The Wavetours Story

Actually, it all began in 7th grade at a school in Idar-Oberstein, a town in western Germany, when Wavetours founders Uli Scherb and Martin Storck became friends. However, they wouldn't start to talk about surfing for a long time yet.

Uli's relocation to Munich separated them by open ground. Albeit mutual visits were rare, their friendship continued. At some time Uli wached surfing cult movie ‘Crystal Voyager,’ in which an introverted Californian surfer travels in search of the perfect wave and the perfect tube ride. He was left deeply fascinated by the experience. During a holiday in France in 1985 he came in direct contact with a whole new world for the first time. however, his first surfing experience would have to wait until a year later.

During the next summer he met his future mentor Hunter Handley. Hunter told him about all his surf trips around the globe. Uli knew that from then on, he would want to spend each and every free minute at the coast. He decided to embark on his first long trip to Sri Lanka. For a fee of €1.25 he lived with a local family. From his bed he could see the ocean. It didn't take long until Uli was one of the regulars at the Hikkaduwa reef. However, he used to hammer down the 2-3ft faces in the prone position and made only little progress. His personal breakthrough happened when the "crazy German" joined a couple of Australians to surf a more remote spot. He caught his first unbroken wave at a little point break and ended up truly stoked.

Back in Germany Hunter rang him and made surf novice Uli his assistant at the MMT Sportreisen surf camp.
Curious about all of his mate's stories, Martin jumped on his motorbike in 1990 and visited Uli at a surf camp in France, where Uli used to spend his summers as a surf instructor. Martin had his first experience with waves at La Lette Blance beach. However, the difficulties he encountered on a much too small board rather made him sceptical than enthusiastic about the sport. For this reason, his daily surf sessions started getting shorter while parties got longer. The last day of his stay brought about the crucial and unforgettable experience when, during a perfect sunset, he took off on a "giant" 3-foot wave and rode all the way from out in the back straight to the shore. The surf virus had found another victim.

In the end it was Martin who had the idea to set up their own surf camp. "We can do much better" he said, and Uli came up with the name Wavetours.

That first Wave Tours camp will never be forgotten!

To receive bookings, Martin’s flat was converted into an office. A private fax machine and a 2-86 computer were the technological highlights and all their pride. Martin's friends took turns processing the incoming bookings while Uli and Martin could pass on their fascination for surfing to initially only a few participants.

A ramshackle house in Leon was chosen to become a true surf house for the first years. Up to 12 surfers could be accommodated on three floors. Surf video sessions took place in the basement. 20 brand-new boards were stored in an old shed. In a tiny little house right next to the team kitchen Uli and Martin tried to get some sleep whenever they could.

Many friends from that stage are still closely connected to Wavetours. Every reunion with these friends is a cultural happening of its own, when we share countless stories over and over again.

The first season ended with a visit from surfing legends Gerry Lopez and Derrick Doerner, in cooperation with our sponsor Chiemsee. Gerry is known as the famous Banzai Pipeline's all-time master. Nobody stands in the tube of a 15-foot monster in a way as relaxed as he does. Derrick is one of the fathers of tow-in surfing. For a certain time he held the record for the biggest tube ever surfed. Our first surf session at La Lette Blanche will never be forgotten. Still today, the local lifeguards have snap shots of them on their walls.

During Wavetours' third year, it was moved to the campside in Moliets Plage while the number of participants doubled. Therefore, another small camp had to be opened the next year. During the winter of 1994, Martin and Uli went on their first trip to Fuerteventura where Sigi and Ingo showed them a yet unknown number of surf spots. The island has become their second surf home ever since.

In the following summer, Martin drove his van along the Spanish and Portuguese coastline - in search of a suitable location for yet another surf camp. At the Algarve he met the Lipke family and accommodated himself in their luxurious mansion. Shared surf sessions with Dago brought about the decision to start working together. Thus, a partnership with "The Surf Experience" came to life.

Over the years the Wave Tours Family has kept on growing. Former participants have themselves become instructors, founded their own surf camps and are provided with customers through the Wavetours office. In that way the number of our own surf camps keeps growing alongside the number of friends' surf camps that we are takeing care of as their booking agency.

One can only guess how many Surfers from any Wavetours camp are sitting in the line up just now!