This beautiful peeler is out the front of our hotel | Photography by @saashphoto
Sri Lanka. It’s great for learning, it’s great for improving and there’s enough to keep expert surfers happy too. It’s consistent, the water’s warm, and the wind allows you at least 2 sessions a day, most days. Here at Soul & Surf Cove we have access to a gorgeous left-hander that you can paddle out to – straight from our cafe, Canteen. Whatta treat.
Or… if the conditions are more suitable somewhere else, we’ll take you there instead. We are surrounded by waves suitable for all levels, so whatever your level – be that beginner, improver, intermediate or beyond – know that we’ve got you.
Our soul of surfing programme is designed to pass on our love of all things ocean to you. From wave-riding on all kinds of craft (focused for your level, be that beginner, improver, intermediate or beyond) to ocean awareness and activism, to blue health and how the ocean is good for the soul. Way more than your usual ‘pop-up-on-a-foamboard’ Sri Lanka surf school.
Surf Coaching
Whether it is your first surf or you are a seasoned ol’ sea dog, our Soul of Surfing sessions are designed for all levels, depending on numbers we can run four different sessions with a different focus.
We run surf lessons through Levels 1 – 4 (more info about what that means), plus our Soul of Surfing workshops, where we go deeper on soul of surfing topics, which provide an added element of theory. We also offer four video analysis sessions through the week, and offer you technical, actionable surf coaching, whatever your level.
We then supplement that with our daily Soul of Surfing workshops on surf theory, surf etiquette, ocean literacy, ocean activism, blue health and what soul surfing is all about. This way we make sure that each student develops and progresses not only their surfing ability throughout the week, we aim to increase the sense of play (not just success) in the water and give a solid understanding of the soul surfing lifestyle.
We believe in teaching you the good stuff – whether you are ready to improve your duck diving, cutback, cross-step, nose ride, to top turn – or simply feel safe and confident in the ocean.
Sundowner Sessions
Our afternoon ‘free surfs’ are an extension of our morning lessons and are the perfect opportunity for you to practice what you’ve learnt and to continue to develop your skills, or simply just bob about and watch the sunset. Our instructors and assistants will be on hand, on the beach or in the water with you, to keep you afloat and keep you stoked.
Find out more about prices & what’s included
Read More
Dive deeper into our Soul of Surfing programme, work out your surf level – and see what we aim to teach in our level 1-4 lessons, surf theory & soul surfing workshops
Read More
Beginner, intermediate - all the way to advanced. Sri Lanka has it all
Are we a Surf Camp?
We tend to avoid using the term surf camp, because the surf, yoga, eating and holistic experience we offer is a bit more grown up than a standard surf camp offering.
A typical surf camp experience would involve cheap accommodation, basic catering and is generally aimed at the younger, budget end of the market. We work hard to focus on the stuff that’s missing at a basic surf camp and consider the whole experience a bit more carefully.
Surfing in Sri Lanka
Instructors & Surf Team
Our wonderful surf team of internationally qualified surf instructors and lifeguards are dedicated to facilitating your improvement. We keep the instructor to pupil ratio high to give you the individual attention you need and tailor the lesson plans to each student’s requirements. And because we are with you for the whole week we can tailor the week’s lesson plans to each student’s requirements.
Click the Read More button to find out about the surf conditions in Sri Lanka
Read More
Sri Lanka Surf Conditions
Main Season | November – April
From November to April the wind is either off-shore or non-existent most mornings and although there are many days when the on-shores pick up at around 10 or 11am the wind usually drops off at sunset. But if you take a gamble and the wind stays off-shore you can score the best, emptiest waves in the middle of the day. We’re not going to lie and lure you in with promises of no crowds. There are crowds. The main spots can get pretty busy at peak times. But still we have fun.
Green Season | May – October
Beginning in May through to October we still see white water rolling in to a handful of protected sandy beaches - which of course makes it great for beginners all year round. But this is the time when the surf guides (for surfers of intermediate level and above) become more interesting and we turn into explorers! This green season can be a bit wetter, wilder and windier so we take a gamble and seek out the sheltered spots where the pay-off can be empty waves to ourselves.
There is a wave and a lesson here for you, whatever your experience.
Wave Riding. The Soul Surfer Journey
Our Soul of Surfing programme delivers skills and techniques with our experienced coaches to set you up as an ‘unconsciously able’ surfer across four different levels.
Unconsciously able? We mean you can surf without thinking about it.
Once you become an 'integrated surfer' – by integrated we mean you know more than just standing on a board – it’s time to move onto the next level. Each surf session also includes our seven Blue Health principles.
The only requirement we have to attend our lesson is that you can swim.
Download our Wave Riding poster for an overview of the levels and how they relate to each other.
Surf Equipment & Preparing For Your Trip
Equipment Available
We have a full stock of boards at your disposal throughout your stay. We’ve got everything from performance shortboards to fun boards, mini-mals, longboards and a good range of beginners foam boards so that whatever your level and however you progress we’ve got the right board for you and the conditions.
We’ve also got all the other stuff you need – from leashes to wax. Plus we’ll give each of you a Soul & Surf rash vest for your lessons so there is pretty much nothing to bring except for surf/swimwear and water-proof sunscreen. Unless of course you have a favourite board that you just cannot live without (we’re with you on that one).
Before You Arrive
Of course you can simply dash out of work on a Friday night, hop on a plane and be with us by Saturday. But if you can start some preparations before you leave you will really feel the benefit. Here are a few things to get you going before you get to us, particularly if you are not a regular surfer – and you might want to check out one of our resident yogi’s and surfer Rach’s journal post on ‘getting surf trip fit‘ too.
| PREPARATION |
|---|
| Watch as much surfing footage as possible, get familiar with how it looks to ride waves |
| Look for different types of waves and how different surf spots attract different styles of surfing |
| Do 10-20 press ups a day for a month before you come |
| Go swimming and set yourself targets which are reachable in terms of endurance in the water |
| If you have never surfed before try bodysurfing in the sea |
| Try skateboarding if you can, longboards and/or carve boards |
| Try to build core strength muscles – work ALL muscle groups in the core |
| Hold your breath in the bath or at the pool, time yourself and try to extend |
| But honestly – the best preparation for surfing, is surfing |
*Please note, none of this is medical advice, consult your doctor to be sure.
Kids Surf Lessons
Safety and professionalism are the cornerstones of surf coaching at Soul & Surf. This is even more true when working with kids, we cannot ask our instructors to go beyond what their qualifications and governing bodies advise them to. Here are our guidelines on what surf lessons might be available for your kids:
- Under 7 — we cannot accept on surf guides or lessons.
- From 7 to 12 — lessons are available if you can demonstrate your child’s swimming ability. Please note, unless you book a 1-1 lesson, we require one parent or guardian to be in the water supervising each child at all times, since our instructors will have other guests to attend to. The guardian can not join the same lesson while they are supervising the child.
- From 12 – 16 — lessons are available with a parent or guardian supervising at the same beach. The guardian may join the same lesson if they wish.
- All ages — we can only accept confident swimmers on surf lessons.