Patitos, Partyplans and a Very Committed Little Crew
This month, we ran another edition of our Intensive Surf Coaching Program in Fuerteventura, and once again the island did what Fuerteventura does best: it gave us waves, beauty, lessons, a few plot twists and enough material for a small emotional surf documentary.
This trip was designed for experienced beginners and transition surfers looking for small-group surf coaching in Fuerteventura with personal feedback, video analysis, recovery work and a deeper understanding of the ocean. Not just “paddle harder”. More like: read better, position better, choose better, commit better.
Very early in the week, our main theme became clear: managing fear in the water, becoming more confident with our skills and learning how to handle bigger waves with more calm and clarity. Or, as we started calling it, the three C’s of surfing:
Confidence. Control. Commitment.
Not the fluffy Instagram version of confidence. The real kind. The one you build through repetition, honest feedback, better decisions, and slowly realizing: “Actually, I do have skills. I can trust them.”
Our crew was small, mighty and slightly duckling-shaped. There was Frederike, bringing hardcore determination and giggles in equal measure. Sabine, usually the first one out in the waves and therefore unofficial holder of the “no excuses, let’s go” trophy. Anju, a proper ball of sunshine and laughter. Tee, best surf coach, ocean energy machine and the kind of second coach every intensive program dreams of. Angie, NOMB Surf’s surf coach, trip organizer and mama of the patitos. And Andi, who unfortunately arrived injured and could not surf, but immediately upgraded himself into assistant surf coach, theory contributor and full-time spirit lifter. Not the original plan, but very NOMB. We adapt, we laugh, we make it work.
A small-group surf coaching trip in Fuerteventura for the next step
This Fuerteventura intensive surf coaching trip was not a classic surf camp where you follow an instructor, paddle where everyone paddles and hope that progress somehow drops from the sky like a magical surf coconut. Our idea is different.
We work with individual goals, detailed feedback and a lot of ocean understanding. Because for many surfers, the next step is not just “try harder”. Often it is learning to see more clearly: where to sit, when to paddle, how the wave is forming, what the tide is doing, where the energy is going and why your body suddenly behaves like a confused chair when the wave finally arrives.
That is why this format works well for transition surfers, but also as experienced beginner surf coaching for surfers who are ready to move beyond whitewater and start catching more green waves.
During the trip, each surfer worked on their own progression. Take-off correction. Stance correction. Paddling with purpose. Looking back at the wave while paddling. Positioning. Building confidence. Choosing the right wave. Catching waves with no paddles, two paddles or four paddles, depending on timing and placement.
And of course, our very important mantra: Always be ready. Because the ocean does not wait until you have emotionally prepared to rock’n’roll.
Not every surf day looks the same, and that is the point
One of the most important parts of our surf coaching in Fuerteventura is flexibility. The ocean sets the rhythm. Some days we had two water sessions: one focused coaching session and one guided freesurf to apply what we had worked on. Other days, instead of splitting the day, we stayed in for one long, deep session because the conditions, the learning moment and the group energy made that the better choice.
That flexibility is a huge part of real coaching. The goal is not to tick boxes on a schedule. The goal is to use the conditions well.
A longer session can sometimes teach more than two shorter ones. It gives surfers time to settle, observe, make mistakes, adjust, try again and slowly feel the change instead of rushing from one part of the day to the next. Progress often needs repetition, but it also needs space. And sometimes snacks. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
Repetition was a big part of this week. Not boring repetition, but useful repetition: seeing the same pattern again, feeling the same mistake again, using the same reference points and slowly starting to trust it. This is where confidence becomes something practical. Not a mood but a real skill.
North Fuerteventura surf coaching and the famous Partyplan
Our surf sessions took us to diferent waves in the North of the island. Two beautiful surf spots, both with their own rhythm, personality and little tricks.
One of the core tools of the week was the Partyplan. No, sadly not a plan for cocktails and dancing after sunset, although honestly, we are not against those either. In NOMB language, the Partyplan means observing and analysing the ocean before going in.
- Where are the waves breaking?
- Where are the currents moving?
- Where do people paddle out?
- Where is the safest entry and exit?
- What changes from low tide to high tide?
- Where is your reference point?
And then there was the very specific, very repeated, possibly slightly annoying question from coach Angie: Where is the bush? At one of the reef breaks, our main reference point became the bush. Just a bush put there by mother nature that clearly deserves a place in NOMB Surf history.
Reference points are simple, but incredibly powerful. They help surfers understand whether they are drifting, where the peak is, where they caught their last wave and where they should position themselves again. When fear or bigger waves make everything feel busy, a clear reference point gives your brain something stable to work with.
So yes, “Where is the bush?” may have been asked more than once. Possibly many times. Maybe too many times. But did it work? Absolutely.
This kind of observation is a huge part of our surf coaching program. A surfer who understands the ocean makes better decisions. Better decisions lead to better waves, more confidence and less chaotic paddling into the unknown. Tiny detail but a massive difference.
Learning to read waves and tides
One of the strongest learning moments of the week happened on land before it fully happened in the water. We went to the beach at low tide and stayed long enough to watch the spot change all the way towards high tide. No rushing. No quick “looks good, let’s go”. Just proper observation.
At low tide, the group could see more of the ocean floor, the shape of the beach, the exposed rocks and the different sections where waves started to break. As the tide pushed in, the same spot slowly changed character. Waves began to break differently. Some sections softened. Others became more active. Entry and exit points changed. The position of the peak shifted. The energy in the water moved.
For many surfers, tides are something they check in an app but do not really feel yet. This exercise helped connect theory with reality. Suddenly, “low tide” and “high tide” were not just numbers. They became visible, practical and very relevant.
It also made one of our theory sentences come alive: A wave mirrors the ocean floor. When you understand how the bottom shape affects the wave, and how the tide changes the amount of water moving over that bottom, you start reading the ocean with very different eyes. For experienced beginners and transition surfers, this is a big step towards becoming more independent and confident in the lineup.
Everyone found this exercise incredibly helpful, and honestly, it was one of those sessions that showed why surf progression is not only about catching waves. Sometimes the real breakthrough starts with standing on the beach, watching properly and finally going: “Ohhhhh. Now I see it.” Exactly. Welcome to the Partyplan.
Surf coaching with video analysis, theory and the treasure box
Every day included theory, feedback or video analysis. Not in a school-trip way. Nobody had to sit in a cold room pretending to understand tide charts while secretly dreaming about snacks.
We kept it practical. We talked about forecast reading for surfers, tides, types of waves, surf etiquette, paddle technique, breathing, positioning and the difference between whitewash and an unbroken wave. That last one is especially important for surfers moving from beginner to intermediate level. Whitewash pushes. An unbroken wave has a softer feeling at first, and you need timing, commitment and trust in your skills.
This is where the three C’s came back again and again: Confidence. Control. Commitment. Confidence to trust your ability. Control to make better decisions instead of reacting in panic. Commitment to paddle, look, choose and go. Because there is always an excuse to be found. Too big. Too small. Too fast. Too slow. Too crowded. Too empty. Too windy. Too beautiful. Too Tuesday. And at t some point, progression asks for a decision: believe in your skills enough to commit.
The surf coaching with video analysis helped each surfer choose two concrete areas of improvement. This keeps feedback clear and doable. Instead of trying to fix everything at once, we focus on what will make the biggest difference now.
Video analysis is especially useful because it shows what you think you are doing, what you are actually doing and where the next small change can create a big difference. Very rude sometimes. Very helpful always.
The infamous treasure box
And then there was our treasure box. Not a wooden pirate box, although honestly that would be very on brand. The treasure box is a page in our surf notebook where we write down things we feel good about in our surfing. Small wins. Big wins. Brave moments. Technical progress. Better choices. Things that felt different. Things that finally clicked.
Other people can add to it too, which makes it even more powerful. Because sometimes another person sees your progress before you do. And when fear is loud, written proof of your own skills becomes gold. The treasure box helped the group recognize and value their abilities through the week. Not just after the best waves, but also after the brave paddle-outs, the better positioning, the calmer breathing, the more committed take-offs and the moments where someone realized: “I handled that better than I would have a few days ago.”
Learning is serious, but it does not have to be boring. We believe: never trust a surftrip with zero treasure.
Surf confidence, positioning and catching unbroken waves
A big part of the week was about building surf confidence. Not fake confidence. Not “just go for it” confidence. Real confidence, based on skills, understanding and better decisions.
We worked on positioning, reading the wave while paddling, take-off timing, breathing and staying committed when the wave starts to lift. Catching unbroken waves can feel very different from catching whitewater, and that transition is where many experienced beginners get stuck.
Fear in the water is normal. Especially when the waves get bigger, the lineup feels less familiar or the timing is not yet fully clear. The aim was not to pretend that fear does not exist. The aim was to give it structure: observe, breathe, find your reference point, know your options, trust your skills and stay ready.
That is why this trip is designed for surfers who often feel overlooked in standard surf camps: too advanced for beginner classes, but not yet comfortable in more advanced lineups. With this kind of surf coaching, the aim is to give surfers tools they can take into future sessions. Not only “you caught that wave”, but “you understand why you caught that wave”. Much better souvenir than a fridge magnet.
A little tribute to Tee, our second coach
Another very special part of this Intensive Surf Coaching Program was having Tee back with us as second coach. And honestly, we were so honoured and stoked that she could join another NOMB Surf intensive program.
Tee brings a rare mix of surf knowledge, ocean confidence, body awareness, humour and pure human sunshine. In the water, she gives precise feedback without making things feel heavy. On land, she adds energy, warmth and a lot of laughter. She sees details, encourages commitment and has that beautiful coach superpower of making people feel both challenged and safe at the same time.
With a maximum 2:1 student-coach ratio, having Tee in the team changed the whole quality of the week. More eyes in the water. More individual feedback. More support during bigger moments. More confidence when the group was working through fear, positioning and commitment. It simply would not have been the same without her and her addictive fun attitude.
Recovery like surfers who want to surf again tomorrow
With intensive water time, recovery is not a luxury. It is part of the coaching plan. This trip’s recovery routine included fascia self-love with a tennis ball, arm rotation with a rope, balance and head turning exercises, leg stretches, lower back release, cobra and the legendary squat walk. Bodies were stretched, rolled, discussed and occasionally questioned for their life choices.
The group also had physio massages, a sunset sauna session and a recovery meditation edition. Recovery is one of the reasons this trip might feel different from other surf camps. We do not just throw surfers into the water and hope for heroic survival. We want people to progress, understand, recover and return to the ocean with energy.
Beach breakfasts, cafecitos, Brazilian jazz and small-group magic
Of course, a NOMB Surftrip is never only about the sessions. Around the coaching, there were beach breakfasts, beach lunches, cafecitos at different coffee shops, shopping in Lajares and plenty of little in-between moments that make a group become a crew.
A huge part of that crew feeling also came from our private chef Noelia, who spoiled us with delicious breakfasts and dinners throughout the week. Good surf coaching needs good recovery, and good recovery starts at the table. Noelia made sure we were fuelled, happy and very well fed, with the kind of meals that make tired surf bodies silently emotional. And then there was her banana bread. Possibly the world’s best banana bread. We are still accepting scientific studies on this, but honestly, the case feels pretty strong.
And because every proper intensive week needs a final release valve, we finished the trip with a night out in a local bar, listening to Brazilian jazz. A very fitting ending, really: tired bodies, full hearts, salty hair, and the kind of music that makes even your nervous system put on linen trousers.
That is one of the advantages of a premium surf coaching program in Fuerteventura with a maximum of four surfers. Everyone gets attention, space and is seen in the water and on land. The coaches can adjust the plan, choose the right conditions and support each surfer individually. For experienced beginners, that means building confidence step by step. For transition surfers, it means sharpening timing, positioning and consistency in varied Fuerteventura conditions. And for injured assistant coaches named Andi, it apparently means delivering surf etiquette input and keeping the vibe high from land. Very useful. Five stars.
See the full photo album
Some moments are better seen than explained, especially the ones involving sandy hair, determined paddle faces and that unmistakable “I just understood something” smile. You can see more impressions from this trip in our Facebook photo album here.
What this Fuerteventura surftrip really taught us
This week reminded us again that surf progression is not linear. Some days you feel like you cracked the code. Some days the ocean looks at your plan and says: “Cute.” But every session gives information.
A wave mirrors the ocean floor. The ocean has history. Your positioning tells a story. Your hesitation also tells a story. Your breath matters. Your confidence is trainable. Your skills deserve to be recognized.
And sometimes the biggest breakthrough is not the prettiest wave of the week. Sometimes it is paddling out with less fear. Sitting in a better spot. Looking back at the wave. Choosing earlier. Finding the bush. Staying ready. Committing. Laughing after a wipeout. Writing something into the treasure box and realizing it is true. That is what this intensive surf coaching Fuerteventura format is built for.
Who is this intensive surf coaching trip in Fuerteventura for?
This trip is for experienced beginners and transition surfers who want to improve with structure, personal feedback and a small supportive group.
It is a good fit if you are looking for:
- Small-group surf coaching in Fuerteventura
- Surf coaching with video analysis
- A surf camp for transition surfers in Fuerteventura
- Experienced beginner surf coaching in green waves
- Wave reading and tide observation
- Personal feedback instead of standard group lessons
- A premium surf camp in Fuerteventura with recovery, a private chef and single-room accommodation
It is not the right fit if you have never surfed before, want a relaxed holiday with one casual surf per day or mainly want a party atmosphere. But if you want to surf, learn, laugh, recover and finally understand why the wave keeps doing that thing, this might be your duck pond.
Join the next Intensive Surf Coaching Program in Fuerteventura
Our next Intensive Surf Coaching Program Fuerteventura takes place in June 2027, again here in the north of the island.
As usual it will include small-group coaching, tailored surf sessions, guided freesurf when conditions allow, video analysis, theory sessions, recovery work, single-room villa accommodation, vegetarian and vegan meals cooked by our private chef, physio massage, professional surf photography, a surf workbook and the usual NOMB Surf mixture of structure, ocean knowledge and very necessary humour.
This trip is for experienced beginners and transition surfers who want personal coaching, privacy, recovery and a deeper understanding of the ocean. If you want to manage fear in the water, become more confident with your skills, understand waves and tides better, and surf in a small group where progress is actually seen, come with us.
Sign up for the next Intensive Surf Coaching Program in Fuerteventura here.
Sea you in the ocean soon. Angie & the NOMB Surfteam
