The beginning of something beautiful is always characterized by what we feel in our hearts. And I had exactly that incredible feeling a few days ago when I knew that the water was not far from my feet.
But first I should introduce myself. Who is blogging here? My name is Kristina Hader, I am 21 years old and currently live in Düsseldorf. I work from there as a freelance photographer, but I am also at home behind the keyboard and love putting my thoughts “on paper”. Apart from photography and writing, I am more than gripped by the travel bug and can never stay in the same place for long. I am always looking for new adventures and of course surfing cannot be neglected. For Wavetours I was able to stay in 3 great camps for a while and tell you about them.
So why don’t we start with Moliets!
The organized trip went quickly thanks to good conversations and films, and as soon as I arrived I felt like grabbing my board and running to the beach. First I got to meet the great group, move into my tent and look around the area.
From the camp you can get to the beach promenade in just a few minutes, with surf shops, supermarkets and all kinds of great sweets that you can imagine and treat yourself to. The surfer beach is also easy to reach from the camp. The path leads through the idyllic campsite, which lies in the shade of the pine trees. Of course I jumped into the water immediately on the day I arrived. What else? I was tired and exhausted, but I was looking forward to the revitalizing feeling that the waves would give me again. That’s when my adventure began. I’m going to spend a week here in Moliets and tell you about the 18plus camp.
The first surfing course begins with a short introduction to the waves and the choice of board. It explains how to put on the wetsuit correctly and also talks about tides and currents. These basics are extremely important before the first practical lesson. Then it’s off to the beach, to the two surf spots “North” & “South”, which are separated by a river that can be found on many postcards. There you first practice “dry” how to hold on to the board and when and how to paddle. Once you’ve mastered the take-off, it’s off into the white water. Those who have already taken a surfing course and feel confident on the board paddle out into the line-up in small groups with the surf instructor.
Everything here is just incredibly familiar and familiar, a nice atmosphere in which you enjoy spending time. Girls sing and play the ukulele, boys duel at table tennis. Card games on every corner and of course “Good Vibes Only”.
The 18+ camp is one of the classics and offers a lot of variety. Of course, it’s mainly about the practical and theoretical surfing courses. They are adapted to suit your level and because of the small groups, the surf instructors can respond perfectly to each individual.
I can only rave about the food. Alex & Markus, the chefs, conjure up new, fresh delicacies every day. And they’re extremely varied! I love camping myself, but I think that bad food affects your mood. Pasta with tomato sauce every day just makes you depressed. It’s definitely different here - sometimes there’s Asian food, sometimes there’s grilling, sometimes a good cream sauce. Vegetarian options are also available here.
My favorite: sunset surfing. There’s nothing better than sitting on the board in the line up at sunset and watching the sun disappear behind the ocean. In the evenings, surf films are often watched in the camp, which I personally find super inspiring. The surf instructors give comments and tips and everyone sits spellbound and fascinated in front of the TV.
New day, new waves, but even if you don’t get to surf, there are great alternatives in the camp. There are many chill-out areas, slack line, table tennis and yoga on offer here. If you feel like it, you can go to the beach at sunset with Zoe, the yoga instructor, and relax there. If you want to get out of the camp, there are great day trips on offer, such as Biarritz, the outlets in Hossegor and San Sebastian.
As expected, the San Sebastian trip was absolutely breathtaking, full of good food and a beautiful cityscape. We started with a city tour and learned a lot of interesting things about the city by the sea, visited the surfer beach and went on a little shopping tour through the small streets of the town. As if that couldn’t be topped, we went to a tapas bar afterwards. The kids weren’t very convinced by the little bites at first, but after just one bite they were totally enthusiastic. Late in the evening we went back to Moliets and on the way back I was able to reflect on a breathtaking week. For me it was a great experience and a lot of fun. I would definitely come again and can only recommend it to everyone.