Adult Surf Camp Success Stories

Attending an adult surf camp is a chance to learn a new skill, but the biggest takeaways for Kalon’s guests are often about making great friends, resetting their mindset, and taking a real step back from everyday life to remember what matters the most. Surfing as an active adult vacation is becoming increasingly appealing for those who love sports and the outdoors, but it’s also common to feel a little hesitant, which is why removing expectations is the best way to make the most of the experience.

Around 60% of Kalon Surf’s guests who arrive on the Costa Rican South Pacific coast have never picked up a surfboard before, and we’ve put together a handful of testimonials to give you an idea about what to anticipate and to help you visualize what success might mean for you!

Feedback From First-Time Surfers

Booking your trip and taking a leap of faith, especially if you don’t have any prior surfing experience, is often the biggest challenge. Rest assured that you’ll be in great hands! Here are some examples of the success stories of first-time surfers who decided to trust Kalon to teach them all the vital skills:

• Nicci said: “I had never touched a surfboard prior to getting [to] the resort. A big shout out to my surf coach Freddy (with some help from Bryan and the rest of the amazing surf staff), I was surfing by the end of the week!”
• Jeremy said: “The surf instruction…is very personal and very effective, especially for beginners, and the end-of-day video instruction is a great tool to improve. [It’s] a perfect place for extended family or a group of friends with a focus on surfing.”
• Melissa said: “Surf lessons are tailored to individual needs, with knowledgeable instructors who are particularly adept at guiding beginners, and the daily video reviews offer valuable insights for progress.”

Those daily video reviews are just one element of our tried-and-tested approach. We provide small coaching groups with around three guests per experienced surf instructor, offering guidance on the beach, in the pool, and in the ocean, and focusing on building confidence rather than pressuring beginner surfers to learn everything too quickly!

How We Personalize Surfing Progress

Unlike a high-energy group surf camp where multiple guests try and compete for waves, we keep the pace of each day at Kalon calm and natural. This ensures that every guest, whether a beginner or a surfing pro, walks away with a sense of achievement.

This also means your goals may differ entirely from those of another guest. One person might hope to catch their very first wave independently, while another might be concentrating on perfecting their technique and timing.

Kalon is all about reflecting on what you’ve learned and celebrating the wins, especially for the many adults who have forgotten how exciting it is to master something new! Surf sessions follow the tides rather than a fixed clock, balanced with downtime to recharge and shared evening meals, which give our guests ample time to wind down and chat about their day without emphasizing progression over enjoyment.

An Active Surf Vacation Beyond the Waves

Surf camps at Kalon, of course, include plenty of coaching and surfing hours. Still, as an active getaway designed to inspire and enrich your travel experience, there is much more to our property. We believe in balancing the effort our guests put into their surfing with recharging, including:

• Yoga sessions overlooking the neighboring jungle
• Afternoons relaxing around the infinity pool
• Optional massages and treatments between sessions

This takes away exhaustion or overwhelm and provides a sustainable source of energy, whether your intention is challenging yourself to try something new, having the conviction to stick with a new goal, or just acknowledging how capable you are.

As Joanna puts it so well, a worthwhile vacation might simply be one where you make lifelong friends. She said: “There is no doubt that we will be back again, and we hope that all the friends we made will be there when we return. Thank you for a wonderful experience we will never forget.”