Art of Manliness

Surfing

So its been a dream of mine to learn how to surf. However, I do have a slight problem. I live in Toronto, Canada and there is no surfable ocean space even remotely close to where I am. This results in me wanting to leave the country and take a trip somewhere to learn. Has anybody ever been to a surf school or surf camp that they would like to share with me? If you surf, where and how did you learn to do it? If you've vacationed to a place with excellent surf, where was it? Thanks in advance for the advice.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael J. Austin on September 21, 2009 at 10:48am

Well Peter, I live in Michigan and I too always wanted to surf. I got the chance to spend 10 days in Southern California in Riverside. One the guys I went out there with was born and raised in Venice Beach so his younger brother took me under his wing and show me how to surf. Venice Beach was nice and I know that other places are probally better but that was my only location.

BTW ... I love Toronto been there 3 times, St. Lawrence Market and Younge Street ROCKS !!!!!!!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thad on September 23, 2009 at 3:06am

Don't know if it would help you, but Cornwall is a great place to learn to surf. There are surf schools at most of the beaches (especially between Perranporth and Newquay).

Not only is the surfing pretty good, but it is glorious countryside full of wonderful people!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Disque on September 23, 2009 at 3:41am

You really should go to Jaco Beach Costa Rica. The beaches are gorgeous. The Ticas are hot. The surfing is great. It's really inexpensive to fly to Costa Rica from the states. Not sure how much it costs from Canada. But Costa Rica is inexpensive to fly and to stay. Surfing lessons all over the beach. The people are warm and awesome. Give it a thought.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Will on September 23, 2009 at 8:17am

I've only taken a morning with a rented surfboard at Virginia Beach. Didn't learn to surf, but I'd say I started the process.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jeff on September 27, 2009 at 1:22am

Peter, surfing is a great sport. Not only is the ride itself fun, but the whole experience is awesome. The closest surfing to you in Toronto would the Great Lakes. Yes, people do surf on the Great Lakes. I surfed Lake Michigan in New Buffalo, MI last month with my brother. The lakes are fickle and cold of course. Third Coast Surf shop in New Buffalo has daily surf reports for the Great Lakes - http://www.thirdcoastsurfshop.com/
As far as better, warmer waves go, it depends how much money you want to spend. There are waves/surf schools up and down the East and West coasts and every surfing country in the world. Also, surfing is difficult, and you're not going to learn how to do it during a one-week vacation, you have to be dedicated and stick with it. That said, the reward of a good ride is priceless.
Check out http://www.surfline.com/home/index.cfm for everything from travel spots to surfing tips to surf camps. Remember to show respect to the other people in the water and have fun. Hope this is helpful.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Hacker on September 28, 2009 at 8:05pm

If your looking to travel far I would recommend witches rock surf camp in costa rica http://www.witchsrocksurfcamp.com/.

If you wanted to venture out down to here in the states there are plenty of places you can go in washington state, oregon, and of course cali.

I learned the old fashioned way, having a buddy who would drag me out during hurricanes here on the east coast.