Archive for category: News


TIPS ABOUT SANTA CRUZ SURF SPOT

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🇵🇹 The Portuguese West Coast has plenty of beautiful beaches. Some with more, others with less consistency for Surf. 

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Santa Cruz is a lovely small town, with few Services restaurants and beach bars, but have all you need for relaxing vacations.

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July and August is the highest season and full of people everywhere, but still quieter than any other close known beach like Nazaré, Peniche or Ericeira.

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In Santa Cruz, local people have the habit of going home to lunch, so in the middle of a Summer day, you can very often find the beach almost empty until 3 to 4 pm when it starts to fill up again.

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😉The rest of the year:

Mid Season: May, June, September – more services are opened  but the Beach still absolutely empty. – My advice is, if you can, to travel at this time… From mid-June to Mid September you can find lifeguard control in the main central beaches. Don’t expect to find crazy night parties, because, at the moment there is no night disco. But you have some nice bars where you and your friends or family will be received has friends.

And Winter? – Well, Winter is Winter. But never forget, we are in PORTUGAL, where the Sun shines! Today, 11 December 2019, it’s 16º and of course – SUNNY! 🔆

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Now, let’s talk about Surf Conditions!

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The coast is totally turned to West, without cuts, to protect from the swell coming straight to the shore, which makes the sea and waves, sometimes rough even during Summer.

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One thing you need to know is that, because of the tides, we have weeks without daylight Surf conditions, especially for all less experienced surfers. 

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Let me explain: 

The slope of the beach is steep, so at high tide, usually, the waves fail to break. The best tide for someone with some surfing experience will be mid-tide and for those who are still learning, the best tide will be around low tide. 

As you know, there are usually two periods of high tide and two periods of the low tide over the course of a day. The interval between high tide and low tide is approximately 6 hours.

Do your math! 📉

The classes will always have to be close to the low tide schedule. 

The most important tip I can give you: 

Always consider the tide, forecast and please NEVER EVER practice surf alone in Santa Cruz.

And don’t get mad at us, if we don’t want to rent you surf gear, even if you say you are experienced… We are just looking after your life!

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🙏The thing we love best is that we are still absolutely alone at this beach some days, even with great surf conditions. The reason is that most of the surfers, Surf Instructors, and other Surf business owners simply live in the city, and have other jobs in Low season, so… that makes almost everyone miss the right conditions. Wich means – MORE FOR YOU!!!!

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👩‍🎓To live the best that Santa Cruz has to offer takes ocean knowledge, and to live on top of the beach to know this coast pattern best. 

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⚠️If you want to take Surf vacations in this lovely Town, which we totally recommend, consult us, and we will advise you, about a good week, at least considering tides for your level. 

❓If you’ve been surfing in Praia de Santa Cruz before, tell what where your difficulties and where can I help you to improve your surf performance? 

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Surfing Science Program – EXTENDED VERSION

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Teachers Teach – Surfers… Beach 😎

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It is normal for a surfer to try to teach a friend how to surf like himself. But we can never forget that whenever we have a new guest in our surf class – boy, girl, woman or man, they haven’t spent all those hours at sea like we did when young.

We need to look at their learning process from another point of view, from a teacher point of view: how can I give this person the best performance in just one week?

The only way is by knowledge. Knowing exactly where we can shorten their learning curve, how can we make them feel the correct feeling – the balanced and control feeling, how body mechanics works, how the body balances on a mobile platform, with fewer mistakes than we had time to do, with more understanding of themselves and a fair expectations to what each and everyone can truly accomplish, and also soooo important: how they can understand the sea – the element that never has a repeated moment.

The learning process has so much to consider…

If all variables are grouped, the process can be simple and efficient. On the contrary, if we try to impose a different record of the true biomechanical, physical, electrical and chemical functioning necessary for the retention of sensory-motor information in long term memory, will not work efficiently.

Neuroscience tells us that in order to learn, a specific chemical is needed – the dopamine. And this chemical is released into our bloodstream when this learning is done with excitement, happy and pleasant conditions.

Dopamine increases brain memory and also creates motivational pathways.

Negative emotions, such as the frustration of failing and the comparison with other people’s unwillingness, promote barriers to motor and brain memory.

Therefore, learning can and should be easy and fun.

Falling over and over again it’s not fun. From this point of view, I think,  everyone needs adjusted learning process for individual skill and physical conditioning, especially any adult!

😌😌 😉😁

by Tralha

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Can children Surf if they don’t know how to swim?

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Sometimes some parents think, because their children haven’t learned how to swim yet, they can’t learn how to Surf.
Well, at our Academy we are also the ones who teach your children how to swim in the swimming clubs or official schools. In our classes, we have a controlled learning environment. First, we have to gain the children’s trust, keeping them fun and comfortable and always, always safe.
Later on, we will be concerned with the technical aspects related to surfing.
For now, between 2 and 5 yo, we educate and teach while having fun.
In this video, when I show up without the Academy outfit – Instructor Lycra, I am informally playing with my nephews on my off day. When equipped with my working dress code, I am teaching and educating new future surfers and beach bathers.
What’s the difference? When the parents of these kids understand that we are also educated and trained for this role, NON.
#teacher #professor #education #educacional #children #happykids #surfingkids #surfgirl #surfer #beach #summer #surfingscience #surfing
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Surfing Science Week Program

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Along the week we meet almost every day for a couple of hours, some days twice, to talk about Surf and to practice it.
 
We will accept a small group of 4 to 8 for our dedicated team crew.
 
I personally want to drive your surf experience into a sensorial learning of becoming a surfer, by accepting your and each one’s level of skills and enjoying each new ride with Good Surf Good Love, on your own style.
 
For me, that’s what Surf is all about. Actually, that’s what life is all about! Living it, your way! Once you accept your level of skills, all other choices will change according to this first rule: Respect yourself!
 
This week, you learn the basics. And in the future, you can come for more.
 
Basics it’s like the word say – THE BASICS:
 
* Surf Culture ;
* Relation with the new element – THE BOARD;
* The easiest way to Stand and Stay Up and drive it down the “road”;
* Biomechanics – How does the human body work. You can’t force it to move another way. It has more than 350 thousand years;
* Basic Position studied for better success.
* The Me, the Sea and the others – My Pyramid of RESPECT.
– The types of wave – white water Vs Line Up.
– The crowd – Locals Vs not Locals – a respectful approach about no one owning the Nature.
– The first week ever Surfing – It’s whitewater time. Why? – Because I need you to practice the correct pattern of movement, through repetition.

Who is this program to: 

  • If you have never surfed before – You are welcome.
  • If you surfed once or twice, in schools, camps or with friends, this program is for you.
  • If you’ve been in other programs, but your Standing/Staying up is not consistent, you are welcome. By consistency I mean: in every 10 waves, you are successful in at least 6 to 10. Like in any other exam, if your average is below this result, come to our Level 0 Certification.
  • If you wish to learn about the science behind Surf and give yourself the possibilities of learning my method of the step by step in Surfing, this is absolutely for you.

You should get your place certification fast because we will only receive 8 persons.

 
Grow your level in small steps. Skills will be learned and consolidate!
 
 
What’s included: 
– 7 nights accommodation in our Catus Homie or walking distance apartments.
– 12 hours of Surf Education (theory, practice, frame analyses, and personal discussion about each one’s difficulties, split the best way for your effective learning process).
– Breakfast basket – eggs, cheese, oats, fruit, coffee, water and tea.
– A Portuguese Dinner served with my brother’s Wine.
– Insurance, all the gear – adjusted to your level and to the weather.
– Photographs from your week.
– Only 4 to 8 of You, to 2 to 3 of Us.
 
How much does it cost: 799€
 
 
Extras:
– For private room – Extra 280€.
– For private apartment – Extra 300€ (for you, or for two, in case you want to bring someone who doesn’t want to join the program or is already independent).
– Car rental (under consulting). You will have plenty of time and many many things to visit…
– Bike or Skate Rental – around 5€ per day.
 
 
Surfing Science Program RULES:
The program is organised considering tides and wave condition. We adjust it along the week, if needed, considering the group level, skills and your happiness.
We walk to the beach.
You have freedom during the biggest part of the day.
You will not be stuck at the beach with all the others, because the house is walking distance.
We don’t stay at the beach if it’s too hot, too cold, raining or too windy because it’s not comfortable. But you can stay if you want. We are all different.
This is not a boot camp, it’s not a camp, it’s a workshop week.
 
This program is not a leisure time program for tourists. Was honestly designed to teach you the pleasure and happiness of Surfing days and lifestyle.
 
 
There is no driving here included, because we have the greatest location ever. We have the sea on your right side and at your left side. But of course, we usually take you in our old-school Land Rover to take a look at the surroundings and to go to the Surf Shops or Supermarket. But again, EVERYTHING IS walking distance.
The food included is some products at your welcome breakfast basket and a Portuguese Dinner, that will be cooked by Tralha!
 
Take a ride in my honest point of view of Surfing in Portugal.

 

OTHER DATES

24th Jun to 1st Jul – Surfing Science Level 0 Certification

1st to 8th Jul – Surfing Science Level 1 Certification

8th to 15th Jul – Surfing Science Level 1 Certification

2nd to 9th Sep – Surfing Science Level 0 Certification

9th to 16th Sep – Surfing Science Level 1 Certification

30th Sep to 7 Oct – ALLBOARD – Closing season

 

 

 

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Aloha Girls – Certification Level 0 & Level 1

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Aloha Girls it’s a revival of an old program, that I used to promote in the early of the last decade. I’ve been dreaming about relaunching the program for years! Now the time has finally come.   The format is new and adjusted to young and mature women, who want to learn to Surf and about Surf. Along the week we meet almost every day for a couple of hours, some days twice, to talk about Surf and to practice it.   We will accept a small group of 4 to 8 women for our dedicated team crew. I personally want to drive your surf experience into a sensorial learning of becoming a surfer, by accepting your and each one’s level of skills and enjoying each new ride with Good Surf Good Love, on your own style. For me, that’s what Surf is all about. Actually, that’s what life is all about! Living it, your way! Once you accept your level of skills, all other choices will change according to this first rule: Respect yourself!   This week, you learn the basics. And in the future, you can come for more. Basics it’s like the word say – THE BASICS about: Surf Culture ; Relation with the new element – THE BOARD; The easiest way to Stand and Stay Up and drive it down the “road”; Biomechanics – How does the human body work. You can’t force it to move another way. It has more than 350 thousand years; Basic Position studied for better success. The Me, the Sea and the others. The types of wave, white water Vs Line Up, Crowd – Locals Vs not Locals – a respectful approach about no one owning Nature. The first week ever Surfing – It’s whitewater time. Why? – Because I need you to practice the correct pattern of movement, through repetition. Who is this program to: 

  •  If you have never surfed before – You are welcome.
  • If you surfed once or twice, in schools, camps or with friends, this program is for you.
  • If you’ve been in other programs, but your Standing/Staying up is not consistent, you are welcome. By consistency I mean: in every 10 waves, you are successful in at least 6 to 10. Like in any other exam, if your average is below this result, come to our Level 0 Certification.
  • If you wish to learn about the science behind Surf and give yourself the possibilities of learning my method of the step by step in Surfing, this is absolutely for you.

You should get your certification fast because we will only receive 8 girls. Grow your level in small steps. Skills will be learned! What’s included: – 7 nights accommodation in our Cats Homie or walking distance apartments. – 12 hours of Surf Education (theory, practice, frame analyses, and personal discussion about each one’s difficulties, split the best way for your effective learning process). – Breakfast basket – eggs, cheese, oats, fruit, coffee, water and tea. – A Portuguese Dinner served with my brother’s Wine. – Insurance, all the gear – adjusted to your level and to the weather. – Photographs from your week. – Only 4 to 8 of You, to 2 to 3 of Us. How much does it cost: 799€ Extras: – For private room – Extra 280€. – For private apartment – Extra 300€ (for you, or for two, in case you want to bring someone who doesn’t want to join the program or is already independent). – Car rental (under consulting). You will have plenty of time and many many things to visit… In our ALOHA GIRLS Program RULES: The program is organised considering tides and wave condition. We adjust it along the week, if needed, considering the group level, skills and your happiness. We walk to the beach. You have freedom during the biggest part of the day. You will not be stuck at the beach with all the others, because the house is walking distance. We don’t stay at the beach if it’s too hot, too cold, raining or too windy because it’s not comfortable. But you can stay if you want. We are all different. This is not a boot camp, it’s not a camp, it’s a workshop week.   This program is not a leisure time program for tourists. Was honestly designed to teach you the pleasure and happiness of Surfing days and lifestyle. The time you will be in practice is more than enough. Trust me I have studied it – I know exactly the kind of chemicals our body needs to produce so you can effectively learn. Don’t overdo it! There is no extra renting included because we think you need to rest. If the conditions and the group is really fit and totally up to more, I will personally propose more.     There is no driving here included, because we have the greatest location ever. We have the sea on your right side and at your left side. But of course, we usually take you in our old-school Land Rover to take a look at the surroundings and to go to the Surf shops or supermarket. But again, EVERYTHING IS Walking distance. The food included is only some products at your welcome breakfast basket and a Portuguese Dinner, that will be cooked by Tralha! OTHER DATES: 10th to 17th Jun – Certification LEVEL 1 17th to 24th Jun – Certification LEVEL 0 16th to 23rd Sep – Certification LEVEL 0 23rd to 30 Sep – Certification LEVEL 01 30th Sep to 7 Oct – ALLBOARD – Closing Season Any questions, please send me a Mail or a WhatsApp Text Message: inestralha@goodsurfgoodlove.com +351 919 814 615 BOOK your place. Take a ride in the honest side of Surfing in Portugal.

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