3 Simple Tools: Overcoming Surf Anxiety

It’s totally normal. It happens to all of us.

Standing on the beach and watching the waves with butterflies going crazy in your stomach. Paddling halfway to the outside only to turn back around out of fear or anxiety. Or making it to the outside but then feeling too far out of your comfort zone to catch any waves. 

Here are three tools that may help you overcome anxiety in the ocean so you can tap into the joy of surfing and catch more waves.

  1. Surf with friends (aka, surf with amigas!)

So much pressure is taken off when there’s a familiar face in the water. Surfing with friends means that someone can keep an eye on you, while you keep an eye on them. It also means that you can encourage each other to catch waves, cheer each other on, and laugh at the wipeouts together. Wiping out without a friend close by just isn’t the same. If you can’t line up a surf session with a friend, the next best thing you can do is chat with another surfer in the water. This will immediately take the edge off. Not to mention your new buddy will also be more likely to share a few waves with you!

  1. Spend time swimming and playing in the ocean

Surfing comes with many challenges. Surfers have to learn how to read waves, build up paddle and core strength, be able to steer clear of other surfers in the water, and overcome big wipeouts, to name a few. We can all agree that it’s hard. Swimming and playing in the waves (close to shore) is a great way to open up a more playful mindset while you’re in the ocean. Laughing loud, jumping over and swimming under waves, body surfing in the shore pound, laughing loud all over again. These are just a few things that will not only teach you how to tap into a more relaxed and playful approach to surfing, but will also build your confidence in reading waves and being underwater.

  1. Just breathe

Although this one’s a no brainer, it’s hard to remember to just breathe when you’re amidst the chaos! Deep, slow breaths will calm your nerves and get you re-centered. Try taking a few deep breaths every time you reach the outside and have a chance to sit up on your board. This will help to get rid of any panicky feelings you have and put you back in the zone. Try to make this a consistent practice.

We hope these simple tools help you calm your nerves and tap into the joy of surfing and ocean-play. If you try one of these tools and it works, we’d love to hear your story! If you have other practices that have worked for you, we’d love to hear about those too.

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Announcing New Northern Nicaragua Location!

We are very excited to announce that we added a new location in 2016- Northern Nica 2!Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.05.42 AMJust down the street from our home base, we’ve decided to take over a neighboring hotel for a week.Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.05.58 AMThere are super cute beginner waves right out front….Screen Shot 2016-02-05 at 2.33.17 PM

And other options accessible by walking, car, and boat for all levels!

boom peaks holly aposentillo holly point turn

a brand new elevated yoga studio with this view…Screen Shot 2016-02-05 at 2.38.10 PM

new and exciting activities…Screen Shot 2016-02-05 at 2.40.56 PM

and a killer place to hang out and relax.Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.05.51 AMScreen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.05.35 AMAll rooms have air conditioning…Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.06.12 AM Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.06.05 AM…and the food is super yum!   Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 9.03.23 AM  Come play and learn to surf or improve your existing skills with our awesome instructors. We provide in water and video coaching and pride ourselves on empowering women to push themselves out of their comfort zones. 12265975_1110641248969201_5396947366677264462_o

Normal Price of $1800 but we have some Special Late Booking Summer Deals Available (email [email protected] to inquire)
This retreat is open to women, couples, guys, and families.
The package includes:

  • two-way shared airport transfer (if you get a flight that arrives on the first date of the retreat between 11am and 2:20pm and departs on the last day after noon.)
  • 7 nights accommodation in a shared a/c room
  • 4 deliciously healthy meals per day
  • daily surf lessons with SWA team plus video analysis of every session
  • all afternoon activities such as yoga, horseback riding, volcano boarding, estuary cruising, and other surprises
  • professional video footage of you riding the best wave of your life

Typical daily schedule looks like this

  • 6:30am wake up for buffet breakfast of coffee, juice, cereal, toast, yogurt, fruit
  • 7:30-11am surfing, surfing, surfing!
  • 11:30am delicious lunch
  • 2pm yoga
  • 4pm second surf session or other adventure
  • 7pm dinner with new friends

The dates for this Retreat are July 9-16, 2016. Email surfwithamigas@gmail today to reserve your spot!