I asked myself the exact same question back in 2014 when I was living in Switzerland for an Erasmus exchange. Why? Because, at the time, I was sharing a room with a guy from the UK who, whenever he started talking about life in a surf camp in the French forests with just a surfboard, sleeping bag and tent, surfing each day, had that faint look and certain twinkle in his eyes you rarely see anymore these days. My roommate was, as it turned out, better known as El Presidente, Moliets surf camp manager Robbie, the legend himself.
After months of studying, the end of the semester was drawing nearer and those faint looks became more intense and the twinkles turned into sparkles. The occasional mention of surf holiday destinations had turned into serious conversations about surf forecasts, sunset sessions on beaches and starlit surf camp nights. With the final exams over and all of us infected with the surf camp ‘bug’, a group of 15 twenty-something year olds found themselves on a flight to Bordeaux. The surf camp adventure was here.
Once in Star Surf Camps’ van on our way to their Moliets surf camp, the anticipation kept growing when wide roads and concrete buildings started to disappear and the smell of sea salt from the ocean seemed almost tangible. With my eyes closed, I can still vividly remember taking in deep breaths of fresh ocean air coming in through the open car window and the sun warming my face whilst gleaming through pine tree tops. We were almost there. We all knew it. We could sense it.
Minutes later, we found ourselves surrounded by hammocks and slack lines hung between pine trees. The air was filled with happy chatters in different languages and the sound of breaking waves. It was bliss. The perfect setup for our surf holiday week to come.
The French forest, we found, was nothing short of magnificent. Besides learning to surf, we spent our time meeting people from all corners of Europe, watching beautiful sunsets and the starlit sky, eating, drinking, partying. And after our first few surf camp days, our Erasmus group found themselves with that same, familiar twinkle in their eyes. No one wanted to leave.
Thanks to this incredible experience, my passion for surfing was born. Star Surf Camps have created the perfect setting for a extraordinary surfing holiday. All this time I have spent surrounded by nature,in the water, in the surf camp among pine trees, at the beach and under a sky full of stars, has had a great influence on me and on how I see myself; on what I want to do with my life and on what is really precious to me.
I have found strength to walk a more creative and risky path in life. I wasn’t even aware of how unhappy I had been studying law. Through being close to nature and meditation, I have learned to embrace change and to let go things which no longer suit me. Though difficult in the beginning, I am now where I want to be. I started writing poems and my first one was published in October 2017, with my first book out in January 2018. Now I am back surfing with Star Surf Camps in their Fuerteventura surf house while working on more poems and some other projects.
Parting ways has always been difficult for me. So rather than saying my farewells, I decided us leaving wouldn’t be a goodbye for long – at least not for me. And I stuck to my promise, and have came back to Moliets almost every year since my initial adventure. I had been hooked. A small part of me had changed. If you asked me what I love most about this magical place, it has to be Moliets’ internationality. Nowhere have I ever found so many interesting and open-minded people than in Moliets. No matter where you’re from, Moliets welcomes you and offers you a home away from home.
Shakas & Love,
Johannes Niemann
