Adaptive Surf Training Week: Surf Mornings, Learn to Help Others Afternoons in Portugal

The week follows a simple rhythm. Each morning the group drives to whichever break is working best — the south coast of Portugal picks up consistent swells in November, with mild air and water warm enough for a 3/2 wetsuit. You surf on your own, at your own level; if you need coaching, lessons can be added for an extra fee, but most people here are already comfortable in the water and just want good waves.

Afternoons shift to training. Some days are classroom sessions at the villa — learning how to communicate with surfers who are blind, deaf, autistic, or have Down syndrome, and how to position and support surfers with physical disabilities like amputees or paraplegia. Other days are practical, working alongside real students from Surf Cura, the local NGO that runs weekly adaptive surf sessions in the area.

The lead instructor is Ricardo Gonçalves, a Portuguese surf coach with 30 years' experience and a Level 2 certification from the Portuguese Surf Federation. He co-founded Surf Cura and runs adaptive sessions every week, so the training draws on hundreds of real-world scenarios. Birgit, a longtime surfer and yoga/Buddhism teacher, adds a therapeutic and spiritual perspective to the work.

By the end of the week you'll have completed 30 hours of Adaptive Surf Assistant Training and received a certificate. This doesn't make you a surf coach — you won't be leading sessions on your own — but it qualifies you to assist a coach during adaptive sessions anywhere in the world. Many past participants have gone on to volunteer at NGOs and surf clubs in their home countries, or to start their own programmes.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in a shared villa - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch box, dinner) - Fruit and snacks available all day - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - 6 morning surf sessions with transport to the best breaks - 30 hours of Adaptive Surf Assistant training - Certificate upon successful completion - Free use of surfboards and wetsuits - Refillable Ocean Bottle water bottle - Transportation during the retreat - Insurance during organised surf sessions

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Optional private surf lessons - Optional massage treatments - Personal expenses