Below are two accounts from the surf trip, we hope you enjoy reading them!
Writes Krish A. (4ths)
Our coach left at 06:00 in the morning on Saturday heading for Gatwick airport. The coach was full of excitement – and tiredness for some! We soon arrived at the airport, checked in and soon we were off to Bilbao, safe and sound. After a long wait at check-in, we were on a coach to Santander. It was a long drive, but with a great DJ at the back of the coach it seemed like time flew by. Soon enough, we were at our accommodation, and the hosts were so kind that they prepared some lunch for us. It was so tasty that some even went up for seconds! After lunch, we were sent straight to our rooms to change into our swimming costumes for an afternoon surf lesson.
We took a walk to the surf house to collect our wetsuits and surfboards. Then, we quickly changed and took the surfboards down to the beach through a long-winding path. The first thing we did was drop down the surfboards and stretch ourselves so we could warm up and prepare ourselves for the waves. Shortly enough, we were on the boards practicing how to surf before taking on the real deal – the waves. Our instructor taught us well, showing us how to paddle to the waves, how to catch the wave and how to stand up. It wasn’t long before we mastered the basics and were out in the ocean catching small waves. I caught a few but wasn’t as successful. At least it was fun!
It was soon over, and we were heading back to the surf house to take off wetsuits, clean the surfboards and head back to the accommodation for some dinner and time to relax. It was calm and lively, with some playing volleyball or pool or others chilling with friends.
On the second day it was an 08:30 wake up for breakfast and to change for surfing. Shortly after, we were at the surf house to wear wetsuits and collect surfboards and soon off to the beach for our surf lesson. It was the same as yesterday – a stretch to warm ourselves up and practice, before leashing ourselves to the board and heading to the sea for some surfing. It was quite cold that day – so much so that I couldn’t even feel my feet in the water. The waves were also a bit larger than yesterdays, so it was a bit harder catching a wave and standing up on the board, but it was manageable. After a fun two hours of surfing, our session came to a close and we headed back up to the surf house to clean surfboards and hang up wetsuits. Back up at the accommodation we had some lunch before heading out to the beach to play volleyball or cricket. I played cricket and scored quite a lot of runs before being run out as I hit the ball into the bowlers’ hands. It was soon dinner and then back to our rooms to rest up for tomorrow.
It was an 8:30 wake up for breakfast before changing and heading to the surf house to collect surfboards and change into wetsuits. Soon we were at the beach and after a stretch and practice, we were in the ocean for our third surfing lesson. It was way warmer than it was yesterday, and the water was considerably warmer as well. The waves were larger again, about a metre tall! I’d have to say I was quite scared, but I pushed on through the waves to challenge myself with a large wave. I slipped up quite a few times, but I stuck at it, and soon I was acing it and catching all the waves. I was able to stand up on the board and not slip off, and soon I found it quite fun surfing the waves back to shore. I was able to catch one last wave before the session was over, after which we headed back to the surf for lunch and to visit town. Dinner was tasty as usual, after which we went back to our rooms to relax before the next day.
The next day, we woke up earlier than usual as we were heading to San Sebastien for a day trip. Everybody was quite tired, but excited to go to San Sebastien as it was said that it had the most Michelin star restaurants per meter square, which was quite impressive.
After hopping off the coach, we walked to the centre before splitting off in groups and exploring this large city. There were tiny cobbled streets and large roads which had great views of the beach and the sea. Tiny cafes brimmed with people and large restaurants echoed with laughter and the hum of conversation, each place alive with its own unique energy, where chefs creafted sophisticated dishes and where every bite was savoured. We had explored many restaurants, buying some food to try what real Spanish cuisine tasted like, and I have to say it was really good. I especially enjoyed the tortilla which was like an omelette but with potatoes and onions – I could’ve had more if I wanted. We all gathered back to head to an ice cream shop, where our guides were kind enough to buy us all an ice cream. I ordered a mango sorbet and cherry, as I felt that it matched the winter vibe in Spain perfectly. When everyone finished, we headed back to the coach to arrive for dinner and relax before the last day of surfing.
It was an 08:30 wake up to have some breakfast before changing and heading to the beach for our final day. According to the trainers, they told us that the waves were going to be 3m tall today, I was quite scared, as I had never surfed waves this tall and it felt quite daunting.
I accepted the challenge and paddled out to where our instructor was. He was far out, which meant that I would’ve had to paddle a lot and try to find the riptide to easily get there. Now there were a few problems. First, paddling took a lot of energy and especially paddling across the wave made your arms quite tired. Secondly, you needed to perfectly time when you were going to enter a wave, as if you were too late and the wave had already broken, it would just sweep you back to shore. Thirdly, it was pretty scary watching a 3m wave breaking right in front of you, as there was no going back! I found it pretty difficult to reach the instructor, but when I got there it was perfect. I effortlessly glided through the wave, reaching him and the group. He taught us how to catch the wave, how to stand up on the board and how to surf the wave, as this wave was very different from the smaller ones we had surfed. This was because it created a barrel which is when the wave curves over itself. He told us to surf down and then surf sideway to avoid being crushed by the barrel. It took me quite a long time to master it, but soon I was able to ride a wave and was even able to surf inside the barrel for a few seconds before falling down. That day was a success – I had started from a complete beginner to mastering the basics of surfing. I was quite proud of myself.
Finally, the session ended. It was our last surfing session which I was quite sad about but at least we were going to the beach one more time. There we played volleyball and cricket, and I built a sandcastle with some friends. We spent our last moments there, having fun, relaxing and taking in the moment, the sunset and the sea. It was good to remember the memories we had here, the times where we surfed those big waves and the times that made you proud.
I really enjoyed the surf trip, and I think everybody else did as well. I have to thank the teachers for allowing us to go on this wonderful trip, as it was a trip of a lifetime.
Writes Rohan N. (Divs)
Our school surf trip to Santander was nothing short of unforgettable. Each day we relished the thrill of surfing – wetsuits zipped, boards in hand, and the Atlantic waves calling. The sensation of riding the swell, balancing on the board as water rushed beneath us was exhilarating. Surfing became our daily rhythm, with laughter and adrenaline filling the air.
When we weren’t in the water, we soaked up the sun on the beach, built sand bridges in the shallow tide pools, and played volleyball with friends (and even a few locals). The beach was our playground, and every moment felt like summer bottled into a week.
Midway through the trip, we visited San Sebastián – a city of stunning views and mouthwatering food. We wandered through the old town, tasted delicious pintxos, indulged in creamy Basque cheesecake, and cooled off with artisan ice cream. With its picturesque coastline and vibrant culture, San Sebastián was the perfect contrast to our surf-filled days.
This trip blended adventure, friendship, and unforgettable memories – a highlight of the school year.
