Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
But could a new adventure company be about to turn that tide?
by Howard Swanwick
29/08/2007:// Before you book your next long-haul flight, it is worth considering that adventure, culture and mind broadening experience do not have to be quiet so far away nor so damaging to the environment (not to mention the credit card).
Northern Spain, for example, is much closer to home and quite simply unrivalled in its beauty, unspoilt nature and sheer variety of culture and adventure opportunities it offers (where else could you find soaring mountain ranges so close to spectacular, pristine coastline, elegant and cultural cities with flamboyant nightlife surrounded by dramatic deep green landscapes that hide endless picturesque villages, and no less than 154 blue flag beaches?). Yet most travellers, backpackers or holidaymakers get no further along the coast than San Sebastian before turning back and heading home again.
But now the adventure-holiday company SURF-ATLANTICO hope to change all that with a trailblazing adventure experience that enables people to really discover this breathtaking region for themselves - all within the unique concept and styling of a surf-road trip.
If you can’t surf, don’t worry, that’s what the SA team are there for. Each morning a 90-minute class is arranged for beginners, plus video analysis of your progress is available throughout the adventure for your viewing pleasure and learning benefit. What's more all customers are kitted out with highly esteemed CIRCLE-ONE surf equipment (board, wetsuit and rash vest) so even if you eat wave all week, at least you’ll look every bit the surf pro whilst posing by the beach.
The tour spans three equally enchanting and distinct regions of northern Spain, each day SA guests cruise between the best surf-beaches in Spain (and arguably Europe) in chauffer-driven VW surf wagons. Lunchtimes are then spent exploring and dining in charming towns and villages dotted along the route. Afternoons bring yet more surfing or perhaps other adventures/activities (anything from shopping to skydiving) depending on your interests and the weather and sea conditions. Evenings & nighttimes are spent ‘mixing it’ with the locals and fellow adventurers in tapas bars and taverns, nightclubs or just down on the beach with a barbeque and beach games. SA adventures can last anything from a weekend to up to 6 weeks, a good option for those wishing to really make the most of the SA teams’ ‘SURF&SPEAK’ option whereby each day’s adventure is combined with up to 2 hours of structured Spanish tuition as well as, of course, the limitless opportunity for Spanish conversation practise with both the locals, SA’s Spanish clientele or with SA’s bilingual staff or for those simply wishing to return a chiselled and bronzed surf warrior/ess.
Surf-Atlantico have even teamed up with rainforestconcern.org to offer you the chance to offset the carbon footprint of your adventure completely by helping to protect threatened native forest in South and Central America and Sri Lanka.
Plus the pricing is pretty keen too, starting from 149 pounds per weekend or 299 pounds for a week, which means you’ll still likely to have spent less on your entire holiday than the price of the long-haul plane tickets. Now how’s that for an adventure?
The British team has now set off for the World Surfing Games and things became a little nerve-racking before departure due to a last minute personal situation which meant that their invaluable team manager had to pull out
Costa Rican National Surf Team comes to Portugal with an arsenal of its strongest weapons
Russell Winter wins 2008 Elusive Welsh Open in one of the best finals the UK Pro Surf Tour has had to date
[Tyler Wright eliminating Stephanie Gilmore in Round 3]
[Jimena Calvo passes round 2]
[Stephanie Gilmore]
Some of the biggest and potentially costly upsets of the season went down today while Round 3 of the Beachley Classic
Nearly half of the Costa Rica National Surf Team hit the water today in Costa de Caprica, in the province of Almeda, Portugal, kicking off their part of the competition in the 2008 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG).
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Skype us
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment