And there are plenty of other schools nearby, too. The closest adult and kid-friendly option (Surf Simply doesn’t allow children under 16) is Ten Toe Surf, which was started by a former Surf Simply coach and employs many of the same techniques. There’s also the women-focused Mindful Waves program, which centers around all-female surfing in a supportive environment.
I arrived at Surf Simply as an intermediate surfer—a vague term that probably encompasses the majority of surfers in the world. I had been hung up on the same plateau for years. The other students staying the week I was there (ages 21 to 72) ranged from first-timers to experts. Everyone received hyper-specific notes to work on from coaches, and I could almost see people improve in real-time. The coaches are all incredibly fluid, eloquent, and high-level surfers themselves, and they all teach from the Tree of Knowledge, a sort of surf-progression flowchart.
Vacation-esque recovery is baked-in, too, with two sublime massages included, as well as a pool and hot tub, an unlimited fridge full of fresh coconuts to drink from, plus two dinners at local restaurants. Onsite meals prepared by Surf Simply’s kitchen staff are also included, and the food is among the best in town. The menu changes based on what’s fresh and seasonal; it’s healthy and flavorful, and they can accommodate any dietary restriction imaginable. Tips and airport transfers are all included as well, and at the end of the week you take all of your video footage home with you, along with a collection of eye-popping, professional photos.
Getting to Nosara, Costa Rica
The town of Nosara is on the Nicoya Peninsula, in the northwestern region of Costa Rica. The closest airports are Liberia (roughly 2.5 hours by car) and San Jose (roughly five to six hours by car). The roads can get a bit rough as you get more remote, especially in the rainy season (May through November). Nosara itself is a mellow place, and known as laid-back alternative to Tamarindo that’s for more serious surfers—but it still has a wealth of comfortable hotels and authentic restaurants to choose from.
