Riding the Waves in Itacaré
25.10.06
A trip to EasyDrop Surf Camp in Brazil offers families an immersive learning experience, but it's not all paddling drills and critiques—you're still on vacation, and the scenery isn't about to let you forget it.
There are hundreds of surfing classes that can teach you the basics, like how to stand on a board or ride a wave, but only a few camps will teach you to actually be a surfer. EasyDrop Surf Camp, in Itacaré, Brazil, is one of them. During its six-day beginner's program, parents and kids learn not only how to get up on a board, but also how to paddle, turn, even wipe out like seasoned pros. The school is located in eastern Brazil's Bahia region, where the rainforest—a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site—runs right down to the green-blue waters of the Atlantic.
Started by German-born Hans Benjamin Kromayer nine years ago, EasyDrop is known for its highly regimented approach: "We teach everything in detailed, logical steps, so when students finally get a wave, they're confident and in good form," says Kromayer of the camp, which is geared for kids 6 and up. "Still, it's surfing, not boot camp." Each four-hour lesson includes no more than 12 students and no fewer than three teachers, all warm, gregarious locals (most of them parents themselves). Plenty of breathers are built into the day—especially for kids, who are taught separately, in shallower waters. In the evening, everyone convenes at the EasyDrop bar to review videotapes of the day over smoothies and beer.
But it's not all paddling drills and critiques—you're still on vacation, and Itacaré's scenery isn't about to let you forget it. The area is tough to reach (see Getting There), but the reward is the feeling that you've discovered a secret corner of the world. In this fishing village, English is rarely spoken, samba usually blasts from one of the modest but vibrant colonial-style buildings, and the unpaved roads are lined with lush, overgrown hibiscus and palm trees. You can choose to stay in the pousada (small hotel) Girassol, as part of EasyDrop's package, or in the luxe Txai Resort. Either way, you'll be just a short walk or taxi ride away from dense rainforest and unrivaled beaches where you and your kids can test your newfound skills alongside the locals, and feel the thrill of gliding expertly along the water.
