Updated
Anyone can learn to stand up on a board. What surfing really teaches you starts after that.
After more than a decade teaching people to surf in Famara, we have seen thousands of students of all ages and from every corner of the world come through our surf camp. And if there is one thing we have learned watching them — and watching ourselves — it is that surfing teaches far more than it promises. You come looking for a sport and you leave with a different way of seeing things.
Thanks to our students, friends and the incredible community of surfers that makes up the Red Star Surf family, we have lived countless amazing moments in the water. Out of all of them come these six things you discover when you start surfing.
1. You connect with the ocean in a way you didn’t expect
Who doesn’t feel more relaxed and refreshed after even a quick dip in the sea?
The ocean has powers we are not fully aware of. Surfing invites us to connect with nature in a profound way. This connection improves both our mental and emotional health and our skills on the board: the more time you spend in the water, the more you learn to read the ocean, to respect it and to understand it. And that reading never leaves you — it stays with you forever.
2. Progress is not a straight line
There are days when you move forward, and others when it feels like you are back at square one. That is completely normal — it happens to the beginner in their first week and to the surfer with years of experience. Making mistakes is part of the journey, and every mistake has something to teach us. Watching our students both in lessons and in free surfing sessions, we see how even small breakthroughs have a huge impact on their confidence and skills. In the end, it is the small wins that push us to keep improving. Remember: every wipeout is an opportunity to progress.
3. You learn to wait — and to enjoy the waiting
No matter how many forecasts you check, the conditions when you arrive at the beach can surprise you beyond anything you imagined. The ocean is completely unpredictable, and that is why we must learn to accept and enjoy the wait in the water. The patience you train sitting on your board, watching the horizon, is the same patience that stays with you out of the water. Few schools teach that — the ocean does.
4. Surfing and mindfulness go hand in hand
We live in a world that is faster and more disconnected every day. We run on autopilot and have lost the ability to live in and enjoy the present. Surfing invites you to slow down and focus on the here and now: when you are paddling for a wave, there is no room in your head for anything else. Many of our students tell us how surfing has helped them switch off from everyday stress and find peace in the water.
5. You discover that surfing is for everyone
Every day, this sport shows us how inclusive and accessible it is. Both in free surfing sessions and in our surf camp and surf school, we see people of different ages, genders and physical conditions try surfing and love it. Surfing has the power to break down barriers and bring people together. Time and again, group lessons turn into a real community experience. And that is wonderful.
6. You start caring for the ocean as if it were your home
Who likes paddling out into water full of floating rubbish? Whether we like it or not, we are damaging our planet. When the ocean becomes your favourite place in the world, protecting it stops being a theory and becomes personal. The future of surfing depends entirely on our ability to protect the environment, and at Red Star Surf we keep learning and acting to do our small part for the conservation of marine biodiversity.
In the end, surfing is much more than a sport
Every wave, every wipeout and every small victory teaches you something. Surfing is a practice that connects you with nature, with yourself and with others — and the best part is that these six lessons cannot be learned by reading about them. You have to live them.
If you haven’t tried it yet, Famara is a perfect place to start: waves all year round, water between 17 and 25 degrees and a 6 km beach inside a natural park. Book your first lesson and discover for yourself everything surfing can teach you. See you in the water! 🤙
Keep reading
If this sounds like you, a few more pieces from our blog: why surfing swings between happiness and frustration, written by Andrey, our general manager; what surfing does for your body and mind; the technique behind your first take-off; and why Lanzarote is a great place to learn. When you are ready, our beginner lessons start every morning on Famara beach.
