Inspiring Surfers: Advanced Tube Riding Retreat

14 charging amigas + 1 super cool amigo joined us at the Northern Nicaragua retreat location for a week-long shred fest! We had a record breaking week with the most tubes ever ridden, the gnarliest waves ever taken, and the best turns ever completed. This inspiring group of surfers spent the week pushing their limits and supporting each other along the way. We can’t wait to do a retreat like this again!

Enjoy this recap of the Advanced Retreat shred-fest in Nicaragua!

Most of our retreat locations are open to surfers of ALL levels and have plenty of shortboard-able waves close by. If you’re a fellow shortboarder and feel inspired to join a retreat and level up your technique, contact us here to see which retreat might be the best fit for you!

Meet the Owners: Jackie George

They’re the SWA power duo! Surf With Amigas Co-Owners, Jackie George and Holly Beck, have been running ladies surf & yoga retreats together for almost 10 years. Both ladies typically split their time between Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and California- running retreats, surfing, and living the sweet & simple life.

Meet Jackie George

HOMETOWND: San Clemente, California

HOW DID YOU LEARN TO SURF? I grew up at the beach and learned to surf so young that I barely remember learning! I do remember early mornings at San O with my dad and his buddies. I remember the doyle sessions at Junior Lifeguards. I remember my first real surfboard was the Hobie Peter Pan Slug (still love that board). I didn’t really take surfing too seriously until High School, when my girlfriends and I would get dropped off at Trestles and spend long days on the beach. We all loved surfing and pushed each other to get better. To this day, we’re still close friends and love surfing together. 

FAVORITE BOARD AT THE MOMENT: My new Christensen log that I scored in a trade. I’ve also been indoctrinated into the twin fin revolution program here in Costa Rica.

WHAT’S PLAYING ON THE SPEAKER WHEN YOU GEAR UP FOR A SURF? Cardi B, Yoncé, or some dirty dirty dancehall beats. I’m also always up for praising Jah a bit before a surf.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Teleportation. Or breathe underwater. Or know every language.

DAWN PATROL OR SUNSET SESSION? DP is always more reliable… but when sunset comes together, it doesn’t really get much better.

Jackie George Surf With Amigas

NAME A SURFER THAT INSPIRES YOU: I’m inspired by the people that can surf any craft in any conditions and have a good time. I’m inspired by the people twice my age that can surf twice as long as me, and I’m inspired by the people that only come out when the waves are properly pumping. I love watching good longboarders ride shorter boards in heavy waves. I’m a sucker for a relaxed style, and anyone that can do a cheater five in the tube. I’m also inspired by ladies that come on the retreat and look at surfing with a fresh perspective. Inspo everywhere!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Be here now.”

Check out the Q&A with SWA’s other half, Holly Beck!

Magnific Rock October 1-8

 

Week one of our fall/winter season kicked off with a wonderful group of ladies including a group from Alaska celebrating a 50th birthday who fell in love with surfing, as well as some awesome returning Amigas. There was no shortage of activities from sailboat rides to helping out the local Nica Surf Club.

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New Year, New Location!

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Surf With Amigas is expanding further into Central America. It started with Nicaragua, then we added El Salvador, Costa Rica, and now Panama!

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Keeping with our mission to seek out remote, uncrowded waves, with a small hotel within walking distance of a fun surf spot, we’re adding a Pacific Coast Panama location. Join us for our very first retreat in this new spot July 4-11, 2015.

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sansara 1 sansara 2sansara viewsansara roomWe met an awesome Amiga from Panama on a retreat in El Salvador last year and she clued us in on a hidden gem in Southern Panama. We’ll go visit her spot and have her show us all the best waves and activities. This retreat is for advanced beginners and Intermediate surfers only! Expect to surf multiple spots during the week including a fun beach break out front of where we’ll stay, a couple of awesome right point breaks, and other beach breaks just a few minutes down the road.screen_shot_2012-09-12_at_9.53.40_am_0playa_cambutalscreen_shot_2012-09-12_at_8.15.23_am_0We will also do yoga! The brand new yoga studio faces the Pacific Ocean and is fully stocked with mats, straps, bolsters, blankets, handcrafted wooden blocks, sound system and tropical hardwood floors.

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Beyond surfing world-class waves, practicing yoga over the ocean, we will have other exciting activities!

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Where we’ll stay and what’s included:

• Accommodations in an inviting beachfront Cabana at the brand new Sansara Resort

• Daily surf guidance, in water coaching, and post-session video analysis by Jackie, Michelle, and Amira.

• Daily yoga classes to relax and inspire you in the gorgeous ocean view studio with Carly

• Surfboard rental

• Wi-Fi internet access

• All delicious meals

• 2 way transfer from Panama City to the resort

• All the awesome adventures that you’ve come to expect from Surf With Amigas

Travel Info coming soon…

Email [email protected] for booking info and whatever questions you have!

swa el sal staff

all photos: Sansara Resort- Michael Phillips

Join the Amigas in El Salvador in October

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Every year in October we pack up our surfboards and head to El Salvador for two weeks of shredding at the amazing, super long, super fun wave of Sunzal. Check out this video for a quick little tour of the spot we’ll stay, the wave we’ll surf, and some of the other activities. Join the Amigas in El Salvador to improve your surfing, ride super long waves, do yoga, and adventure!

More info is available here: El Salvador Retreat Info

This year’s dates:
October 18-25 2014
October 26 – November 2 2014
email [email protected] for booking info….

Dancing and Shredding in El Salvador

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Introducing a new dance move called “the pelican swat” in between super fun waves at Sunzal, the girls from Amigas Surf and Yoga Retreats are always having a good time!

The “pelican swat” dance move originated when Holly was teasing Nadia about her tendency to arm flail. Holly happens to have unusually long arms (the better to carry your longboard for you!) and suggested that if she flailed like Nadia she’d end up swatting pelicans left and right. And just like that, a new dance move was born!

We’re doing retreats at this location in October! Come play! See the Schedule for details!

Sunset Mermaids

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They may look like humans but their mermaid fins are revealed the moment they hit the saltwater. They nurture their muscles while mixing cement to build a high school for Nicaraguan children, then dive into the ocean at sunset after a few sips of cold beer. The life of an Amiga.