What We learned from coaching 100+ surfers in Ericeira
After years of coaching surfers from all over the world here in Ericeira, we’ve seen one thing clearly: progress doesn’t happen by chance — it happens by understanding what you’re doing in the water.
Working with over 100 surfers across private sessions, 1-week, and 1-month programs, we started to notice clear patterns. Here’s what stood out:
1. Most surfers repeat the same mistakes
Rushing to the lineup, relying on oversized boards, poor paddling habits — these three are almost universal. Once corrected, progress often comes quickly.
2. Surf “levels” can be misleading
We’ve worked with so-called “intermediate” surfers who couldn’t paddle into waves alone.
And with “beginners” who, once given structure and understanding, progressed faster than anyone expected.
The biggest difference? Awareness — of the ocean, of timing, of their own positioning. That’s what separates someone who just surfs from someone who’s truly progressing.
3. Fitness Matters More Than People Think
Many surfers don’t realize how much their physical condition limits their performance.
We’ve seen it firsthand: two people with the same skills — one strong, one not — will have completely different outcomes in the same waves.
That’s why we integrate surf-specific fitness and body awareness into our coaching. It’s not optional — it’s foundational.
4. Progress Happens Fast — with the Right Method
When you remove distractions and focus on what actually matters (paddling, positioning, timing, ocean reading), results come quickly.
We’ve seen surfers go from struggling in whitewater to catching green waves confidently in just 5–7 days — not because they “got lucky,” but because they understood the why behind each action.
5. Real coaching builds independence
This is the heart of what we do at Sardinha.
We’re not here to push people into waves. We’re here to help them:
Trust their judgment
Make decisions in the water
Feel confident when no one is watching
Surfing is freedom. Coaching should guide you to that — not create dependence.
Every surfer is different, but the right method works — again and again. If you’re tired of guessing, we’d love to show you what’s possible.
