The Galicia Report: An Investigation with Waves, Cafecitos and Questionable Evidence
Most surftrips begin with a plan. This one began with a plan, a participant list, a house in Galicia, a local guide, a kitchen queen, a surfcoach with too many ideas, and six people who were meant to spend two weeks learning, surfing, laughing and probably discovering that paddling is much harder when someone is watching.
But life, as usual, had its own forecast. One participant had to cancel last minute because of an accident. Another had to leave us on the third day. Both moments were very sad, and they were felt. A surftrip is always more than a schedule with sessions and meals. It is a group that starts forming before everyone even arrives, and when someone suddenly cannot be part of it, there is a little empty space in the lineup, at the dinner table and in the stories.
So we carried them with us in spirit, sent good thoughts their way, and then slowly found our rhythm with the gang that remained: Sugar Ray, Etta, Carole and Casper. A compact crew. A crew that, over the following 14 days, would become part surf students, part ocean detectives, part cafecito researchers and, in Carole’s case, official surf gangster.
The investigation was run by Ramon, our local guide and owner of our homebase house, Ray, our kitchen queen and provider of edible happiness, Rainbow, the wavespotter dog with strong opinions and unclear qualifications, and myself, Angie, surfcoach, trip organizer and the person most likely to shout “al agua, patos!” when everyone was still emotionally attached to dry clothes. Let the Galicia Report begin.
Chapter One: The Case Opens with Coffee and Cake
Every serious investigation needs a headquarters. Ours came with a roof terrace, two kitchens, a view that encouraged deep thoughts, and enough wetsuits hanging around to make the place look like a neoprene crime scene.
The first official act was not a surf session. It was coffee and cake, because we are professionals. After a first surf then came the supermarket run, which is where group dynamics really start to show. You can learn a lot about people by watching them choose snacks for a surftrip. Some plan responsibly. Some panic-buy. Some say, “We don’t need that much,” and are immediately ignored for the safety of the group.
Galicia welcomed us with its usual mix of beauty, moodiness and quiet drama. We explored markets, drank cafecitos in cafes that felt like they had been invented specifically for post-surf happiness, visited viewpoints, took little trips to places full of stone, sea air and charm, and slowly settled into the rhythm of our homebase.
Every night at dinner, Ray looked at the sky and gave us what would become one of the official trip prophecies: “It could be a nice sunset.” This sentence was used with optimism, caution and most of the days no relation to meteorological reality. But that is what makes a good surftrip quote. It does not need to be accurate. It needs to be emotionally useful.
Chapter Two: The Suspects Enter the Water
The first surf sessions were about observing, testing, adjusting and figuring out where everyone really was. Not where they thought they were, not where they wanted to be, not where their last surftrip memory had placed them, but where their surfing was in that exact moment, in that exact water, with those exact waves. That is always the interesting part.
Sugar Ray arrived with energy, humour and a take-off that had potential but needed a little less “surprise party” and a little more structure. His main file became the correct take-off, especially how to turn all that power into something clean, repeatable and slightly less suspicious.
Etta’s case was different. She had to become more proactive. The wave was not going to send a handwritten invitation. There would be no formal email saying, “Dear Etta, we are pleased to inform you that your take-off opportunity is now available.” She had to read it, decide, paddle and go.
Casper worked on core and breathing, which sounds very calm until you try doing it while the Atlantic is lifting your board and your brain is screaming twelve different instructions at once. His challenge was to stay connected and stable without turning surfing into an Excel sheet with water damage.
And then there was Carole. Our surf gangster. Not because she was terrifying, although one should never underestimate a woman working on her turns, but because she brought that quiet “I am watching, learning and then I will casually improve” energy. Her case file was all about take-offs, paddling and intention. The board, we agreed, was not just there to transport her from foam to beach. It had missions.
Chapter Three: Evidence Found in the Lineup
This was a 14-day intensive surf camp, so yes, we surfed. But we also investigated. Every wave became evidence. Every paddle attempt was a clue. Every missed take-off had something to say, usually: “You looked too late,” or “Your back foot was on holiday,” or “Why are you paddling like you want to hurt the water?”
The main mission was catching unbroken waves with more understanding. That meant learning where to sit, how to read the peak, how to look at the wave while paddling and how to stop hoping that speed alone would solve everything. We worked on catching waves with fewer paddle strokes, feeling the glide before take-off, keeping eyes up, head up, chest up, and finding that sprinter position on a board that was already moving forward.
This was one of the big breakthroughs of the trip: the take-off is not one heroic movement. It is a transition. You do not just jump up and hope for applause. You move with the board, you organize your body, and you give yourself a chance to actually surf the wave instead of performing a brief and emotional dismount.
There were clear individual tasks in the water. Casper had core and breathing. Etta had proactivity. Ray and Carole had the correct take-off. And everyone had the ongoing group task of looking at the wave while paddling, which sounds so obvious that it almost hurts, until you realize how many surfers paddle with the facial expression of someone trying to remember their online banking password.
Chapter Four: The Partyplan Was Not a Party Plan
One of the key theory things was the daily Partyplan. Despite the name, this did not involve gin tonics, although those entered the story later. The Partyplan is how we observe a surfspot before paddling out. Where are the waves breaking? Where are the channels? Where are other surfers sitting? What is the tide doing? What are the reference points? Where is the safest place to enter and exit? Where is the “party” happening in the water, and are we experienced enough to join it?
We also talked about our situation as travelling surfers. We do not just arrive somewhere, paddle out and behave as if the ocean has been waiting for us personally. We are guests. That means reading the lineup, respecting local rhythm, understanding surf etiquette and becoming a conscious part of what is already happening.
Ramon’s local knowledge was gold here. He knew the coast, the conditions and the tiny details that turn “maybe” into “yes” or “absolutely not.” His most famous contribution to the investigation was the sentence: “Maybe the one behind.” This could refer to a wave. It could refer to a better option. It could refer to life. We are still analyzing the full philosophical depth of it.
Chapter Five: Theory, or How We Became Ocean Nerds by Accident
Between surf sessions, cafecitos and recovery, the group slowly became more and more nerdy. In a good way. A very good way. The kind of nerdy that makes surfing safer, smarter and more satisfying.
We talked about reference points, surf etiquette, different types of waves, how to assess your own level and why wave stage B is our take-off friend. We watched videos about catching unbroken waves and the walk-off. We broke down the take-off, the extra step, the ramp, the dropping-in feeling and the difference between standing up on a board and actually moving with a wave.
There was forecast work too. Wind swell versus ground swell, buoys, maps of the European ocean floor, beachbreaks, reefbreaks and pointbreaks. At one point, investigating Raglan and The Wedge became homework, because apparently we had crossed the line from “surf camp” into “marine science club with snacks.”
Video analysis brought the whole thing together. Everyone had to write down two things they liked about their own surfing and one thing they did not like. This matters, because surfers are often world-class experts at seeing only what went wrong. Then everyone rated themselves on the key tasks and created their own hitlist. Not a criminal hitlist. A surf improvement hitlist. Although some habits were definitely taken into custody.
Chapter Six: Recovery, or The Tennis Ball Knows Everything
An intensive surftrip needs recovery, otherwise by day five everyone moves like old garden furniture. This year’s recovery tool was a tennis ball, a small yellow object with the emotional sensitivity of a medieval interrogation device. It found every tight spot, every hidden knot and every “I didn’t even know that could hurt” area with terrifying precision.
We worked through fascia self-love, rope exercises with our recycled rock climbing ropes, lower back releases, cobra, rotation sequences, mountain climber stretches, squat walks and arm exercises. We also practiced vagus nerve breathing, which gave everyone a way to calm the system after surf sessions, travel days and moments when the ocean had been a little too honest.
There was also a recovery meditation on the top terrace. Very peaceful. Very scenic. Very grown-up. And then there were the spa sessions. Not one. Two. Because Galicia surf, recovery routines and hot water from a serious jet that should probably be protected by law.
Chapter Seven: The Cafecito & Food Trail
No Galicia Report would be complete without addressing the cafecito situation. There were many. Some before surf. Some after surf. Some during trips. Some in hotel gardens. Some in places whose names suggested they were open all year, which, in our emotional state, felt deeply reassuring.
We went to Combarro, explored O Grove, had cafecito in Furnas, enjoyed slow mornings with brunch and took in those Galicia moments where the light, the stone houses and the sea make you briefly forget that your wetsuit smells like a biological experiment. There was dinner in a furancho, a birthday cake on the roof terrace, and a piñata, because apparently our training methodology now includes adults attacking hanging objects for joy and sugar.
And then came the sunset dance in the gin tonic bar.We cannot share every detail, partly because this is a public blog and partly because the investigation is ongoing. What we can say is that Ray’s “it could be a nice sunset” became true in the broadest possible sense. There was sky. There was mood. There was dancing. There may have been a case involving a bathing suit and butt light. But some things are best preserved as evidence in the hearts of those who were there.
For more visual evidence from the trip, have a look at our Facebook photo album.
Chapter Eight: The Ocean Gives Its Statement
The surf itself gave us everything we needed. Small waves with big fun. Stormy conditions that asked for patience. Sessions where positioning mattered more than courage. Waves that rewarded timing. Waves that punished rushing. Whitewater work, unbroken waves, gliding, take-offs, turns, searching, repositioning and the repeated realization that the ocean does not care about your plan, but it does respond beautifully when you start listening.
On one of the later sessions, the task was simple: search for the waves and implement everything learned during the first week. This is where coaching becomes really interesting. The goal is not that students wait for instructions forever. The goal is that they start seeing more themselves. Reading more. Deciding more. Understanding why they are where they are.
And on the last day, the official task was: have fun. This sounds almost too easy after two weeks of focus, analysis, drills and theory. But it is often the point. Learn the tools, understand the ocean, become more aware, and then let yourself enjoy the ride. That last part matters. A lot.
Chapter Nine: The Shaperoom and Other Suspicious Activities
One of the special stops was Walter’s shaperoom, where surfboards suddenly became more than equipment. They became objects of desire, technical curiosity and financial danger. A shaperoom visit is risky because everyone enters thinking, “I am just looking,” and leaves mentally rearranging their life to justify a new surfboard.
There were also the attempts to free Willy. No whales were harmed. No international rescue operation was officially launched. But the phrase belongs in the report because it perfectly represents the kind of moment that happens on a surftrip and later makes absolutely no sense to anyone who was not there.
That is the beauty of these trips. They create a shared language. Not one that excludes others, but one that reminds the group: we lived something together. We had our little jokes, our little rituals, our small disasters, our good decisions, our questionable decisions, and the moments that will resurface months later in a message that simply says: “Maybe the one behind.”
Final Report
So what was this Galicia surftrip? It was not the trip we expected at the beginning. It became smaller, more intimate and probably more intense because of it. We missed the two people who could not share the full journey with us, and we hope there will be another lineup, another dinner table and another chance for them to be part of it.
For the four who stayed, Galicia became a two-week investigation into waves, timing, courage, patience, humour and the mysterious whereabouts of the correct back foot.
There were waves. There was theory. There were spa sessions, tennis balls, viewpoints, markets, cake, piñata action, sunset dancing and enough cafecitos to power a small coastal village. Mostly, there was learning.
Not just learning how to surf better, but learning how to look more closely. At waves. At conditions. At yourself. At the lineup. At the places we visit and the people who make those places special. And that’s a big part of that what a NOMB Surftrip is really about. You come for the waves. You leave with better surfing, better ocean knowledge, sore shoulders, new friends, several inside jokes and a strange emotional attachment to the sentence: “Maybe the one behind.” And yes, it could be a nice sunset.
Want to Know About the Next NOMB Surftrip?
We are already dreaming, planning and quietly investigating where the next NOMB Surftrips in 2027 might take us. Our surftrips to Chile, both for beginner & transition surfers and independent surfers, are already open for bookings.
Will be return to Galicia next year? At this point we don’t know yet but sign up for our newsletter below to be the first to hear about our upcoming trips, new dates and small-group surf adventures.
A crew of surf-hungry souls, two vans full of boards, and the wild coast of Galicia waiting for us. That was the start of Galiciator, our latest 14-day surftrip in Galicia. The forecast? Small waves, some rain, a bit of sun – classic spring in the northwest. The vibe? All in. Un baño es un baño– a surf is a surf, no matter how small the waves. That was our motto, and we lived it every single day.
Small Waves, Big Stokes
Let’s be real – the waves were on the smaller side for most of the trip. That didn’t stop us. We paddled out, practiced our take-offs (back foot first, remember?), and caught what we could. We learned to read the forecast like pros, comparing Surf-Forecast.com, Windy, and Windguru, and dreaming about the swells to come. Team spirits were high, we play in what the ocean provides. Founding the Double-Anklehigh-Barrel-Crew was a result of us playing in small waves.
And then… it happened. One beach, one freshly built sandbank, and suddenly we had an absolute gift: small, clean, playful lines that seemed to appear out of nowhere. We won’t name the spot (some secrets stay with the locals), but those sessions? They reminded us why we chase waves, even in the smallest conditions. Sometimes, you just get lucky.
Surf Skills, Galician Style
When we weren’t in the water, we were leveling up. Take-off training on the beach, video analysis breaking down every pop-up, and even some theory on how waves are born (spoiler: it’s not magic, but it sure feels like it sometimes).
Our mobility routine became a daily ritual: shoulder rotations with the Theraband, backbends, rolling tennis balls into tight spots, hip openers in deep squats. Surfing isn’t just about what happens on the board – it’s about preparing your body for the ride.
We played the Skill Scenario Game, filling our Skillbox with techniques like duck dives, surf etiquette tips, and even a few lifeguarding tricks (pro tip: small finger manipulation – it works). And yes, we laughed a lot – especially when trying to guess the skill stuck to our foreheads.
Trip Life Beyond the Waves
Galicia is to amazing to only go surfing, and we made sure to explore it all. From day trips to scenic viewpoints and ancient sites, to cozy cafés and the local markets, we soaked in the Galician vibe: laid-back, full of character, and sometimes a little sugary (looking at you, Cafeteria A Ponte).
Evenings on the rooftop terrace with Aperol and a casual bar setup, live music under the stars, check-ins with our surf partners – these moments stitched the trip together. And who could forget the “Pipa Addiction” (sunflower seeds everywhere!) or those beach picnics that somehow tasted better after a surf session?
Un Baño es un Baño – Until Next Time
Galiciator wasn’t only about chasing epic waves. It was about showing up, paddling out, and enjoying whatever the ocean had to offer – whether it was knee-high peelers or a surprise sandbank session. It was about sharing laughs, learning together, and reminding ourselves why we love this crazy surf life. Check out our Facebook Page for more pics of this fun trip.
To the whole crew – you legends! Thanks for the energy, the effort, and the vibes. Until next time, Galicia… un baño es un baño.
Ready for your own surftrip to Galicia in 2026? Sign up for our newsletter (below) or keep an eye on the NOMB Surf website for upcoming adventures – because the next baño is always waiting.
Once upon a time, there were 3 patitos who lived on a beautiful vineyard in Galicia. They enjoyed their life amidst vineyards and their favorite place, the garden pond, to the fullest.
Their morning ritual consisted of the winemaker Angie bringing them their fresh food. After filling their bellies, the patitos made their way to the garden pond every day. “Al aqua patitos” called Angie, and the patitos flew to the pond. During the short flight, they always caught a glimpse of an infinitely large, blue glittering expanse in the distance.
At the pond, the patitos often chatted about whether the distant, beautiful blue resembled their pond. They had heard from Angie that the large water was the endless sea. They dreamed of exploring it one day.
One day, patito uno noticed that the garden gate was wide open. They had never seen the tall wooden gate open before. Patito uno nodded briefly to the others, and all three suddenly thought the same thing. They exchanged a quick glance and simultaneously took flight. And so it happened. They fluttered out of the garden gate and embarked on their adventure.
From the first surf to the duckdive
The patitos had heard from Angie about a beach with a bar that had appeared in movies. First things first, cafecito and making a party plan! Done.
There are large rocks in front of the bar, dividing the beach in two.The adventurous patios decided to explore the long part of the beach first. They waddled to the end and were somewhat impressed by the force with which the waves crashed onto the beach. Was this excursion such a good idea after all? This sea was quite big and wild, and there was no one here except them. Feeling somewhat discouraged, they made their way back. It was quite tedious to waddle through this sand. Ufff.
But something was different from the outward journey. “Look,” said patito dos, “the water is much lower than before.” Back at the bar, they first had another cafecito, a new party plan had to be made. In the distance, they saw dorsal fins emerging and curiously climbed onto the rocks to see who was frolicking in the water.
One of the dolphins spotted the patitos and swam towards the rock. “Hey, who are you guys?” he asked. “We wanted to swim somewhere other than in the pond at home, but we’re not sure about swimming here,” they replied.
“Well then, come with me!” said the dolphin and led them to the other part of the beach. The water had gone down quite a bit, and waves were forming in some places.
“Do you see where the water is darker and no waves break?” asked the dolphin. “Those are channels, you can easily come to us in deeper water through there, and then we’ll show you how to surf.”
The patitos looked at each other undecidedly. “Surfing? Us? Hmmm.”
Without a bath in the sea and an adventure, going back home was not an option for them. So they gathered all their courage and jumped into the sea at the spot the dolphin had shown them.
And indeed, there was a current that pulled them out to the open sea, and just like that, they were in the lineup with the dolphins. “Now you just have to wait for a wave, paddle a bit, and then let it take you. You can come back over the channel. Easy peasy!” explained the dolphin. And indeed, it worked splendidly! The patitos were mighty stoked after their first waves. But then there was a big set, and they drifted helplessly in the impact zone. In the meantime, Keala Kennally had paddled into the lineup and found the patitos as she caught a big wave.
“You just have to do a turtle roll if you can’t get through the whitewater!” she called to the patios, who were completely disheveled and exhausted, trying hard to get back into the lineup. For the dolphins it was easy, they just dove deep under the waves, something the patitos couldn’t do. They tried the turtle roll, feet up, but it didn’t work. The water got caught in their feet and they were thrown towards the beach. In the lull between sets, they regrouped and discussed how to deal with the big waves because they really wanted to get back into the lineup. “We just dive under the whitewater and make ourselves very slim, tuck our wings in and pierce the wave with our beak. “Sounds like a great party plan!” they agreed, and it worked. This is how the patitos invented the duckdive. Even Keala was impressed and copied the technique.
The patitos surfed until the tide was high again, and no waves were breaking. They shared the waves and stoke with Keala and the dolphins.
“If you want to explore other waves here in Galicia, call our friend Ramon, he knows his way around here!” called the dolphins as they bid farewell. “Sea you in the water soon!”
Exhausted and happy, the patios waddled back to the bar and called Ramon to make the party plan for the next day.
Saying goodbye and starting all over again
After a restful sleep and wild dreams of a great surfing career, they followed Ramon’s advice and set off early to another beach nearby. To the shock of all, there was a dead dolphin on the beach. “Come on – let’s bury it,” they said and did it.
The sun was shining, and they blinked at the sea. The waves drew even lines on the gleaming water. “There’s hardly any wind, and a good swell from the west sends us great conditions,” said patito tres “Yes, and it’s low tide,” patito dos added. “Wow. Several beach breaks – one on the left, but the current looks strong there, and there are rocks. But right next to it is a top channel.” Patito dos said, “It’s too warm for me, I’m tired of the dolphin ritual, but I would take the waves further to the left, you can surf them to the right and left – look! What a great wall. And those there! Wow, you have to take them when the wave is almost breaking.” Said and done.
While patito uno and tres surfed and perfected the duckdive, Noah Klapp came by the beach and got into a conversation with patito dos. She too was excited about duckdiving and couldn’t stop frothing.
A long day came to an end. They excitedly reported their successful experiences to Ramon. He recognized the potential of the patitos and further ignited the surfing fire in their hearts and whispered a secret tip for the next day to them.
Setting reference points and shredding
Following Ramonetta’s good advice, the patitos went to the far end of another beach, where they found the best conditions with glassy waves. Best northwest swell of 1.2m on 12 seconds was waiting for them there. At mid-tide with ebbing water, the patitos jumped into the channel next to the rocks and made sure, through clever reference point setting, not to be pulled by the current into the rocky section of the beach.
Upon arrival in the lineup, they greeted the 2 ripping locals as they should and set reference points at the peak to be properly positioned for the epic waves. After a 2-hour shredding on soft spilling waves, they took the last wave-taxi of the day back to the beach and treated themselves to a cafecito at the ‘Abierto todo el año’, the beach café that was closed the day before, and let the sun shine on their beaks.
They couldn’t get enough, they were completely hooked. Tomorrow they wanted to set out on their own and remembered Angie’s stories.
Onto new shores
So it happened that our curious patios set out to surf the waves at a beautiful and deserted long beach further North. ”In which direction do we have to fly?” asked patito uno.
“Well, to the north, of course, you heard Angie, if there are no waves around here, we should go North,” replied another.
And so, at dawn, they crossed the next ria northward, already seeing the beautiful hill overlooking the ria in sight. Hardly had they flown over a small city, they already saw the huge sandy beach framed by sanddunes, and the wide lagoon emerging in the morning mist.
“Oh,” patito uno exclaimed impressed.
“Ah,” marvelled patito dos.
And: “Damn it’s beautiful, and no one far and wide,” patito tres exclaimed.
Our patitos landed on the striking large stone to the left of the path to the beach and devised an epic party plan.
“That’s the way!” finally exclaimed patito uno solemnly.
“Al agua patos!” they shouted in unison and jumped joyfully into the turquoise-blue water and shredded it for all it was worth.
After this epic session, our happy patitos sat on the beach and considered where to go next.
After some deliberation, one of the patitos shouted, “How could we forget, come on, let’s call Ramon, he always knows where the waves are!” And so it happened.
On fire
The weather on the next day was worse than expected. The storm was supposed to have passed already, but it was still very windy. Later in the afternoon, it calmed down a bit, and the patitos found another wave at a hidden beach nearby. Without any special expectations, they eventually went into the water. To get into the lineup, it was necessary today to continue refining the duckdives to get through the meter-high waves. The reward for this were many wipeouts due to the steep waves and little surfing. However, the surfed waves felt even better because of it.
At the end of the day, the patitos called Ramon. He said, “Uff patitos, I think, this was not an easy session.”
After this great inner and outer journey, the patios returned to the vineyard full of impressions, as inventors and completely stoked. They were already missed dearly by Angie. Excitedly, they reported their experiences and the invention of the duck dive. They had no idea yet what a revolutionary impact this would have on surfing worldwide.
And if they haven’t died, they’re still duckdiving today.
Thanks for joining, and for this great story: Annette, Casper, Judith, Nora, Seba and Torge.
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?’ is essential. If our brain decides that something isn’t 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 brain’s 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 Camiño 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 😉
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.
#Trancalmate – ein Wort welches sich aus dem Spanischen tranquillo (ruhig) und alma (Seele) zusammensetzt. Diesen Namen haben wir gewählt fuer unser jährliches Yoga & Surf Retreat in Galizien, gerichtet speziell an Frauen mit Brustkrebs und der Genmutation BCRA I und II.
Im September 2022 kam zum ersten Mal eine #Trancalmate Gruppe zusammen: 6 Power-Ladies, Trip Organisatorin & Yoga Coach Anna Götz, Star Campköchin Ray Klein, local Surfguide Ramon und ich, als Surfcoach. Das Ergebniss: eine wundervolle Woche, prall gefüllt mit tollen Wellen, noch tolleren Momenten und viel Spass.
Hier sprechen die Bilder für sich selber:
Dieses Jahr im September 2023 (16/09 – 23/09/2023) kündigt sich nun #Trancalmate Vol.2 an. Im Vorfeld habe ich mich mit Anna von Yoga für krummes Gemüse zusammengeschlossen und sie gebeten, ein wenig mehr über #Trancalmate zu erzählen.
Aloha liebe Anna. Dies wird jetzt schon der zweite #Trancalmate Trip. Erzähl doch kurz, wie es dazu gekommen ist, und wie der erste Trip so war.
Hallo liebe Angie. Streng genommen hat uns Deine Camp-Köchin verkupellt! Du machst mit NOMB Surf unter anderem Surfkurse für Menschen mit Einschränkungen, ich unterrichte Menschen mit oder nach Krebs, da hat Ray ein Skype-Date arrangiert und wir sind nur so übergesprudelt vor Ideen!
Mir war ganz schnell klar, dass wir eine spezielle Leidenschaft teilen: Uns reizt es, in anderen Menschen Moves und Potenzial zu erkennen, die sie sich in dem Moment vielleicht selbst gar nicht zutrauen. Wir bestärken beide leidenschaftlich gern andere Menschen darin, ihre eigene Bewegung zu finden und ihr Ding draus zu machen – Yoga, Surfen, das macht da keinen großen Unterschied… Das Camp in Galizien bot das ideal Setting als Rückzugsort für Frauen, die gerade eine Brustkrebserkrankung hinter sich hatten oder noch in Behandlung waren. Es war schon sehr beeindruckend, mit wie viel Stolz und Mut und Zerbrechlichkeit sich unsere Teilnehmerinnen in die Wellen gestürzt und auf den Yoga-Matten ausprobiert haben. Nach mehreren Operationen, Chemotherapie und Bestrahlung ist das ein riesiger Schritt. Viele Bewegungen müssen mit Narben und Assymetrien neu gelernt werden, Ängste überwunden oder auch neue Grenzen akzeptiert werden.
Eigentlich müsste ich sagen, dass dieser erste Trip atemberaubend war – aber die Formulierung passt nicht wirklich, ganz im Gegenteil: im Yoga geht es ja viel um Pranayama, Atemtechniken, die uns mental unterstützen. Ich hab das Gefühl, wir durften mitkriegen, wie sich die Teilnehmerinnen wieder trauen, tief zu atmen! Luft holen, den Moment zulassen, selbst bestimmen wie weit man geht, zurückblicken, was hinter einem liegt, darauf vertrauen, dass mit unserem Ein- und Ausatmen alles kommt und geht wie die rollende Brandung am Strand, die wir vom Haus aus hören konnten.
Beim Trip geht’s um Yoga und Surfen. Magst Du etwas zum Yoga erzählen? Brauchen die Teilnehmer Yoga-Erfahrung zum Beispiel?
Inzwischen ist es ja ziemlich etabliert, Yoga und Surfen zu kombinieren, weil es im Yoga Bewegungsabläufe gibt, die dich beim Surfen unterstützen, und umgekehrt. Für viele Brustkrebsfrauen ist es aber zum Beispiel ein Probelm, nach den OPs auf dem Bauch zu liegen. Ich hatte selbst Brustkrebs und unterrichte inzwischen seit 5 Jahren Menschen mit Krebserkrankungen.
Mit der entsprechenden Ausbildung und in kleinen Gruppen gibt es die Möglichkeit, Bewegungsabläufe individuell anzupassen und Fehlhaltungen zu vermeiden.
Im #Trancalmate-Camp haben wir deswegen eine extra kleine Gruppe mit 6 Teilnehmerinnen, damit wir nicht nur beim Yoga, sondern auch beim Surfen auf alle entsprechend eingehen und sie begleiten können. Erfahrung mit Yoga ist absolut nicht notwendig. Auch das Alter oder die Kondition spielen keine besondere Rolle – ich kann in so einer kleinen Gruppe für alle Kenntnisstufen und vielleicht auch nur ganz geringe Ausdauer Yoga-Flows entwickeln und ausreichend Entspannungseinheiten einbauen. Du Angie, kannst ja genau dies auch im Wasser tun, und passt die Surfstunden individuell auf jede Teilnehmerin an.
Also viel Yoga und Surfen. Was steht sonst noch auf dem Programm?
Die perfekte Mischung aus Schlemmen, Surfen, Strandspaziergängen, Morgenroutine, Mittagsschlaf und mitternachts Sterneschauen auf der Dachterrasse. Außerdem Ausflüge in der Umgebung, Picknick, Yoga am Strand, Trockentraining am Skateplatz, ein großer Garten mit Zitronenbäumen, jede Menge Sand zwischen den Zehen und das größte, breiteste Grinsen im Gesicht, wenn jemand ne Welle gestanden hat! Achja, und hungrig fällt hier übrigens niemand ins Bett – Danke Ray, für die weltallerbesten Zimtschnecken!
Letztes Jahr kam eine super Truppe Ladies zusammen. Wen möchtest Du mit diesem Trip ansprechen? Und wie wirst Du auf die Teilnehmerinnen eingehen?
Das Camp richtet sich ausschließlich an Frauen mit oder nach Brustkrebs, die schon Yoga- und Surferfahrung haben – oder eben gerade nicht! Vielleicht wolltet Ihr immer schon mal Surfen lernen, traut Euch aber keinen regulären Kurs zu? Oder Ihr habt früher schon gesurft, wisst aber noch nicht, wie das mit weniger Kraft funktionieren soll und möchtet Euch mit Yoga unterstützen? Vielleicht braucht Ihr auch einfach nur ein bisschen Abstand zu Krankenhausabläufen und sehnt euch nach achtsamen Sport mit Strand und Wellen? Vieles kann, nichts muss. Das Alter ist irrelevant, der Konditionsstand ist flexibel, Erfahrungen in Yoga oder Surfen sind nicht nötig!
Wie lange die Erkrankung her ist oder ob es sich um metastasierten Brustkrebs handelt, der gerade behandelt wird, stellt erstmal keine Einschränkung dar! Wichtig ist eigentlich nur, dass OP-Wunden gut verheilt sind oder vor Ort keine aktuen Therapie-Maßnahmen nötig sind.
Wie bei meinen regulären Yoga-Stunden führe ich im Vorfeld ein längeres Anamnesetelefonat- und wir können alles besprechen, was wichtig ist, um die Reise gut planen zu können. Auch vor Ort führen wir auch mal Einzelgespräche, um den Körper durch die Yoga- und Surfsessions zu stärken, aber nicht zu überfordern.
Früh morgens üben wir eine Morgenroutine mit Bewegungsabläufen, die speziell die Beweglichkeit im Oberkörper verbessern, Assymetrien ausgleichen und Verkürzungen durch Narben oder Einschränkungen unterstützen sollen. Am frühen Abend gibt es eine zweite, kürzere und freiwillige Einheit mit mehr Dehnung, Entspannung und Meditation. Tagsüber gibt es je nach Tide und Bedingungen flexible Zeiten für die Surf-Sessions aber auch ausreichend Zeit fürs Cafe am Strand, lange Spaziergänge oder einfach ganz viel Ruhe. Je nach Wetter machen wir auch mal Yoga auf der Dachterrasse oder am Strand.
Ich freue mich mega drauf, Dich und die Mädels im September wieder tatkräftig unterstützen zu können. Hast Du noch ein paar Schlussworte für unsere Leser?
Ich freu mich wahnsinnig! Ich kann es kaum beschreiben, wie sehr ich mich freue! Es hat einfach so viel Spaß gemacht, im Vorfeld im Team alles gut zu organisieren, vom Transfer vom Flughafen und Hilfe mit dem Gepäck, über großartige Verpflegung bis zu Spenden, die unterstützen können, falls jemand kurzfristig aus gesundheitlichen Gründen absagen müsste. Und es hat auch riesigen Spaß gemacht zu sehen, wie alle Pläne aufgehen, wieviel Kraft und Begeisterung uns entgegenstrahlt, wie wir kleine Freiräume basteln oder auch mal einen Tagesplan über den Haufen werfen.
Aber am meisten freue ich mich darauf, was die Teilnehmerinnen daraus machen. Zu beobachten, welche Moves mit Surfbrettern über Wellen brettern und wie sich auf der Yogamatte kleine, feine Erleichterungen im Körper breit machen -das war das Größte!
Vielen Dank für das Gespräch liebe Anna, und für Dein Vertrauen, mich auch dieses Jahr wieder an Board zu nehmen bei diesem ganz besonderen Surftrip. Ich freue mich auf noch mehr tolle Wellen und schöne Momente mit so starken Frauen.
Bei Interesse an diesem Trip wende Dich bitte direkt an Anna per Email an anna.m.goetz@gmail.com. Falls Du #Trancalmate Vol.2 finanziell mit einer Spende unterstützen möchtest, melde Dich auch bitte direkt bei Anna. Wir freuen uns sehr über jede Unterstützung, so können wir auch Frauen, mit geringen finanziellen Mitteln, diesen Trip ermöglichen.
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