Paddle, paddle, paddle. Push up. Plant left foot. Plant right foot. Stand up. Oh my god, I’m actually doing it… I’m surfing! After proudly hopping off the board in the knee-deep water, I looked around expectantly to see who had witnessed my brief moment of glory and triumph. Not a soul in sight. Solo travel has its downsides sometimes. The first time I successfully rode a wave was hardly impressive to anyone but me, but since I was the only one I had to impress, that was alright.
Choosing Playa Tamarindo for My Surf Lesson
Taking a surf lesson was a must-do on my first trip to Costa Rica. After some research, I decided that Playa Tamarindo was my best bet among the many beaches dotting the north Pacific coast. The town was easily accessible without a car, had good, consistent waves for beginners like me, and boasted plenty of surf shops eager to teach.
Booking with Tamarindo Surf School
I booked a group lesson with Tamarindo Surf School, which ended up being just me and a woman from Switzerland. March apparently wasn’t a popular surf time, as she told me her first lesson two days earlier had also been a private session. The school guaranteed we’d be able to stand up during our first lesson or the next one would be free. I planned to hold them to it.
Gearing Up and Hitting the Beach
After being outfitted in rash guards, we were given giant blue longboards. While we struggled to carry one surfboard between us through the sand, our instructor handled the other like it weighed nothing. Were we just wimps?
Learning the Basics on Dry Land
We found an empty patch of beach where our lesson began. We learned the proper stance and how to get into it, then practiced paddling and popping up into our surf stance. “This isn’t so hard,” I thought. After 4 or 5 dry-land runs, we were ready to try the real thing. Our instructor took turns helping us catch a suitable wave. We walked our boards out into chest-high water, climbed on, and waited for just the right wave. Though they were only two or three feet high, they looked huge as they barreled down on me. Nervous but confident, I awaited my instructor’s signal. “Paddle! Paddle! Stand up!”
Catching My First Wave
Paddle, paddle, paddle. Push up. Plant left foot. Plant right fo– whoosh I lost my balance and was unceremoniously dumped into the Pacific, smashing my knee into the sandy bottom. I came up sputtering with a nose full of salty ocean. My second and third attempts went much the same way. This wasn’t much fun. The fourth time, though…oh, the fourth time was magic. I took my time, cautiously getting into a crouch before realizing I was actually somewhat balanced and riding that little wave into shore. Despite no one witnessing it, I was grinning ear to ear as I walked my board back out.
Conclusion:
Solo travel can be tough when there’s no one to share your triumphs, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. My first successful wave at Playa Tamarindo may not have impressed anyone else, but it was a victory I’ll always cherish. If you’re heading to Costa Rica, don’t miss the chance to take a surf lesson—it’s an experience you won’t forget.
