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Intermediate Surfing Course - Become a Better Surfer in Japan
$3695 NZD
10 days, Miyazaki Coast and Tanegashima Island
- improve your surfing technique in a fun, relaxed environment
- gain confidence with an experienced instructor overseeing your safety
- feast on local delicacies
- swim and snorkel the clear blue waters of Tanegashima Island
- soak up the zen at the many temples and shrines
- return home with increased awareness and the ability to improve continuously
Who is the Intermediate Surfing Course for?
The intermediate surfing course is designed for any surfers who are passed the beginning stage and have mastered the basics of catching waves, paddling, standing up and riding. As a minimum, you need to be consistently riding ‘green’ waves to be ready for this course.
The term ‘intermediate surfer’ is slightly vague, but the course will cater to your individual level and any goals you might have. Examples of areas you could work on include; improving basic turns, gaining more speed, improving your take-offs and sense of timing, mastering cutbacks and more advanced moves, surfing bigger waves, or getting your first tube ride.
It’s completely understandable to want to become a better surfer, and if you started surfing a bit later in life than you would have liked, you probably want to speed up your learning. Unfortunately, as you may have noticed, most surf coaching is focused on the total beginners or the elite competition surfers.
This intermediate surfing course has been designed to fill the gap and help you become a better surfer through video coaching and the other methods outlined in the surfing instruction section below.
Overview of the Intermediate Surfing Course
Your holiday begins in Miyazaki, a small yet interesting city on the coast. We will also spend 3 nights on Tanegashima, a sub tropical island 3.5 hours ferry ride to the south. Traveling in a comfortable van will give you access to several wave-rich areas, Hyuga and North Miyazaki, the Nichinan Coast, and the South Coast towards Kagoshima. Where we go each day will depend on the weather conditions. I’ll choose surf spots that suit your ability level and allow you to progressively improve. The natural surroundings include lush forests, rice paddies, spectacular mountains, rugged cliffs, and there are plenty of other activities on offer. When not surfing you could be hiking to waterfalls and swimming holes, visiting shrines, temples and teahouses, or soaking in an ‘onsen’ – a natural hot spring and a must do while in Japan.
Throughout your holiday I will ensure you are well fed, taking you to some of the best restaurants so you can experience true Japanese cuisine and tasty local produce. Our group will be based in a comfortable modern hotel in Miyazaki and a surf-style villa on Tanegashima. The course will end where it started, Miyazaki city.
How will the course make me a better surfer?
The concept here is to combine a holiday with full time surfing instruction, focusing on improving your surfing in a holistic manner. By holistic, I mean that the lessons are not just confined to specific techniques while in the water. I will cover that in detail but also focus on the whole lifestyle – how to track swells and read weather patterns, spot selection, ways to improve while out of the water, and ways to improve your ‘talent’ by working with mental, emotional, and physical factors. My goal is to get you into a position where you can continue to improve steadily by yourself after you return home from your holiday.
Surfing Instruction
The surfing instruction part of the package includes:
- Goal Setting Session at the beginning of the course. This is to see where you’re at and what you want to improve on during your holiday. We’ll evaluate your progress in terms of your goals throughout the tour.
- Full time services of a Qualified and Experienced Surf Instructor. This includes regular advice on intermediate surfing techniques e.g. bottom /top turns, cutbacks etc and general encouragement while in the water. Out of the water advice will cover all aspects of the surfing lifestyle, including discussion on ways to speed up your learning e.g. yoga, carver skateboarding, imitation, visualization, and never making the same mistake twice!
- Safety Assurance and advice on safe points to enter and exit surf spots
- Video Coaching and Analysis of your surfing technique throughout your holiday. Awareness is the first step towards improvement. I will edit the footage and provide you with a DVD and Written Report that highlight areas of improvement so you can continue to improve steadily on your own
The benefit of doing this surfing course in South Japan is that there are a variety of surf spots that are ideal for the intermediate surfer, with easy water entry and beautiful surroundings. Many of them are forgiving, sand bottom beach breaks, but there are also many friendly reef and point breaks. If you’ve never surfed over reef before this is a good chance to do it, under the watchful eye of an instructor. Another advantage of surfing in this area is that we can find uncrowded spots, this gives you an opportunity to catch lots of waves and really work on those skills!
Note: This course is for surfers who already have the basics down and want to improve their skills and technique. I have had good results with surfers who have 1-5 years and more experience. Any level can be catered to but this holiday is not for total beginners.
Itinerary
The following Intermediate Surfing Course itinerary is the same as our standard tour but with the additional surf coaching services added throughout the schedule in blue text
Pre tour I will have you complete a questionnaire about your surfing background so that I can begin making plans about how to develop your skills.
Day 1 Meet in Miyazaki, Japan
Group meets at Miyazaki Airport, then checks in to hotel in Miyazaki City. Once you’re settled in we’ll go for lunch and spend the afternoon surfing. That evening there will be a welcome dinner.
Day 2 – 6 Surf the Miyazaki Coastline
After daily breakfast at the hotel we’ll load our boards in the van and go on the search! We could head North, South or East depending on conditions. Miyazaki city is centrally located to access the three main surfing areas. These areas all have different landscapes and personalities – the North has some uncrowded rivermouths amongst small farming towns, the Nichinan coast has a spectacular clifftop highway dotted with small fishing ports and reef breaks. The South coast has a laid back country feel, and if you know where to look, some long pointbreaks too.
On Day 2 we will complete the goal-setting sessions. I will give you some useful information that enhances the learning of new skills. You can then apply this throughout your holiday.
When you need to refuel we’ll head to a restaurant for lunch, or if you want to go to a supermarket to stock up on snacks, water etc – no worries!
If your group wants to do some other activities that can easily be arranged, just let me know. There are some great walks, swimming holes, castles, cafes……
At the end of each days surfing we’ll head back to the hotel and meet up for our evening meal. After dinner there will be free time. You could check out the modern, neon side of Japan’s city culture, do a bit of shopping, or just relax at the hotel.
I will be available at all times to give you surfing tips and advice, whether in the water or on land. Several times throughout the tour I will video your surfing so that we can identify and correct any problems that are holding you back.
Day 7 Ferry to Tanegashima Island
Up early, we’ll take the scenic drive south to Kagoshima port and board the 8.40am car ferry to Tanegashima. The cruise begins under the shadow of the Sakurijima volcano - made famous by Hokusai’s paintings - and continues through a dramatic harbour and out into the open ocean. Arriving at Tanegashima around midday, we’ll head to our surf villa on the east coast and be in the water soon after. Dinner at local restaurant.
Around this time I'll have a good idea of where your surfing is at so we can reflect on your goals and evaluate your progress.
Day 8 – 9 Tanegashima Island Adventure
Daily breakfast will be organised at the villa and then we can explore the island. There is plenty of space down here and really diverse surfing. The island is blessed with warm, clear waters – warm enough for coral reefs so its worth bringing a mask and snorkel. Several breaks have that South Pacific, outer reef feel. Dinners nightly at local restaurants.
Day 10
Our ferry back to the mainland departs at 2pm so we’ll get an early breakfast and have a leisurely last surf or two, say goodbye to the island, and drive back to the port. Once back in Kagoshima we’ll drive straight back to our hotel in Miyazaki city and meet for our final dinner – a "bonenkai" Japanese style farewell!
Day 11 Surfing Course ends
After breakfast at the hotel I'll drop you off at Miyazaki Airport for your flight home - "Sayonara"
After the Course I will edit your video footage into a personal DVD, and complete your written report. I will send them to you via email or post. Feel free to send me follow up emails regarding your surfing progress.
Please note: I will do my best to stick to this itinerary but changes may need to be made due to weather conditions and other factors beyond our control. A flexible, easy going attitude towards the schedule will mean we can take advantage of the best surfing conditions and any other exciting opportunities that come our way!
Accommodation
All accommodation is included in the package price. 7 nights will be in a comfortable western-style hotel in the heart of Miyazaki city, rooms come with western-style beds, showers, TVs, and wireless internet is available. The package prices are based on twin share for the 7 nights in Miyazaki city. If you would prefer to have your own room an additional NZ $225 single supplement will be required.
The 3 nights on Tanegashima island will be in a surf-style villa. It may be in the traditional Japanese style where guests sleep on futons and share a big room. This is a fun way to experience the surf culture of Japan and I ask for your cooperation in this part of the adventure. Besides, we’ll know each other well by this point and the ocean views and surrounding nature will have you nice and relaxed.
Food
All breakfasts (10) and dinners (10) are included in the package price. While in Miyazaki breakfasts will be provided at the hotel and on Tanegashima Island I will ensure we have a healthy, tasty breakfast each day.
I lived in Miyazaki for 2 years so I know many good restaurants that we will visit for our evening meals. Dining out is a real treat in Japan and an exciting experience in itself. There are ‘izaka-ya’ – noisy, lively places where you can sample a wide variety of foods, cool down with a mug of beer, and make friends with the locals. Delicious tempura, noodle, and rice dishes can be found at restaurants throughout the countryside, often in picturesque locations. There is also some amazing seafood, ‘ise-ebi’ is like crayfish or lobster and some other delicacies include ‘unagi’ – eel, and ‘tako-yaki” – fried octopus. Some fine western and international food can be found too, Indian, Thai, Middle Eastern etc.
Lunches, snacks, and drinks (alcoholic and non) are not included in the package price to give you choice and to keep things simple. We will take lunch each day at suitable times between surfs, and I will take us to nearby restaurants and help you with ordering. You can stock up on snacks and drinks at the many convenience stores and supermarkets.
Surfing Equipment
I recommend that you bring your own boards. Bring whatever board you normally ride and if you are wanting to get into some bigger waves you could consider bringing a second board, something a bit longer with a pin tail. Feel free to contact me if you need more advice on what kind of board would be suitable for you.
The water is warm and boardshorts / bikinis combined with a vest are all you will need most days. Sometimes there might be a cool breeze so bringing a short wetsuit is a good idea, they’re good for sun protection too.
It's best to bring legropes, wax, and other accessories with you but if you need more after arrival they are widely available in Miyazaki at reasonable prices.
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