Like many people, I’ve always thought looking appeared cool, and hoped sooner or later I could give it a try.
After discovering Sri Lanka is an outstanding place to find methods to surf, we decided to spend some time in Weligama the place the looking was alleged to be good for freshmen.
In April of 2014, we spent 5 days in Weligama, Sri Lanka looking 1-2 situations per day.
(Assuming you surfed 4 situations in a 3-day interval, you may have spent $7.69 USD in full. This breaks proper right down to 4 1-hour board leases @ $1.92 USD per session)
Now we have been shocked how shortly we found and the way in which low-cost it was to rent a board.
Obligatory safety reminder: Searching could possibly be dangerous whether or not or not it’s your first time throughout the water in any other case you’re an professional. In the event you occur to’re unsure about it, take a lesson your first time so you might research the basics in a protected setting.
Moreover, we always journey with journey insurance coverage protection which covers any accident you’ve got received on the road along with looking. World Nomads gives journey insurance coverage protection.
On this data, you may research
- What to placed on whereas looking
- What board to determine on
- How quite a bit board rental and courses worth
- Why Sri Lanka (Weligama) is the right place to find methods to surf
- The place to stay in Weligama
What to placed on whereas looking?
Guys – Swim trunks and a good changing into prolonged sleeve shirt. Tight changing into to forestall scratches in your chest, prolonged sleeves to protect you from the photo voltaic. If the water is chilly, add a moist or dry go effectively with.
Girls – Swim go effectively with, prolonged sleeve tight changing into surf shirt, and tight shorts. Tight changing into to forestall scratches in your chest, prolonged sleeves to protect you from the photo voltaic. If the water is chilly, add a moist or dry go effectively with.
Which board do I choose?
Ensure that the surf rental retailer as “light boards” so that you could rent. These are prolonged boards (8’2’’) and are constructed from a softer supplies which suggests they provide further stability, and give you further time to pop up sooner than you nostril dive. Moreover they prohibit velocity and mobility which is an efficient issue when finding out.
As you start to amass confidence and persistently catch waves sooner than they break switch to a conventional exhausting board that’s 8’2’’ prolonged. Then slowly downsize your board by 6” intervals until you’re Kelly Slater.
Searching in Weligama: Board rental and surf courses
Worth to rent a board
1-hour board rental costs 250 LKR per hour ($1.85 USD) in Weligama. 1-hour courses are quite a bit as you may be exhausted from paddling. It’s widespread to surf 2x per day, as quickly as throughout the morning (7-8AM) and as quickly as throughout the evening (5-6PM). The waves are considerably greater all through these situations, and the photo voltaic simply is not as sturdy so that you simply gained’t get as photo voltaic burned.
Worth of Surf courses
In Weligama, prices differ from 1000-3000 LKR per hour ($7-23 USD per hour). The perfect deal we found was 1,500 LKR for an hour lesson for 2 of us (decrease than $6 USD/particular person. You share the coach’s consideration nonetheless get financial financial savings throughout the course of. Courses often start with 10-15mins of dry land teaching – finding out to paddle and pop up, adopted by 45-50mins throughout the water.
Make sure you retailer spherical and bargain for a fantastic charge.
What to anticipate all through your first surf lesson
You will start finding out to pop up throughout the “white water” which is the dashing remnants of the wave after it has broken. The trainer may push your board so you might forgo timing/paddling and focus on standing up. Most instructors appeared large cool and usually purchased their faculty college students to face all through the primary lesson. As always, retailer spherical until you uncover an trainer you WANT to review from. There have been 15+ surf schools on Weligama seaside.
Our #1 Weligama surf school suggestion is The Surfer Weligama.
Do it’s important to take surf courses?
This can most likely be a matter of private selection. When attempting new points, I usually need to try on my own first and make tons of errors. Then if I resolve to take courses I will already have a very really feel for what the coach is instructing.
On this case, neither Anne nor I took any courses and in no way felt the need. Only a few youtube motion pictures and a handful of momentary conversations with totally different surfers have been ample. Every Anne and I stood up all through our first hour. By the threerd hour I was averaging 3-5 of the ‘massive waves’ sooner than they broke per hour. On this case “massive waves” have been 3-5 toes.
Study: Water Supplier’s freshmen looking data
Watch: Drew Taylor’s freshmen data to looking (8mins)
Not all waves are created equal – the place do I begin?
In case you’re a beginner like I am, seaside breaks are your solely chance. Intermediate surfers will take care of “reef breaks” and “degree breaks.”
Proper right here is my (novice) rationalization of each sort of surf…
Seaside Breaks
The waves are created from a transition from deep water to shallow sandy bottoms. This means the world the place you surf is manufactured from sand and for those who fall you gained’t scale back your toes or face on coral.
Reef Breaks
The waves are created by the transition from deep water to shallow coral reefs/rocks. This means the world you surf has coral reefs on the underside so it’s worthwhile to placed on explicit footwear and avoid the underside the least bit costs. You have to be an intermediate surfer sooner than attempting Reef Breaks. Needs to be succesful to paddle sturdy, avoid getting dumped, and fall appropriately so that you simply don’t injury your self.
Stage Breaks
The waves are created by the transition from deep water to a level of land or rocks jutting out from the shoreline. Needs to be an intermediate surfer sooner than tackling degree breaks.
Pin me first? Then maintain finding out! 🙂
Sri Lanka is the right place for freshmen!
Sri Lanka has many breaks and Weligama looking is good for freshmen!
Have in mind “seaside breaks?” The are the one sort of surf acceptable for freshmen. Surprisingly, they are not as widespread as you’d assume. Since they are not widespread, beginner spots are often really crowded.
Whilst you assume looking… Hawaii or Australia more than likely come to ideas. Is wise, they’re notorious for large waves and a booming surf custom. Huge waves and a booming surf custom are NOT best circumstances to review.
After spending 5 days finding out to surf in Sri Lanka – Weligama is the right place to review.
What makes Weligama the right place to review?
- Seaside breaks that produce fixed 3-5 foot waves
- Low cost lodging, surf board rental, and courses
- Water is warmth all 12 months spherical! (no need for a wetsuit)
- Not very crowded allowing you further waves (and extra room to look silly)
City of Weligama is located Southern Coast of Sri Lanka – 4-6 hours by apply/bus from Colombo and solely an a hour from Galle.
Most people surf the precept seaside, there’ll most likely be some freshmen and intermediate surfers throughout the water all day. 7AM and 5PM are most likely probably the most crowded situations, however as well as the right waves.
Sri Lanka surf school selections are limitless nonetheless I found Weligama schools to be further relaxed and welcoming to freshmen.
The place else can you surf in Sri Lanka?
- Hikkaduwa – seaside breaks with largely sand bottoms (occasional rocks)
- Arugam Bay – prime 10 surf spot on the earth, largely reef, not for freshmen
Beginner nice surf spots world broad
- Playa Maderas, Nicaragua
- Baler, Philippines
- Byron Bay, Australia
- Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia
- Tamarindo, Costa Rica
- Cherating, Malaysia
- Muizenberg, South Africa
The place to eat in Weligama:
Seaside consuming locations are plentiful nonetheless terribly overvalued, 300-500 LKR ($2-4 USD) for fairly easy veg meals, 150-300 LKR ($1-2 USD) for latest fruit juice and 700-1500 ($5-11 USD) for seafood.
I prefer to advocate consuming in town for those who want to get financial financial savings. Rice and curry for 80 LKR ($.60 USD), veg roti for 40 ($.30 USD), kottu for 100 LKR. ($.75 USD)
*Don’t miss our Sri Lankan meals data
Don’t neglect Mirissa Seaside!
Mirissa is certainly a considerably higher seaside about 5km away from Weligama. Mirissa surf school selections are restricted because of it’s not as beginner nice.
However it’s a pleasing place to spend the day, has good consuming locations and a higher nightlife. You’ll get a pleasing seafood dinner on the seaside and uncover reside music or DJ occasions every evening time. Many people take the 30 LKR ($.25 USD) bus to and from. In some other case rickshaws will set you once more 300 LKR ($2.25 USD).
The place to stay in Weligama
Weligama has tons of selections for lodging and everyone’s funds can be met. We spent 10 days throughout the area and fully cherished it! Good vibe for amateur surfers and for those who’re not chasing waves the metropolis is an efficient place to soak up Sri Lankan custom.
Funds lodging in Weligama
I prefer to advocate staying at a surf camp known as The Surfer Weligama ($25 for a double). It’s located on the seaside correct subsequent to the waves, good value, clear, and stylish design. The instructors are professionals and might be sure you research fast. Rated 9.3/10 on reserving.com. The Surfer has flip into pretty widespread and is often booked up a month upfront, I prefer to advocate reserving as early as you might.
The surf camp is owned by a 24 12 months earlier Sri Lankan surfer named Lahiru. I can’t say adequate good points about Lahiru!
*If The Surfer Weligama is booked up, you may discover a lot of totally different selections proper right here.
Extreme end lodging in Weligama
In the event you occur to’re not touring on a backpacker funds, I prefer to advocate W15 resort ($135 for a double). It has an excellent stylish design, outdoors pool, full services, good restaurant/bar, and air-con (wished all through warmth months). It’s located on the seaside, strolling distance from the surf spots. Rated 9.4/10 on reserving.com. W15 fills up far upfront, e-book early.
*If for some trigger you’re not feeling the modern-chic vibe, Eraeliya Villas & Gardens is a further typical Sri Lankan Villa mannequin lodging. Your rooms are nested into a stunning yard on the seaside and provide a sea view. Onsite pool. full services.
Best time to surf Weligama?
November until April. Starting in April/May the moist season begins and surf circumstances aren’t good. However, we surfed the middle of April and had no points with the Weligama surf or local weather.
In the event you occur to’re nonetheless in Sri Lanka in May, head to the east coast as a result of it’s nonetheless dry there and the surf is deciding on up. See: Arugom Bay for a main 10 surf trip spot on the earth. However, there’s just one seaside break for freshmen and it’s always crowded. Save this surf mecca for when you might comfortably surf reef breaks.
Would I ever surf as soon as extra?
Searching Weligama will most likely be an experience I all the time keep in mind. It’s protected to say I’m addicted. The feeling of catching my first right wave is one factor I will in no way neglect. I’ve been on the look out for future surf spots and plan to persevering with coaching in Indonesia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Philippines.
What else is there to do in Sri Lanka?
- Climbing Adam’s peak (Sri Pada) is tough nonetheless the view is effectively definitely worth the effort!
- Volunteering with elephants is widespread – guarantee to pick a accountable group!
- Exploring the tea plantations found throughout the highlands space near Ella
- Whale watching near Mirissa
- Trekking by one in all many many nationwide parks (Horton, Yala, Sinharaja, and so forth)
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Thanks in your ideas!