I came. I surfed. I survived.
Slide Into Slide
Waves crashing. The wind blowing in your hair. The sensation of neoprene stuck to your body by the cold wet Atlantic. And the rush of surfing across those majestic white waves. The whole experience can be purchased, but the memory is priceless.
In 2015 the owner of Slide Surf Camp, Nico, began his surfing establishment with a partner. Due to some unforeseeable problems, his partner was unable to continue working alongside him. For the past year or so, Nico has been going at the business solo. Though he has a handful of teammates working with him to help him throughout the season, Nico wears the majority of hats around Surf.
A 36-year-old German native, Nico’s passion has long been those illusive waves that grace the west coastline of Portugal. After visiting the area several years ago, he fell in love with the out-of-the-way beach town. After finding a piece of property that is a surfer’s paradise, he now rents it annually.
Location
While Gafanha da Boa Hora isn’t a place you can see clearly on the map, it’s only a 15 minute drive from the popular destination of Aveiro. The “Venice of Portugal” as it’s most commonly known, the Northwest town of Aveiro is an artsy place with a much different vibe. Instead of surfboards and “hang-ten” gestures which are only a quarter of an hour away, Aveiro has a lot of gondolas and ceramic artwork, located about an hour from Porto.
Grab a bus or a cab and head on over to Gafanha for a much less touristy ambiance, and more natural vibe.
The Surf House
A beachfront accommodation as it is, the structure sits literally right in front of the beach. Only a few hundred meters separating he and his guests from the beautiful ocean, it’s a view! Spectacular rooftop sunsets are a favorite pastime for those staying over at the guesthouse.
The surf house is three levels, with a hostel type feel, there is enough room to board 16 people at one time. A dorm-style room on the second floor, a room for 2, and a private room with en-suite bathroom are all located at the beach house.
My Tubular Experience
You might not expect it, but people of all ages don’t just enjoy surfing, but begin learning to surf. I’m certainly one of those people. At 34, I had never once been on a surfboard. I’d honestly barely seen one. And, given the fact that I am far from athletic (golf is an extreme sport for me), surfing was going to be a challenge. But because it was something that I’d always wanted to do, I knew it was important to try it at least once. And so I did. And now I’m done. Not that my experience wasn’t fantastic, because it was. The fact that I wiped out 100 times more often than I actually caught any waves is fine too. It was the fact that I got myself on that board at all is all that counts. And the fact that my trainer had to hold the board to get me up there….but details, details…
Come One, Come All!
It’s not just people like me in their mid-thirties who are trying their hand at the sport, either. Nico informs me that he has guests coming to the surf camp often who are between 50-55 years of age, learning surfing for the first time. Wow. And what is your excuse? And while it may seem out of the ordinary for someone of that age to be learning a new sport, it apparently happens much more often than you would think.
The average guest is not a senior citizen though, rest assured. While everyone is welcome at Slide, the typical age range that come to visit are between 25-30.
And while the majority of Nico’s guests tend to be of the German persuasion, he does encourage people from all countries to come visit and try out the art of surf.
Surf’s Uniqueness
The thing that sets his surf camp apart from others along the west coast of Portugal, is that it’s a very family-oriented environment. One would suspect that when you stay at other surf camps, it’s not the owner who’s doing the cooking for you. But Nico does. Making you feel like you’re a part of a family rather than a guest at a hostel or guesthouse, you feel comfortable and at ease. To be perfectly honest, I felt the most at home while I was at Slide Surf Camp more so than I did at any other hotel, guesthouse or hostel where I stayed the whole month I was in Portugal.
In particular, Nico is the one who has a knack for making his guests feel this at home. With his laid-back approach to everything, stress is not a word or feeling that fits into his or anyone else’s vocabulary at Surf. The word at masion du Nico is “chill”. Have a home-cooked meal at sunset on their grand patio, while enjoying a pleasant conversation over a bottle of Portuguese wine. After dinner, settle into the living room with candles and more wine or desserts while playing card games or watching a film on Netflix together. You will feel so comfortable and welcome here, you will probably never want to leave. It’s honestly amazing I’m not still there.
What they Offer
But it’s not just the homey approach and kindness that Nico shows his guests that make it special. It’s also what they have on offer at the surf house and camp in general. It goes without saying that accommodation is included in your stay, and so is the food. The latter of which is perhaps not as obvious, but a great bargain and super generous. You also have surf lessons 5 days out of 7 during your week stay. His professional and licensed surf instructor, Lois, will not only show you the ropes (or maybe it’s boards, in this case), but he will also wow you with his vast knowledge of everything having to do with the ocean. From explaining the marine life, emergency precautions when surfing, and the overall abc’s of surfing, you’re in safe and trusted hands while with Lois.
The Best Massage in Portugal
And did I mention massages? Yup. There’s no question if you’ve been surfing all week you’re going to need a massage. Even if you’re not an absolute beginner like me, you’re going to feel sore from all the lifting of the surfboards, all the lifting of your weight onto said boards in the water, and escaping waves attacking you all day. Basically, by the end of each day, your body will be screaming at you. The best thing you can do to treat yourself is to get an incredible massage by the best masseuse in all of Portugal. My massage therapist, Patrizia, gave me the most incredible and unforgettable massage in the world while I was at Slide, and while her services are not included in your package, she’s not expensive.
Nico employs two separate massage therapists who come in independently to care for his guests who are in need of a good, deep rubdown. And having experienced Patrizia’s hands, I can assure you, she is more than qualified to get those nasty knots out!
Prices
Now it’s time to find out how much this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience costs, because, well, nothing in life is free. Except for the memories you can take home with you. Staying in the dormitory-style room which can hold 4-5 people, food while at the camp and 5 days of surf lessons at the beginning of the season is 469 Euro. Not too bad for a whole week’s worth of everything. The same package staying in a room shared with one other person will run you 519 Euro. And if you’d like my room, which was the one and only private room at the camp with en-suite bathroom, you’re going to pay 569 Euro for the week. At the peak of the season all the rates go up 100 Euro, which is still a great deal considering all the extras you’re getting.
Coming Soon
By next year, Nico is quite hopeful to have another beach house next door to the one he has now. His intention is to turn the property into a family camp. This will provide accommodation not just for solo adventurers and couples, but for families as well. Allowing moms and dads to experience surfing with their kids, and not just on their own.
All things being equal, there are very few surf schools out there who can live up to Slide. With its tranquil vibe and relaxing atmosphere that Nico offers his guests at Slide, it’s unbeatable. I would recommend this place even to people not interested in surfing. Though that might seem like a rather silly proposal, it’s sincere.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your surfboard, and yell out “kawabunga”! Don’t miss another moment of those gorgeous cool waves sweeping your body across the Atlantic! Make sure to book your stay at Slide Surf Camp today! And when you do, make sure to tell them Lisa sent you!
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