the guidance of NOMB Surfcoach Angie and neuronuss trainer Chegus, we delved into the fascinating world of brain-focused techniques to enhance surfing skills. With the added delights of delicious meals prepared by camp chef Marie and the invaluable insights from local surfguide Ramon, this journey was a true immersion into the world of surf and neuroscience.
Is it safe?
Safety is of incredible importance in any sporting activity, especially one as dynamic as surfing. But for our brain, the question ´Is it safe?â is essential. If our brain decides that something isnât safe, it restricts our body from certain movements.
The carefully designed #SurfingBrainns program took a comprehensive approach to address this concern. Prior to hitting the waves, our participants treated their brains with specific activations and individual warm-ups. In addition they learned about reading and interpreting forecasts, connecting with the wave and identifying potential lines in the wave. NOMB Surfcoach Angie and local surfguide Ramon shared their expertise, teaching the team how to make informed decisions to ensure safety for their brains while maximizing the surfing experience.
The art of partyplanning (spot analysis)
With the guidance of our coaches, they developed a keen eye for recognizing wave formations, studying tidal patterns, and understanding the local geography to really understand why the waves were breaking the way they are. Here is the team partyplanning at an incredible surfspot up North.
Mastering spot analysis is crucial for surfers seeking the best waves. During the #SurfingBrains trip, our surfers learned the art of spot analysis, discovering how to identify the ideal wave conditions and entering the water with an already set plan. With their faithfull companion (our workbook) they partyplanned before every single surfsession, turning it into an importan routine. Here is the team partyplanning at a beautiful surfspot up North.
Exploring the brainâs influence on surfing
Neuro-centered training formed the 2nd core of #SurfingBrains, and it opened up a whole new perspective on improving surfing skills. The team delved into the science behind the brain’s role in sports performance, focusing on concepts such as input-output integration and hand-eye coordination. Through interactive sessions led by neuronuss.ch trainer Chegus, our surfers gained insights into how our brains process information and regulate our movements while surfing.
One key aspect was the individually designed warm-up routines that targeted specific neural pathways to enhance our physical preparedness. By understanding the brain’s adaptability, our surfers optimized their individual warm-up exercises and improve overall performance in the water.
Connecting with waves through vision
Surfing is an art of connecting with the waves, and our vision plays a vital role in this interaction. We dedicated a significant portion of this trip to understanding how vision impacts our surfing abilities. We explored techniques to enhance visual focus, depth perception, and spatial awareness while riding the waves.
By honing our visual skills, we became more attuned to the subtleties of wave formations, identifying basic lines, and distinguishing different zones of the wave. This newfound visual acuity allowed us to navigate the waves with more precision and grace.
Busy surftrip life
It wasn’t all serious training during our trip. Tons of giggles and fun moments marked every day. Important to mention were the UNO nights, finishing every day with even more giggles. We saw great clothing styles, air golf games and motor races.
Highlights outside the ocean were definately the relaxing trip to a beautiful spa and the visit to the workshop of local shapers Oscar and Trigo from CamiĂąo do Rio Surfboards. Shapers isn’t actually the proper term for those to legends as their boards are made of wood. We felt very honoured that Oscar and Trigo shared their surfboard art and good vibes with the team. Gracias chicos!
An adventure into our brains
The #SurfingBrains trip in Galicia was an extraordinary adventure that merged the worlds of surfing and neurocentered training. We have all had aaahhhaa moments and got closer to understanding the complexity of our brains.
Big thanks goes out to NOMB Surfers Astrid, Marlen, Meike and Tina, trusting us to take their brains on a surfing journey. Big thanks also of course to Chegus from neuronuss.ch and Marie for spoiling us with delicious food. Check out our Facebook photo album for more pics about this incredible trip.
Stay tuned for news about a similiar trip planned in 2024. Sign up for our newsletter (below) to be the first one finding out.
Galicia just has something special about it. We are not sure if it’s the waves, the people, the climate or maybe a little bit of everything mixed together. Thinking about it, the waves do play a very important roll in our Galicia addiction đ
In our 6th year of surftrips in Galicia, we decided to run two intensive surfcamps, a two-weeks and a one-week camp. While the first camp was gifted with waves every day at our doorstep, the second camp experienced a rare flat spell.
No problem either, that only meant that we had to move to find some waves. The reward of driving around were incredible waves of all sizes. Look at the happy facer of our surfteams, they speak for themselves.
Can’t imagine what our wavehunting looked like? Wanna see smiley faces and Schabernack? Well, see it for yourself and check our Facebook photo albums for #GarfioGallego I and #GarfioGallego II.
To be honest, our serious wave addiction only got worse after this month in Galicia. That´s why we are super stoked to announced that in 2024, once again, we will be running two surfcamps in our favourite part of mainland Spain. Check out #Geilicia for more details. Warning: surfspaces will be booked out very fast, be quick to reserve yours.
Our last surfcoaching trip, #GuadeGirlsGang, didnât have much to do with housewife duties and buying flowers. What we got was full on ladies power, in and outside the water. Six amazing mermaids crossed the Atlantic to take part in our confidence boost surftrip on the incredibly beautiful island of Guadeloupe.
For all of those you who have never heard of Guadeloupe before, itâs a French overseas region and an island group in the South Caribbean. And yep, it really does look like a postcard.
About the surftrip
Guiding the trip were surfcoach Angie and mental coach Doro. The idea behind the #GuadeGirlsGang was to actively build up confidence in the water. And hell yeah, did it work.
A mix of beautiful, glassy and consistent waves made it possible for the girls to work on the topic of this trip: to actively search for the waves. As a surfer transitions from whitewash to unbroken waves, it is really important to realize, how much we have to focus on the right positioning in the wave. A lot of times learning surfers think their paddle technique is off, or they are not strong enough. Truth is, if you position yourself at the right part of the wave, you only need about 4 paddles to gain some speed on your board. And then let the wave does it magic.
This process includes connecting with the wave, anticipating what the wave is gonna do while at the same time controlling emotions and chains of movement. Sounds complicated, right? Well, every surfer has to pass through this section, in order to become an independent and controlled surfer.
Needless to say, that our mermaids totally nailed it. The third day saw them catching waves by themselves and loads of them. Daily partyplanning before hitting the waves (analysing the conditions) helped to know where to sit, which waves to take and generally being in control.
Breaking limits
Then it was time for the girlsgang to test their limits. Local surfcoach Fredo took the group to a wave breaking offshore over shallow reef. The paddle out there wasnât anything short of breathtaking. Seriously, surfing in Guadeloupe feels like surfing in an aquarium. Unbelievable. But back to the waves. We deliberately pushed the girls out of their comfortzones. The waves rolling in were clean and clearly marked, but also not small in size. Using techniques they had learned before (i.e. positive selftalk, the use of mantras, inner picture.) our mermaids faced the walls of water. And siiii, every single at least one took waves. Angie,Doro and Fredo were so incredibly proud!!
After this session, and the expansion of the individual comfort zones, the waves at our local spot didnât bear much of a challenge anymore for the girls. Hence giving them all the time and opportunities to work on their surfing skills. While inconspicuously building up more and more confidence. Coach Angie was super happy with the results, surfcoach Fredo was left speechless with the improvements of the girlsgang. So proud of you, ladies! Check out our Facebook album and get lost in the picture perfect photos.
So much more to this surftrip in Guadeloupe
Apart from workshopping and surfing, there were a lot of other things going on: sunbathing, walking through the mangroves, chilling at the homebase, discovering our little town, exploring some crazy waterfalls, looking after Morny and her puppies, meeting Pierre and getting invited into his house, seeing turtles, eating from banana leaves sitting on the floor, pingponging, and simply laughing our hearst out. We admit, here might have been the odd â I can buy myself flowersâ singoff, too. Thanks so much for your trust, good vibes and love: Doro, Gina, Kiki, Naomi, Niki and Susa. To us you are absolute rockstars.
Exciting news! #GuadeGirlsGang Vol.2
What we have learned in our time in Guadeloupe is to simply let life flow. And that’s exactly what we are gonna do and why we have decided to do it all over again. Clap your hands for #GuadeGirlsGang Vol.2, already in the making. With a renewed format, including even more time in the water, we are on the quest to get more girls confident in the water.
Do you want to be one of our next 6 mermaids in Guadeloupe? Get in touch to ask questions or sign up for our newsletter to be the first one finding out about the trip dates & details. We surely can’t wait for next year and more fun and incredible waves in Guadecrazyloupe. Sea you there!
Our surfteam in Fuerteventura is growing: meet surfcoach Romi.
Originally from Slovakia, Romi got stuck on our homebase island Fuerteventura many years ago. Like most us us, Fuerte’s neverending waves and sunshine make it impossible for her to leave.
Having surfed for many years and learned the hard way how to prove herself in the line-up, Romi decided to take her passion of surfing to the next level, and train to become a surfcoach.
We were lucky enough for Romi to decide to do her mandatory practical training with us last year. Her positive attitude in the water, her neverending smile (and paddlepower) and her ability to learn and implement, quickly turned her into an irreplaceable part of the team. Leaving us no other possibility than to offer her a space in our surfteam upon completing her practical training. And yeah, she said yessss!!
Here are a few words for you by Romi herself:
My name is Romana Babicova and I was one of the lucky ones to find my biggest passion, surfing. It took only couple of sessions, and my world started to spin completely around surfing. After many many many wipe outs and lessons by the ocean, I learnt a lot about values as patience, modesty, respect, sharing and more. Surfing brings me happiness and happiness is only real when it’s shared. Another important reason why I became a surf coach is, that there won’t be less surfers in the water, only more. I want to help to create safe environment on the line up for all of us.
Romi will be supporting our surfschool in Fuerteventura. She speaks fluent English and Spanish, and her German is really good, too. Romi & Angie are a great team, synced in their approaches of high quality surfcoachings. While headcoach Angie heads off sometimes to coach our surftrips, Romi will hold the ford in Fuerte. That means: all year round we offer our trademark high quality individual surfcoachings.
Sounds great, right?? We are super excited to see NOMB Surf grow and being able to support a young surfergirl in her professional career. Welcome to the team, Romi đ
During the European summer nearly everyone is heading to the coastline. And why not? Sunshine, ocean and good vibes are waiting for you. While most bigger cities are boiling with extreme temperatures, at the coast there will always be a refreshing seabreeze.
Talking about a refreshing seabreeze here in Fuerteventura will make some people smirk. A refreshing breeze? How about full on wind guts? This island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is called Fuerte (strong) Ventura (wind) for a reason. Being so flat makes Fuerteventura exposed to any little wind blowing our way.
Searching for summer waves
But hang on, wind blowing on the ocean surface means waves. And for us surfers, waves are what we crave. But strong local winds also mean loads of cripply windswell and blown out conditions. Bummer.
But what if there was an island where the East, North and Westcoast are only 20kms apart, and all three coasts have rippable surfbreaks? Wouldn´t you be able to hide out from onshore winds if necessary? Welcome to Fuerteventura.
That´s right. While there is the odd day when none of the conditions align, most summer days you will find a surfable wave.  Yes, you will have to really make yourself familiar with our coast. And yes, you will need to learn how to read forecast models. And yes, sometimes the ocean will look completely different from what you have anticipated. But hey, that´s all part of the search, right?
Taking the surfcoaching shortcut
Surfing is not only about chains of movements, like the 1-2-3 pop-up. More than physical abilities, surfing requires you to connect with the ocean and all of nature´s forces. In times where wave pools are producing predictable perfect waves, and surfing has become sort of a commodity, we see a lot of surfers struggling to
a. find suitable waves for their levels
b. catch waves
c. follow the wave´s path.
But the good news is, there´s help out there: professional surfcoaching. A skilled and experienced surf coach does not only give you tips about your surfing technique. She/he will identify your surf skill level and your ability to read the ocean. Before having set foot into the ocean. You will learn how to dial in with the ocean and it´s forces, observe waves and identify a surfable wave for you. So why not take the surfcoaching shortcut instead of struggling with a. b. and/or c.?
Summer surfcoaching conditions in Fuerteventura
Even though Fuerteventura´s main surfing season is the winter, there are still heaps of quality waves to be found during the summer. Sure, you won´t find powerful northwest swells setting our reefbreaks in the North on fire but you have the whole winter to play around on our Northshore. Mix it up a little bit.
The East and the West coasts of this island both produce really good waves. Beach breaks as well as reefbreaks. Perfect for intermediate surfer who want to work on specific goals, surf in shorty and enjoy less people in the line-up. How about learning how to duckdive? One surfing essential that is often avoided to be learned, as it is not really needed in wave pools or perfect reef and point breaks.
You will find that there is a lot of stoke involved once you don´t have to fear getting hammered by a powerful ground swell.
NOMB Surf: summer mode on
We haven´t been coaching in Fuerteventura for the past few summers. The main reason was, and here we are being totally honest, that we didn´t appreciate the waves the summer gives us. Being so focused on the winter season and it´s epic swells, we didn´t give much credit to the summer months. But hell yeah, every since coming back from our surfcamps in Galicia this year we have been surfing every day. In shorty!! That´s priceless, believe us!
We are happy to share our summer stoke with you and take your surfing skills to the next level. (And all that while getting a nice tanline from your boardies / shorty). Throughout the summer we offer our intensive surfcoaching week as well as individual coachings tailored to your surfing needs.
Get in touch with us, secure your coaching spot and explore Fuerteventura´s East and West coasts with us this summer.
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