How a Typical Lesson Looks
At Owakanda Surf School, we offer personalised instruction in the art of surfing. We focus on laying a solid foundation and fine-tuning your technique to prevent the formation of any bad habits.
Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, our comprehensive lessons cover everything from essential board management and positioning to paddling techniques and the critical steps of standing up on the board.
Additionally, we emphasise surfing etiquette, understanding the ocean, and ensuring water safety, ensuring you not only learn to surf but also respect and navigate the sea with confidence.
A typical lesson involves the following:
- 9:00 am: Meet at Owakanda – local info, questions, surf theory
- 9.10 am: Warm up with some stretching
- 9.20 am: Dry side talk: water safety, equipment talk, some tips
- 9.30 am: Water-based lesson – paddling technique, board position, etc
- 10.00 am – Halfway assessment on the beach
- 10.10 am – Back in the water for more practice
- 10.40 am – End of lesson debrief
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to bring?
We supply the surfboard and rash guard. You can bring a drink and sun cream if needed.
What time can I arrive?
We will plan your lesson time around the best surfing times that day. There are no penalties for being early.
What happens in bad weather?
Bad weather and dangerous surf conditions are part of our life. We can do nothing about it, but we never push the limits regarding safety. If there is any lightning in the area, customers are immediately taken out of the water. We wait at least 30 minutes after seeing the last strike of lightning or hear the last roll of thunder before entering the water.
Surfing can get dangerous at Owakanda, so sometimes surfing is not possible. It depends on your availability, but we will generally cancel or reschedule to a more suitable and safer day in the event of extremely rough waters. We will focus on other activities if the waves are big or dangerous during your lesson. Beach games, ocean education, beach BBQ, fishing boat trips and beach clean-ups are just some of the activities we’ve done in the past.
Do you surf in other locations?
From May to September, we often move over to the eastern part of Sri Lanka, running lessons and surf guiding in Arugam Bay, which is rated as one of the top ten surf destinations in the world.
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