Surfin' Safari Hits Baja

Me after four programs?
AP Photo
One of my very favorite trips has to be when I learned to surf in Sayulita, Mexico. My program at Surf Las Olas was an all women's week-long intensive for both seasoned wave riders and mere beginners to practice on breaks not far from Puerto Vallarta. At that point, Sayulita was low on the radar (that's since changed), so the town had this sleepy, low-key, fishing-village feel.
My classmates and I had two surf lessons a day plus yoga classes. By the second day I was standing on my board, by day four I was catching long rides, and by the end of the week my shoulders and arms were in the best shape of my life. The camp's teachers were incredible, with a lot of patience and great board tips. They also helped to calm those students with fear of the water, which can be a real issue when getting up the courage to paddle into a wave. But best of all, the teachers made the sport lots of fun; surfing is something that really benefits from an intensive approach. I was especially proud that I was the only guppy of my group who graduated to a goldfish--guppies are beginners, goldfish are intermediate and I think dolphins are advanced (or was it sharks?).
Anyway, I am very excited to hear that the camp is now adding Baja, Mexico as its next surf safari destination. As I have been to Todos Santos a few times and the surf around there is fantastic, I think I need to head to the new location soon. There are a number of fall and winter dates such as November 6-12, December 4-10 and January 8-14. It's time I became a dolphin after all.
























