Fearless-Retreat

Our WOMEN ONLY surf coaching retreat. Your level is „experienced“ beginner to intermediate and your main goal is to overcome fear and build up self-confidence. And of course to work intensively on your surf technique. Surfcoaching incl. video analysis & surfskating with Vasco Rodrigues, mental training & breathwork with Kim Chareonbood.
When?
Sat, 17.5. – Sun, 25.5.2025
Sat, 20.9. – Sun, 28.9.2025

 

Tell me more

We at Fearless Surfer and Concrete Surfers specialize in creating a power combo of surf technique coaching, surf skating and mental training. What we think influences our emotions, and how we feel in our body, in turn, impacts our thoughts!

In this intensive surf coaching week, you practice using your fear as a motivator and overcoming limiting fear. You actively build your self-confidence and courage and help your inner critic become a true inner mentor.

And last but not least: you’ll spend a lot of time in the water to upgrade your surf technique! Watch the video to see a typical day at our retreat. Watch the video to see a typical day at our retreat.

Bye bye fear, insecurity, frustration – hello waves!

The training - your key to more waves!

What you train is what you get! As you may have heard: “What you train for will show in your surfing performance.” That’s why it’s so important to train with a coach. Your coach will help you learn the RIGHT technique. Whether it’s a movement or a thought pattern, your coach can help you make real progress. We believe that this is what is often missing in classic surf camps. In our retreat you get: focused, professional and efficient surf coaching and mental training. Surf, train, REPEAT!

Surfing goals:
Improve take-off, practice bottom and top turn, learn first maneuvers & duck dive, get more waves

Mentalziele:
Overcome fear, build courage & confidence, control thoughts

Challenges:
Afraid of bigger and steep waves? Do you often pull out of the wave at the last second? Do you lack confidence and feel uncomfortable in a crowded line-up? You just don’t catch enough waves?

Online-preparation from home

To make sure you are as fit as possible for the surf coaching week, the retreat starts a month before, so to speak: 1 x a week live online workout with Vasco Rodrigues; surfskate videos with the basic maneuvers; 1 x a personal online mental coaching with Kim Chareonbood and online mental videos with the basic techniques.

Surf Coaching & Analysis, Surf Skating

You’ll practice your balance on land on the special surf set board. We work on the proper paddling technique and the duck dive in the pool. And on the surf skate, you’ll fine-tune your technique. Because what doesn’t work on land doesn’t work in the water. And of course daily SURFING, SURFING, SURFING INCL. VIDEO ANALYSIS.

A guide to becoming a confident surfer

Overcome fear, build confidence and gain courage. Learn how to stay composed and create your own ideal mental warm-up. In the group and in personal 1:1 coachings, you will get to know the power of your thoughts. With lots of practical exercises in the water and on land, you will become a „Fearless Surfer“!

Your surfing level “experienced” beginner – low intermediate:

You still surf a big board or a board with a lot of volume. You can independently paddle out to the line-up and catch small green waves. You still struggle with the take-off. Especially when the waves get a bit steeper and faster, you’ll nosedive or fall off. You can ride a wave to the left and right, but you don’t really know how to do turns or how to properly generate speed. In general, you want to know more about independently checking out a surf spot and better assessing the surf conditions. Mentally, you are mainly concerned with overcoming fear and building self-confidence, especially regarding bigger waves or a crowded line-up. But there is also room for other mental topics. In any case, we coach you on your individual surf- and mental goals.

You don’t need any experience for the surfskate.

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Your Challenges

You often pull back at the last moment when paddling for a wave. Fast, steep and bigger waves scare you quickly.

You feel uncomfortable in a crowded line-up—you don’t like to fight for a wave.

You feel insecure and that you lack confidence and courage.

You are very self-critical and quickly frustrated.

You had a bad experience once and fear is blocking you now.

Your Challenges

You often pull back at the last moment when paddling for a wave.

Fast, steep and bigger waves scare you quickly.

You feel uncomfortable in a crowded line-up—you don’t like to fight for a wave.

You feel insecure and that you lack confidence and courage.

You are very self-critical and quickly frustrated.

You had a bad experience once and fear is blocking you now.

Surfer girl on a wave in the tropics and it's about surfing without fear

What you want to achieve

You want to surf more waves and have even more fun. Maybe also go to new and more challenging surf spots.

You want to learn how to overcome your fear and use it to your advantage. And how to stay calm, focused and committed.

Refining your surfing technique has been on your list for a long time. It’s the details that make the big difference.

You finally want to make a big leap forward! And you know: For that, you need really focused training.

self-confidence

Fear starts in your mind. Courage as well!

 

The Location

You will stay in one of the comfortably furnished single rooms with a private bathroom and balcony in the beautifully located Utopia Guesthouse in Aljezur.

There will be a large outdoor pool and a garden that offers plenty of space to relax, chill out and use for our training. Additionally, you can book massage and yoga classes.

Including breakfast.

Different surf spots like Arrifana, Monte Clérigo and Amoreira are only a short drive away.

The Location

You will stay in one of the comfortably furnished single rooms with a private bathroom and balcony in the beautifully located Utopia Guesthouse in Aljezur.

There will be a large outdoor pool and a garden that offers plenty of space to relax, chill out and use for our training. Additionally, you can book massage and yoga classes.

Including breakfast.

Different surf spots like Arrifana, Monte Clérigo and Amoreira are only a short drive away.

Price & Services

When?

Sat, 17.5. – Sun, 25.5.2025
Sat, 20.9. – Sun, 28.9.2025

Price:

EUR 1990 per person

for 9 days / 8 nights in a single room, including 4-week online preparation program

If you come with a friend, you can share a room together. Price reduction for a double room: EUR 130 per person

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • Accommodation (single room with bathroom and balcony or twin room if you share with your friend)
  • Breakfast
  • 6 x surf coaching incl. video analysis
  • 6 x mental sessions
  • Surfskate, surf set balance pop-up training, technique training in the pool
  • 2 x dinner
  • 4-week online surf preparation (online workouts are live, with the possibility to watch them afterward, basic mental training as videos, personal 1:1 mental coaching via Zoom or Skype, surf skate videos).

WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF FOR YOURSELF:

  • flights and airport transfer (flight to Lisbon or Faro, transfer to Aljezur; airport transfers can be arranged at extra cost).
  • Board and own wetsuit (foam boards and wetsuits – if you don’t have your own -can be provided free of charge. Hardtop boards can be rented for EUR 15-EUR 20 per day, longboards for approx. EUR 25 per day).
  • Lunch, dinner (except for the welcome & farewell dinner)
  • Insurances (illness, accident, travel insurance)

COVID:

  • Full refund if Portugal closes the borders, introduces quarantine on entry or imposes other rules that make the retreat impossible.
  • On your own responsibility: flight bookings and covid regulations issued by your country of origin. We cannot accept any liability here.
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Your Mental Trainer

Kim is half Swiss half Thai and grew up in Switzerland. Her big passions are exploring the secrets of the mind, surfing and traveling. After working as a life coach, sports mental trainer & hypnotherapist for over 7 years in her own practice in Zurich, she decided in 2018 to focus on the mental challenges of surfers. Ever since, she has coached surfers worldwide to overcome fear, build up self-confidence in the line-up and have more fun in the waves!

Credentials: Over 6 years of hypno-coaching and sports mental training in my own practice in Zurich; Hypnosis certificate NGH with Gabriel Palacios, Bern; Diploma course sport mental coaching from Sport Mental Academy in Zurich; Certificate course Integral Coach ECA at Living Sense in Zurich

Your Mental Trainer

Kim is half Swiss half Thai and grew up in Switzerland. Her big passions are exploring the secrets of the mind, surfing and traveling. After working as a life coach, sports mental trainer & hypnotherapist for over 7 years in her own practice in Zurich, she decided in 2018 to focus on the mental challenges of surfers. Ever since, she has coached surfers worldwide to overcome fear, build up self-confidence in the line-up and have more fun in the waves!

Credentials: Over 6 years of hypno-coaching and sports mental training in my own practice in Zurich; Hypnosis certificate NGH with Gabriel Palacios, Bern; Diploma course sport mental coaching from Sport Mental Academy in Zurich; Certificate course Integral Coach ECA at Living Sense in Zurich

Your Mental Trainer

Kim is half Swiss half Thai and grew up in Switzerland. Her big passions are exploring the secrets of the mind, surfing and traveling. After working as a life coach, sports mental trainer & hypnotherapist for over 7 years in her own practice in Zurich, she decided in 2018 to focus on the mental challenges of surfers. Ever since, she has coached surfers worldwide to overcome fear, build up self-confidence in the line-up and have more fun in the waves!

  • I have over six years of coaching, hypnosis and sports mental training with my own practice in Zurich.
  • Hypnosis certificate NGH with Gabriel Palacios, Bern
  • Diploma course Sportmentalcoach with Roger Erni at the Sportmental Academy in Zurich
  • Certificate course Integral Coach ECA (life coaching) at Living Sense in Zurich

Your Surf Coach

Vasco is Portuguese and grew up by the sea. He is an experienced surf- & surfskate coach, and a personal trainer who has coached, among others, the Portuguese longboard champion Kat Barrigão. Check out his impressive credentials.

  • Certified Surf Coach Level I – FPS
  • Surfskate Coach Level II – FPP
  • Bachelor Sports Science
  • Master Degree High Performance Training – FMH
  • Master Trainer Carver Skateboards
  • Master Trainer Surfset Fitness
  • Strength & Conditioning Coach

Your Surf Coach

Vasco is Portuguese and grew up by the sea. He is an experienced surf- & surfskate coach, personal trainer and has coached, among others, the Portuguese longboard champion Kat Barrigão.

  • Certified Surf Coach Level I – FPS
  • Surfskate Coach Level II – FPP
  • Bachelor Sports Science
  • Master Degree High Performance Training – FMH
  • Master Trainer Carver Skateboards
  • Master Trainer Surfset Fitness
  • Strength & Conditioning Coach

Women only Retreat from September ’21 in Aljezur. It was great! Check out a recap here.

Women only retreat from June ’21 in Aljezur with a really cool group of like-minded people!

Our first surf training retreat in Peniche in 2019.

Testimonials:

We find it most beautiful when we hear about our participants‘ progress after a coaching session or joining one of our retreats. Bright eyes, the excitement in their voice, the joy of getting better. Read for yourself what others have experienced:

 

I started surfing in 2018 and although I’ve always been a water lover and extremely good swimmer, I’ve noticed that I have a great fear of currents and drowning when surfing. I also always put myself under a lot of pressure to perform in sports, which regularly led to mental blocks in the line-up. And then, of course, it was also about improving certain technical things, such as paddling into waves, correct take-off timing and becoming more confident in the line-up. I felt very comfortable at the retreat. The group was perfect with 8 participants, so it was easy to open up and share fears and challenges with the other women.
In addition, Kim has a very emphatic and gentle yet challenging way as a person, which has helped me to trust myself more and to approach surfing more intuitively. The coaching from Kim and Vasco and the week in the retreat have enabled me to analyze every spot I have been to since then correctly and to assess on my own whether I can go into the water. After that, I finally dared to go surfing all by myself and paddle into waves despite a high male quota in the line-up. And feel that I earn that place in the line-up. After almost 3 years of surfing, the reward came: A beautiful green wave for me and my longboard all alone in Witsands (South Africa).
Lisa, Surftraining Retreat Aljezur September 2021 (Level: experienced beginner)

Psychologist and yoga teacher, Founder of Circle Transitions

I was totally blown away from this retreat. The whole setting was so great, professional but really familiar as well. The daily Video analysis helped me to see what I have to change in the water. And on top of it learning the movements on the surfskate first and than try to make the transfer in the water really helped me to improve in just one week. The mental training put me in the right mindset and I learned more about me in general. Also I now know how I want to feel in the line up and how I can accomplish this with my mental warm up. This week gave me a lot of tools with which I can keep on working now and improve even more in the future.
I wished the week would never end.

Nicole, Surftraining Retreat Aljezur Juni 2021 (Level: intermediate)

I have been surfing for quite some time. In recent years, unfortunately, only occasionally and so my level has stagnated… The joy of surfing has, therefore, extremely decreased and frustration was my constant companion in the line-up. In addition, I am very (generally) quickly distracted and have trouble focusing. On top, my duck dive was not always clean and the sequence needed to be corrected. After each “ridden” wave, I felt that my movements were too soft and not right – especially concerning the upper body (arms).
In a very short time, I changed my mindset into a positive one with the help of Kim. Since the intensive Duckdivetraining in the pool, I am happy when a big, powerful wave rolls towards me. The video analysis while surfing has brought me clarity regarding my mistakes. And I bought a surfskate to practice the movements in the “dry”.
Conclusion: This retreat is an insider tip in mental, athletic and social terms. Great! Merci <3
Roswitha, Surftraining Retreat Aljezur Juni 2021 (Level: intermediate)

I was nervous when I arrived in Aljezur, assuming that in the following next days, I’d be forced to face anxieties and fears. But hello, this super warm welcome, the friendly atmosphere within the group made me calm down so fast, that I didn’t even remember what I was scared of. In contrary I was warmly invited to face what hold me back, never pushed or forced to go beyond my borders. Kim, Vasco and Marta’s kindness and caring attitude made this retreat unique. I’m so grateful that I had the chance to meet this beautiful souls and yes, on top of everything I even did progress in Surfing and Skating. Thank you so much for this amazing time. With love, Betül

Betül, Surftrainings Retreat Aljezur Juni 2021 (Level: experienced beginner)

Your results:

 

You have the confidence to surf faster and steeper waves.

You remain calm even in challenging situations. If fear or anxiety creeps up, you can calm down and regain composure.

You feel much more comfortable in a crowded line-up and can catch your waves more confidently.

You can concentrate on what’s important and keep your focus, no matter what! You know that as soon as the waves get a little more challenging, that’s one of the most important skills to have.

You have a positive mindset, and you can identify which surf conditions offer you the best opportunities and possibilities.

With every session, you’ll get more waves and have even more fun surfing!

Because you are more confident, you can also start exploring new surf spots.

And last, but not least — these techniques can also be used in your everyday life! That’s awesome, right? It’s not only about surfing, you are also learning how it applies in life! It’s not only about surfing, you are also learning for life!

Join our surf coaching retreats – for more waves, more fun and a strong mind!

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