Updated
Every surfer has a picture in their head of what they look like on a wave — and almost nobody’s picture is right. That is why daily video analysis is part of our longer lessons in Famara: you see exactly what you did, your instructor shows you the one or two things to change, and the next morning you paddle out knowing what to work on.
How it works
During the session one of the instructors films from the beach, following each student on their waves. Afterwards we sit down together and go through the footage: normal speed first, then slow motion and freeze frames on the key moments — the paddle, the pop-up, where you are looking, where your weight is. Everyone gets their own feedback, but watching the rest of the group is just as useful: it is much easier to spot a mistake on someone else and then recognise it in yourself.
We keep it simple. The goal is not a list of twenty corrections but one or two clear priorities for the next day. Combined with a lesson every morning, that is what turns a week into real progress.
What the camera usually shows
The same handful of habits show up in almost every first week. Seeing them on screen is what makes them click.
| What you feel | What the video shows | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| “I’m too slow to catch waves” | lying too far back on the board, nose up | move forward until the nose is just above the water |
| “I keep falling when I stand” | getting up on your knees first | one movement: hands under the chest, push, feet land together |
| “The board shoots out” | weight on the back foot, legs straight | front foot in the middle, knees bent, weight forward |
| “I never go sideways” | looking down at the board | look where you want to go — the board follows your eyes |
| “I miss the wave at the last second” | stopping paddling as the wave arrives | two or three extra strokes after you feel it lift |
Who gets video analysis
Video analysis is included, weather permitting, in the four-hour full-day surf course (from €70 a day, with free hotel pick-up) and in the Performance surf camp package (four hours of lessons a day plus a private room in our surf house, from €265 for three nights). It is not part of the two-hour lessons or the Easy package. It works for complete beginners and just as well for intermediate surfers who want to fix their bottom turn or start reading the lineup better.
Make the most of it
Write down the one thing your instructor tells you to change after each session and focus only on that the next morning — by day five you will see the difference on screen yourself. Before your trip, read how to do a proper take-off, so the first video already shows the right movement to build on. And do not be shy on camera: the instructors in our team have seen every kind of wipeout, and the funniest ones are usually the most useful.
Video analysis — FAQ
Which surf lessons include video analysis?
The four-hour full-day group course and the Performance surf camp package, whenever the weather allows filming. The two-hour lessons and the Easy package do not include it.
Is video analysis useful for complete beginners?
Yes. Beginners benefit most, because the typical first-week mistakes — lying too far back, getting up on the knees, looking down — are easy to see on video and quick to fix.
Do I need any experience for video analysis to help?
No. It helps from your very first session, and it keeps being useful as you progress: intermediate surfers use it to work on turns, positioning and wave selection.
