Basics

6 days / 5 nights accommodation at the KOA Kampground from Sunday night until Friday evening. Includes covered tents, recreational activities at camp and at the beach (e.g., skateboards, ping pong, basketball, soccer, volleyball, Frisbee, football), swimming pool, hot tub, surf movies at night, full bathroom facilities, and HOT showers — which is great after a long day of surfing!

All meals arranged by Richard’s wife Marisa and other guest chefs. The camp is equipped with stoves, barbecues, coffee pots, and even microwaves. The food is wholesome home cooking with Marisa making sure to serve fresh fruit and vegetables combined with a menu designed to give the campers a taste of different international cuisines. The food is so good many clients say they return just for the food.

Five solid days of surfing. Two go-outs a day with surf instruction every go-out. Instructors will be in the water every session helping students achieve success. Transportation back and forth to surf and camp is provided.

During the days to take a break, we’ll detour from the surf and go on field trips to learn more about our oceans and the history of surfing. In the evenings, there is plenty of other recreational activities to do around camp — or just sitting and relaxing by the campfire if that’s what you prefer. Sometimes a Santa Cruz (current or former) pro surfer or two might make a guest appearance around camp to speak, meet the campers, take photos, sign autographs, and maybe give out some free swag!

Here is what’s also included in your stay:

• A link to Richard’s “Learn to Surf & Ocean Safety, vol. 1” full video online
• Richard Schmidt Surf Camps t-shirt
• Photos and videos taken of all the campers during the week will be posted for download. You can also view photos and videos of our past camps online at our Facebook page
• A certificate of achievement is handed out the last day

Equipment & Gear

Surfboards and wetsuits are provided during the camp. We also bring out SUP’s during the week for those who also want to give standup paddleboards a try.

Soft boards ranging from 7′ to 12′ are used for beginners. As surfers progress they can graduate to fiberglass longboards, fun shapes, and short boards.

Yoga

Richards’ wife Marisa has a BFA in Dance, and is certified as an Interdisciplinary Yoga Instructor with the Nosara Yoga Institute of Costa Rica. She is also a registered Yoga Instructor with the Yoga Alliance. She has developed and encouraged the Yoga and stretching portion of the Surf Camps. We begin each morning with a yoga class is taught by Marisa or Richard. This a great way to start the day and prepare your body for it’s day of surfing. Flexibility being one of the greatest factors of success when learning how to surf.

Sports Massage

During the middle of the week every camper receives a massage from a professional local massage therapist. There’s no doubt surfing long hours will produce fatigued and sore muscles, and there’s no better way to work out that lactic acid through a nice therapeutic massage.

Video Review & Coaching

The video coaching done through out the week is a big part of surf camp. Video coaching is a wonderful teaching aid, not only do you get hands on instruction but you get to view every day’s lessons. Videos are taken daily and reviewed in the evening back at camp. With head surf coach Richard critiquing, the campers can go to sleep and dream about what they would like to accomplish the following day. At the end of the summer surf camps, every camper receives a web link to view or download the photos and videos of their week’s experience taken through out the week.

Field Trips

Long Marine Lab & Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Long Marine Lab is a local research facility for UC Santa Cruz. The research done there is on the leading edge of marine science. Their latest project is teaching a seal to follow the grey whale’s migration with a video camera attached to it’s back. The campers receive a guided tour from a docent. It is a great way to learn about all the marine life you are surrounded by when surfing and gives us a greater respect for the ocean environment we submerse ourselves in.

Pearson Arrow Surfboard Factory
Santa Cruz is host to Pearson Arrow Surfboard Factory, which is one of the largest in the state. It’s a great opportunity to gain an appreciation of what goes into the production of a surfboard.

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
The Surfing Museum is located in the lighthouse at the renowned surf spot Steamer Lane. It includes many surfboards and photos from times past. One really gets a feeling of what Santa Cruz was like in that time period.

Sanctuary Exploration Center
The Exploration Center is located across the street from Cowell Beach and the wharf. It features engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits designed to help visitors explore the sanctuary’s remarkable marine environment and understand their personal role in protecting this underwater treasure.