Your flights are booked, you’ve stocked up on sunscreen and wax, and you’re stoked about your first trip to a tropical place. Those tickets weren’t cheap, and priority number one is to score as many waves as possible. And that stipulation inevitably leads to one question when traveling to an unfamiliar spot: Should you hire a surf guide?
If you’re already dialed in on the area with transportation, boards and a plan – or you just want to wing it on your own – go ahead and skip the guide. But if this isn’t you, the right guide can make an awesome trip epic.
Ranging from formal companies with websites and a PayPal account to locals who will show you around in exchange for some cash, surf guides can be anything from a great investment to a waste of time and money, or somewhere in between.
Really good guides can help you get the most out of a new location. They know the best waves in the area for surfers of every ability, and the best conditions for each. They’ll know the locals well and can often break the ice for you at places where you’d feel unwelcome (or worse) on your own.
Guides also can make navigating a new location smoother and safer – especially if you’re not comfortable renting a car or finding your way around a sketchy area. They may even pick you up in the morning, take you to the break, and bring you back at the end of the day. On a recent trip to Mexico, our guide met us at the airport with a selection of boards, took us straight to the beach, and then dropped us off at our hotel later. He automatically eliminated the hassle of airport transportation and we were able to start the trip off right by getting a surf right after we landed.
Now here are five helpful tips to making sure you find the right surf guide to make the most of your trip:
1. Get recommendations from people you trust.
Ask surfers who have been where you’re headed if they know anyone. If not, TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews can help you get started. Local surf shops may also be able to set you up.
2. Are you new to the game and want some coaching too?
Many guides are expert surfers who can help you break bad habits and learn new skills. Some will include photos or video of your sessions, so you can see for yourself when you’re killing it and when…well, not so much.
Make sure they work with surfers at your level. Read reviews and talk to people who have used them. If reviewers are stoked because they stood up for the first time, and you want to learn how to drop into steep waves, it might not be a good match.
3. Are boards a part of the deal?
If your guide has boards to offer you, find out what’s in their quiver. If you ride a midsize board and your guide only has a 9’0” and performance shortboards, you’re not going to be happy. And these boards get used a lot, so expect beaters. If your guide doesn’t have a good fit, consider renting a board elsewhere.
4. Know if they have proper First Aid knowledge.
I had a run-in with a sea urchin, and our guide only had a pair of dull tweezers and a rusty pin. Fortunately, I still have my toe.
5. Have a Plan B.
Even the best guides can’t control nature, so find out what happens if the surf is too small, too big, too windy, or the weather just isn’t cooperating. Can you cancel? Will you get a refund? Explore other options so you’re not just hanging around the hotel waiting for the surf to clean up. When the surf was blown out in Costa Rica, I discovered an outdoor aerial silks studio and found a new passion that I still love.
