As a local surf shop, we really wanted to put on an event which helped bring the community and friendship aspect of surfing back to the Plymouth surf scene. We brainstormed a few ideas and the most exciting (as I would be leading the surf trip) was a group surf holiday. We teamed up with our good friends at Star Surf Camps to organise a week-long trip to the Southwest of France departing on September, 1st.
From my past experiences, I know that a surf trip to France in early September can be quite hit-and-miss, but the stars definitely aligned for our Mango’s Surf Shop surf trip to Moliets. We were greeted with 28-30 degree weather, 24 degree water (YES, warm enough for boardshorts!!!) and an almost perfect surf forecast with four days of fun-sized clean waves, great for the surf beginners and intermediates and a couple of bigger days to test our skills in the world-famous French beach breaks.
Surf camp life at Star Surf Camps is just fantastic! There were 18 surf holiday guests on our Mango’s Surf Shop trip, but the surf camp itself was full of surfers from all over the world. The surf camp’s main area is really communal and making friends around the skate ramp is super easy.
Most days followed the same schedule, which – to be fair – made my job extreeeemely easy. Wake up, eat breakfast, make lunch, cruise down to the beach. surf, eat, surf, relax, surf, eat dinner, chill/party, sleep. Rinse and repeat for 7 days.
A highlight of our surf camp week was the trip across the border to San Sebastian. A couple hours on the coach and you are immersed in pintxos, tapas and vibrant Spanish culture, followed by a great night out. I would truly recommend everyone visits this city, it’s just fantastic!
But don’t just take my word for it, here is some feedback from a few of our surf holiday guests who joined us on our Mangs’s Surf Shop trip:
Ross Bond
The surf trip was simply amazing, made some new great friends in the short time I was there and I’m already looking forward to meeting up with the crew soon. You are immersed in the chilled out surf camp lifestyle, surrounded by the giant pine forest with like-minded people who all love talking about there last wave as much as you do. Conditions were constantly good, meaning even with 4+ years of surfing under my belt I could see an improvement in my surfing over the week. Progressive steep faces outback for when your feeling like a pro and a mellow reform on the inside for the days when you have noodle arms from the previous sesh. Surf camp food was an absolute treat after a long day in the sea and always left dinner, royalty stuffed. Not only that but a 10-minute walk into town was a range of cafés, restaurants and most importantly the cave aux moules. In the evenings, there was always something happening in and around the camp, we are talking table tennis tournaments, live music, watching people win and lose on the half pipe and stubby french beers x24. Can’t recommend it enough, whether you have never surfed before or looking for a cruisey surf holiday where you can turn up, get in the waves and know that there is something cool organised for you when you finish.
Sean Disney
Having been on the first Mango surf trip in June, we tried to resist going back to Mollets but failed, booking back on after a couple of weeks of being home. The transfers from the surf camp meant arrival from the airport was easy and stress-free which would be the theme of the week. The camp itself is set up beautifully with spacious Tipi tents, a yoga deck and a deck for meals and socialising. Although we didn’t book onto the surf lessons the camp was set up on the beach and meant you could still spend time with the other campers during the day. Although we went on the trip to surf it became apparent that the yoga and spending time with the people at the camp were the actual highlights of the trip. This was made even better as it was a Mango organised trip meaning we were able to meet others from Plymouth and the nearby area which as being new to Plymouth was a huge bonus meaning we have met new people in the area and hopefully the start of a social and surfing group.
Keep your eyes posted to our social media as there will more more trips coming in 2019.
Here are all infos for our Fuerteventura Surf Trip March 10th – 17th!
Keep Surfing, Guys!
Ross
