Outside the lineup.
Thoughtful advice for the journey, the water and everything in between.
Surf camp vs surf lessons: which is right for you?
How to choose between a week at a surf camp and booking lessons as you go, with honest pros, cons and questions to ask.
How long does it take to learn to surf?
A realistic timeline from your first lesson to riding green waves on your own, and what speeds up or slows down progress.
The best places to learn to surf in Europe
Where beginners find gentle waves, good schools and the right season, from Portugal and the Canaries to France, Spain and Ireland.
How to plan your first surf trip
Choosing the right place, school and season for your first surf holiday, so you spend more time riding waves and less time guessing.
The best time to surf in Portugal, month by month
When to go for big swell, warm water, empty line-ups or your first lesson, from Porto to the Algarve.
Surfing Morocco in winter: a complete planning guide
Why Morocco is Europe's favourite winter surf escape, where to go, what to pack and how to plan a week of waves and sunshine.
Wetsuit thickness guide: what to wear for every water temperature
What 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4 mean, which wetsuit you need for each water temperature, and when to add boots, gloves and a hood.
Choosing a beginner surfboard: size, volume and type
Why your first board should be bigger than you think, how volume works and when to move from a soft-top to a mid-length.
How to read a surf forecast: swell, period, wind and tide
What swell height, period and direction really mean, why wind matters as much as waves, and how to pick the best session.
Surf trip packing list: what to bring and what to leave
The practical things that make a surf trip easier, in and out of the water, from wetsuits and sun protection to first aid and board travel.
Surf etiquette: the unwritten rules of the line-up
Priority, dropping in, paddling out and being a good guest, in the water and beyond, on an unfamiliar coast.