Surfing Archives

March 31, 2022 By WildMex

How To: Get Ready For Your 2022 Surf Camp in Punta Mita & Sayulita

Just signed up for learning to Surf in Mexico with Wild Mex? Yeeew! Well, you best get ready because you are in for an adventure of a lifetime!

From experiencing your first wave to gliding across the ocean as you own it, the feeling you will live through on our epic surf camp in Punta Mita or Sayulita will be unmatchable.

So, what can you do beforehand, to get fit, prepped, and your body in tip-top shape so you can be the best surfer you can be once you arrive at camp? Keep reading to discover more…

Whether you’ve got 4 weeks or 4 months before your surfing vay-cay it’s important to get yourself prepared for the unreal adventure and experience it’s going to be… but don’t doubt it, surfing is a full-on physical workout!

Surfing is not snowboarding, nor is it skateboarding. You don’t lie down on your snowboard then pop up just as you are gathering speed. Nor does snowboarding or skateboarding require you to paddle your way back up the hill after a big run!

You’ll not only use your leg muscles to control your speed and balance on the mighty waves when surfing in La Lancha, no no no… You’ll also need to paddle your way back out to the sets after you start catching all your waves to the shore!

So, undoubtedly one of the hardest things about surfing is paddling into waves, which requires a lot of upper body strength.

Therefore, our Wild Mex team has prepared a little guide to help you get fit and ready to get into your learning to surf in Mexico experience!

You can warm up and tone your muscles with these workout regimes anywhere from 1 week to 6 months prior to your camp, as often or as little as you like so that you can build the upper body strength that you need to master those majestic waves, like a pro! The more you practice, the more you’ll seamlessly glide into your surf camp experience!

Good luck!

Surfing for Beginners in Sayulita and Punta Mita can be pretty tough in the first few days when you’re getting used to the paddling technique. So, when preparing yourself for the first few days, swimming is a great way to get your arms and upper body ready to tackle those waves!

Swimming works out many of the muscles that will be used whilst paddling on a surfboard including your upper arms and your shoulder blades. Working your muscles in the water will also get them trained for resistance which you’ll be experiencing a lot of when you’re paddling in the pacific ocean waves.

And most importantly, swimming will also get you used to spending time in the water, coordinating your breathing, and holding your breath while working out there.

Let us prepare you… it is a given that you will experience some wipeouts during your first week of surf lessons In La Lancha and Sayulita as a beginner. So, swimming in the water beforehand (even if it’s a swimming pool) will ensure that you build your confidence and stamina just by being in the water.

In short, spending 1 or 2 hours a week swimming in a pool prior to your surf camp will definitely make your surfing experience much more comfortable!

Guide to Building Strength, Endurance, and Balance

Hitting the water or waves every day might be the best way to get wave-ready, but if you’ve signed up for the camp from a place that’s flat or dry, no need to fret…we’ve got you covered!

Yoga might seem a little underwhelming if you are looking forward to an epic adventure like surfing in La Lancha and our nearby areas buuuuuut don’t be so quick to judge… It’s a fact that all types of Yoga will benefit your surfing!

Yoga helps you work on your balance which is a must-have for surfers. It helps you develop core strength and agility which is necessary when you’re doing quick pop-ups and turns whilst surfing – which is of course a given!

Indulging in yoga also keeps your muscles from potentially tearing during fast-paced and strenuous movements like pop-ups or paddling, because it will develop your muscle flexibility from all the stretching.

So, those stretches and breathing techniques may seem calm and passive, but trust us, it’ll be a lifesaver for learning to surf in Mexico and mastering the wondrous waves when you’re experiencing your first week out there.

Apart from yoga and swimming, the gym can help you build the upper body capacity you need to ace your surf camp in Punta Mita or Sayulita ! From bodyweight exercises to working with dumbbells, building up the stamina and strength you need to surf CAN be done in the gym beforehand!

Best Exercises

✔️1) Hold your dumbbells at thigh-level with palms against your legs. With elbows resting against your waist, move the weights up towards the shoulder and lower them down.

✔️2) Holding your dumbbells at shoulder height with arms out like a cross. Lift the weights overhead, then in front of your head keeping your arms straight.

✔️3) Holding dumbbells in each hand, bend forward while your back is almost parallel to the ground. Lift the weights toward your chest and slowly lower them down.

Try 4 x 10 sets of these exercises with a weight that feels comfortable for you! We recommend at least 1 x per week.

For endurance, these swimming exercises can help you:

✔️1) With a floating buoy strapped to the feet, swim 50-meters four times with your head above the water surface. Do this twice a week at least.

✔️2) Do 50-meter sprints eight times and rest for 30-seconds in between. Do this at least once a week.

✔️3) For lung capacity, increase the number of strokes you take before each breath. Start each lap at two strokes and increase the number as you build capacity.

Waves can be relentless and uncertain! So, an Indo Board can do the trick to experience your first surfboard - on dry land!

On the Indo board, try to stand still for 90 seconds. You should try an activity like bouncing a tennis ball on the floor for 90 seconds without letting the board touch the ground. A harder position may be standing still whilst positioned in a squat and rocking back and forth.

At the final level, you should be able to do slow squats on the board without letting it touch the ground!

Summing it Up

With the exercises mentioned, you’ll be more than ready to start your surf camp in Punta Mita or Sayulita ! Plus, all the waiting prior to your surf camp will be put to best use! 😉

The great thing about surfing is, as you get better, so does the feeling! So, why not start early?

Up for the challenge?

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Peace & love

Wild Mex

March 28, 2022 By WildMex

Learning to Surf in Mexico

Do you remember the gush of emotions, the first time you rode an unbroken wave? The excitement, the fear, and the adrenaline rush that left you yearning for more?

Your first waves were probably a feeling like no other you had experienced... But this blog comes with a warning! Your intermediate Wild Mex surf camp will challenge you and test you in ways you probably never have been tested in the water! Meaning even more adrenaline, excitement, and a bundle of improvement coming your way!!

If you’ve become adept at paddling, popping up, and riding cleanly across the open face of a wave, you are fit for the intermediate Surf Lessons in La Lancha where the waves are consistent all year round for perfecting your surfing technique and ability.

Read on to see what we’ve got in store for you…

As an intermediate surfer, you’ve ‘tasted’ the salty and surreal feeling of taking a ride through mother nature at her finest. So, no wonder you’re hooked and want to advance to the next level with the WildMex Surf Lessons in La Lancha , Sayulita, and Punta Mita!

At the Wild Mex surf camp, every day is filled with something new. You will be polishing your existing skills and satiating your thirst for improvement as the itinerary builds your abilities day by day.

You’ll also have the option of 10 other surf breaks in the area to surf at, because 365 days of the year 24/7, there is always a wave to surf at one of our local breaks!

Here are the topics you’ll be onboarding to fine-tune your intermediate skills:

Topic 1 - Surfing conditions

The first topic within your intermediate surf camp in Punta Mita and Sayulita with Wild Mex will help you get to grips with reading surf conditions.

Your journey from an intermediate surfer to an advanced one means that you’ll learn how to read when the waves are surf-ready! This also includes:

Understanding optimum surf conditions
Learning how to read swell charts
Knowledge about the different types of surf breaks
Learning how the wind conditions affect waves

With this, you’ll know the best time to surf Punta Mita, Sayulita, and all other breaks in our area and beyond after onboarding this crucial intermediate step!

Topic 2 - When to use which board

Learning to surf in Mexico is probably one of the best gifts you can give yourself as an adventurer and a surfing enthusiast.

With a wide range of surfboards available for rent at Wild Mex (over 300 in fact), you can perfect your techniques with shortboards, longboards, fish boards, or funboards!

Your personal surf guide will also help you master your board choice based on the surf conditions and the surf break you’re going for.

Topic 3 - Binary wave selection

If you’ve taken beginner surf lessons in La Lancha, Sayulita or anywhere else in the world, you may already know what binary wave selection is. If you’re a self-taught maestro, maybe not! - Binary wave selection is all about reading and selecting the waves as they come to you.

In surfing, wave selection is an art, and it usually draws the line between beginners and intermediate surfers.

Your intermediate Surf Camp in Punta Mita and Sayulita will help you learn binary wave selection, which in turn, will have several impacts on your surf session… The first and most obvious one is that you’ll learn how to ride superior and longer waves - simply by choosing the right ones. Learning binary wave selection will also require you less physical effort to paddle and catch the wave of your choice! Win-win, right?

Topic 4 - Positioning on the wave

If you’ve had exposure to a lot of surf in the past, positioning may sound like an easy topic. Buuut in actual fact, all intermediate-advanced surfers know that positioning can always be improved, after all, nothing happens far out on that flat shoulder!

When learning to surf in Mexico with us, we’ll teach you how to position yourself to stay close to the pocket, how to position yourself to get ready for a trick, and how to position yourself to try ripping steeper shoulders!

We told you didn’t we, it’s all about position baby!

Topic 5 - Generating speed

As you progress and get more comfortable with different parts of the wave, this is where you’ll begin to draw the line from being called an intermediate surfer to an adept one! A beginner or intermediate surfer goes with the flow of the ocean which is why the waves guide them across. Whilst more adept ones learn how to stay close to the pocket, the steepest and most powerful part of the wave to get the best out of every wave on offer!

As a pre-master surfer, you will learn how to control the reins of your surfboard’s speed. You’ll be shown how to throw your arms forward, decompressing and compressing up and down the face of the wave, all whilst moving to specific parts of the wave with the proper technique by shifting your weight over the surfboard at specific moments on the wave to create your own acceleration.

Learn this and just wait to watch surfing become more and more exciting!

Topic 6 - Bottom turn & Top turn

This is the skill that even expert surfers still need improvement on. Even during the best time to surf Punta Mita, the bottom turn and top turn takes years of experience to maneuver, but with us, you’ll learn the basics!

You’ll learn how to use your head as your steering wheel. (Where you look is where you’ll go!) Both the top and bottom turn is initiated with your head, then your shoulders, arms, and hips to follow.

If it sounds complicated now, don’t sweat it! You’ll get the fundamentals of this concept in the sixth topic of your intermediate surf camp in Punta Mita and Sayulita with Wild Mex, and with practice, you’ll be good to go!

Topic 7 - Cutback

Be prepared to also onboard the basics of the cutback!

Haven’t heard of it before? Well, the cutback is when a surfer changes direction with a turn using their rails to go back towards the breaking part of the wave.

This is a vital maneuver as it’ll position you back to the “power source” - the steepest and most enjoyable part of the wave!

Topic 8 - Identifying your weak spots

Sometimes muscles will get fatigued and you'll feel it, especially in your weak areas! BUT, many times the surf will be more demanding on your mind…

Your instructor at your Surf Camp in Punta Mita and Sayulita will help you identify and work on your weak spots, physical and mental!

Helping you transform your weaknesses from what is holding you back to the things that motivate you to perfect your surfing skills!

Summing Up the itinerary of your Intermediate Surf Lessons in La Lancha

When you’re learning to surf in Mexico with us, there are only two things you need: the passion to perfect your surf skills and the dedication to master the waves we have in store for you!

Only after you’ve mastered these maneuvers can you work on progressing from the intermediate to the advanced level.

But until then, get ready to experience all those feel-good chemicals - endorphins/the stoke you’ll experience during and after your surf sessions with us!

P.S The release of endorphins is also linked to a state of euphoria! Something our surf coaches know all a little too well. We are pumped to share these secrets with YOU! 😉

Till then, best of luck preparing for the camp - we can’t wait to welcome you!

Peace & love,

Wild Mex

Newsletter Surfing Travel

March 14, 2022 By WildMex

Learning to Surf in Mexico – What Beginner Surfers can Expect from the WildMex Surf Camp?

Now that you have taken the first step to experience the adrenaline rush that you were oblivious to as a non-surfer, hang in there! It's going to get pretty intense…in a great way!

Having signed up for your first surf camp and beginner surf lessons in Sayulita and Punta Mita, let us warn you… the first time you set barefoot and waxed up on the beach for your surf camp in Sayulita, there is a mixed rush of emotions - nervousness, excitement, and happiness.

But too much nervousness might spoil the fun! So, time to get the nervousness levels down and the excitement levels up! We’ll help you achieve just that with this beginner itinerary of all the topics you’ll learn in your week-long (or longer) beginner surf camp in Sayulita and Punta Mita!

At the Wildmex surf camp, every day is filled with something new. So, for the adventure enthusiasts out there, starting with surf lessons in Sayulita and Punta Mita will leave you satiated, building on your surfing skills day by day, taking the ride of your lifetime! You’ll also have the option of 10 other surf breaks in the area to surf at, because 365 days of the year 24/7, there is always a wave to surf at one of our local breaks. So, let’s get started…

Topic 1: Etiquette

The first and most important topic is, of course, learning the etiquette of surfing. Whether you’re surfing with us here in Mexico or in another spot around the world after your surf camp, you’ll more than likely, always, be surfing amongst others in the water. This means that it’s your duty to learn the unwritten rules of the water, from right of way, to not dropping in or snaking, how to give respect, gain respect and how to keep yourself and others safe. Yes, there is a lot to learn… But don’t sweat it, when learning to surf in Mexico with us, we’ll give you the full low-down to keep yourself out of trouble, and enjoy your surfing!

Topic 2: Reading Waves

Expect your surf coach to explain how waves are formed, about swells, tides, and rip currents. But don’t worry if you don’t get it straight away! - The more time you spend in the water, the more you’ll learn how to read a wave – how to tell if it’s a good one to catch, whether it’s a right or left-hander, where it will break, and how to position yourself to ride it well.

Topic 3: Pop-Ups and Functional Stances

You will practice basic surfing techniques such as pop-ups and functional stances on the beach. You’ll learn how to position yourself on the board, the correct stance, and how to pop up or take off to ride a wave stood up. Yeeew!

Topic 5: Mastering the Whitewash

The topic that marks the beginning of the real deal in the surf lessons in Punta Mita and Sayulita is paddling out to master the whitewash. This starts with building your confidence in the waves with the board and then practicing your pop-up and stance in the white water which are the broken waves and most forgiving part of the wave - perfect for surfing for beginners in Punta Mita and Sayulita!

Topic 6: Mastering Unbroken Waves

Once you’ve built your confidence with the whitewash, it is time to get into the unbroken waves to experience your first major thrill from surfing.

Paddling deep and throwing your weight forward is the key to catching an unbroken wave, otherwise, you just won’t catch it. It’s certain that you’ll have some testy times before you master paddling since all of this comes with experience.

But with your surf coach guiding you - the best way to learn surfing for beginners in Punta Mita and Sayulita, you’ll be riding the “real waves” in no time!

Topic 7: Angling your Take-off

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it is time to move on and surf in style! This is when your Wild Mex surf instructor at your surf camp in Sayulita or Punta Mita will teach you how to angle yourself to take off and ride a wave not just straight but down the rail.

Angling your take off will allow you to drop in on waves that are a bit steeper. By angling your board as you paddle for a wave, you’ll be able to set the line that your board will take, ensuring you can pop up and ride the wave in the direction that it’s going instead of riding it straight or nose diving into the crashing wave.

From mastering the whitewashes to unbroken and exhilarating waves, in just a few days, you will have come a long way in your surfing journey!

Topic 8: Finding the ‘x’ Spot

Once you’ve mastered how to angle your board into the waves, it is time to upskill. The 6th topic you’ll learn from your surf camp is how to find the ‘x-spot’.

This is the sweet spot that surfers want to catch, the most critical and powerful part of the wave is the ‘x-spot’. And when you’ve upskilled yourself learning all the other topics, it is time to choose the wave to which you face up!

You’ll learn how to spot a good wave and make yourself to it, catching the thrill and rush that comes with it - all whilst being mindful of the surfing etiquette!

What if I can’t keep up with the pace of the surf lessons in Punta Mita and Sayulita?

In the first days or weeks - depending on how long you want to spread out your surf lessons in Punta Mita and Sayulita, you’ll be building your confidence with the waves.

As for someone with no surfing experience, you will need some time to get used to the waves and the workout. The Wild Mex surf camp in Sayulita and Punta Mita is designed to match your pace. So, whether you get through the topics in a couple of days or stretch out the entire program to a couple of weeks, it depends on how well you grasp the concepts and get on with the learning experience - both of which are perfectly fine.

Practice Makes Perfect

The science of ‘practice makes perfect’ relates to surfing as much as any other sport! This means the more time you spend in the water practicing, the better you’ll onboard these topics and the more natural you’ll become at creating the movements!

Summing it Up

You are in for an experience of a lifetime now that you’ve registered for the surf camp in Sayulita and Punta Mita!

This article covers all you can expect from your beginner's surf camp to keep your nervousness low and the essential excitement at a sky-high level! From paddling out to the white waters to riding green glassy waves in the ocean, you will experience what you were oblivious to as a non-surfer! Pure freedom, and connection with Pachamama at its finest.

So, until then, keep the count down going!

We can’t wait to welcome you v.soon!

Peace & Love

WildMex

Newsletter Surfing

February 28, 2022 By WildMex

Surfing Etiquette 101 – Becoming the Good Kind of Surfer

Our WildMex Surf Camp In Sayulita and Punta Mita teaches true surf etiquette so you can think like a pro even before your first lesson.

Registered for the WildMex Surf Camp in Punta Mita or Sayulita? Yeeew! Here’s an early welcome from the Wild Mex team to an adventure you have probably never experienced before! For now, the feelings you experience might be mixed. You might be excited and eager, and maybe even at the same time, a bit nervous... Let’s face it, starting a new thing is always scary. A small voice in your head might say, “What if you can’t pull this off?” But say adios to this little voice because we are here to teach you how to be the best beginner for your next surf adventure here in Mexico. This crash course will help you learn all there is to surfing terminologies and etiquettes so you don’t feel clueless and nervous within your first week of camp and surf lessons In Punta Mita!

You’ll learn how to read tides, waves and learn the best time to surf Punta Mita & Sayulita waves in our Wild Mex surf camp.

The Basics of Surfing: All the Theory with a Twist!

Experienced surfers will accumulate a lot of time in the water, this means that they have learned to gauge which waves will break and which waves are the best to catch. They also know when is the best time to surf Punta Mita waves because they know the tides, swells and how to avoid the competitive crowds.

However, surfing for beginners in Punta Mita or Sayulita can seem overwhelming when you can’t keep up with all the surfer terms. So, here are some of the basics and theories that you need to know before your first class at your Surf Camp in Punta Mita and Sayulita with WildMex!

1) Learning the Wave Directions

To have good surf, the first thing you'll need to learn is to understand how swells work and which waves are the best ones to get familiar with. Once you start your surf lessons in Punta Mita or Sayulita, you will begin to hear your coach and other surfers use the terms listed below, take a read and get familiar with them, knowing the lingo may be the difference between you catching 0 waves or 10!

The Direction of the Wind

Offshore wind - what surfers' dreams are made of. Offshore wind is the kind that blows from the land to the ocean, this is the best kind for surfing. It produces waves that are clean and groomed and indicate the best time to surf Punta Mita, Sayulita, or any other waves for that matter. Also, a swell coming in from the north will break differently than a swell arriving from the south. It’s important to point out that it is also possible to surf when the wind is Onshore, the kind that blows from ocean to land, however, this is the worst wind for surfing. The wind blows in from the ocean and ensures that all the waves crumble and have no shape, making the waves prettttty hard to surf!

Tide

Gauging the tide is important to catch the best waves. Some beaches work best on low tide and others on high tide. Different tides can either make waves "mushy"; breaking slowly with a lip that just sort of crumbles over when the wave breaks, or "hollow"; fast-breaking, barreling waves with lips that pitch out forcefully into the wave's trough. You’ll learn the local tides from your coach once you arrive here!

The Best Kinds

The types of waves that you experience while surfing in Punta Mita and Sayulita are beach breaks, pointbreaks, and reef breaks. These waves all have their own characteristics:

Waves	Pros	Cons
Beach Breaks	Beach Breaks tend to be common, with consistent waves and nice sand bottoms.	Beach Breaks can be unforgiving, with difficult paddle-outs
Pointbreaks	Pointbreaks can offer perfectly shaped waves and the longest rides of any kind of wave.	Pointbreaks can get a little too crowded sometimes and are generally not that consistent
Reef Breaks	Reef Breaks Reef Breaks are where advanced surfers go in search of the best barrels. Reef Breaks usually have uneven and/or sharp bottoms composed of rock or coral.	Reef Breaks usually have uneven and/or sharp bottoms composed of rock or coral.

But drawbacks aside, all these types of waves can offer excellent surf, and as any dedicated surfer will tell you, the rewards of surfing are worth more than material wealth.

Lefts and Rights

Understanding where the wave will break is impossible if you haven’t had any or little experience with surfing.

Waves “peel” to either the left or the right. As a beginner learning to Surf in Punta Mita and Sayulita there is a simple way to tell the difference between the two “peels”.

When you're lying down on your surfboard, paddling into a wave, you're going to drop into the wave and angle either towards your right with the wave crashing to your left (then it’s a right-hander) or you're left with the wave crashing to your right (which tells us it’s a left-hander).

If you’re watching from the shore, a surfer surfing in Punta Mita going left means they’re riding a right peeling wave. Don’t worry if you don’t get it yet, you will find it obvious the minute you see it for yourself!

Rip Tides

Another terminology that you might hear a lot when you’re learning to Surf in Punta Mita and Sayulita is rip currents or rip tides. While this term might sound dangerous, and it is, but only for those unfamiliar with how they work, yet for those who follow a few basic rules, rips are nothing to fear!

A rip is a path of water being pushed onto the shore by the waves takes to run back into the ocean, they can often appear as deeper and darker colored water in a relatively calm or rippled channel between breaking waves. However, these channels actually indicate fast currents moving back out to sea. One sign to spot one may be noticing anything floating out to sea via that route.

Rip currents can be dangerous because people can become exhausted trying to swim against the current back to shore, however, many surfers use this channel to enter the ocean from the shore or get back out the back after catching a wave. The way to escape the channel once you get out the back is by swimming parallel to the shore to escape the rip current. Never swim against the current back to shore.

You’ll learn how to read waves, do Eskimo rolls and how to avoid wipeouts in our surf camp in Sayulita and Punta Mita.

2) Sets

Set waves are those waves that come in larger than the overall significant wave height. In this case, it is quite probable that you’ll have a wipeout one time or another.

To try and avoid a wipeout, once you see a set coming (a good indication of this is seeing all other surfers paddling out fast), you should follow them and paddle out too in the opposite direction of wherever the wave is peeling from.

If you run out of time and you see the wave is about to crash on you, always opt for a turtle roll, also known as the Eskimo roll, a surfing technique that allows you to get past the breaking waves without having to discard your surfboard or duck dive in challenging conditions. You’ll learn how to do this at your surf camp in Sayulita and Punta Mita.

3) Wipe Outs

Let’s talk realistically, wipeouts are what you’re fearing the most. But stop! Wipeouts are common, even for expert surfers, and if you learn how to tackle them you will be safe!

If you do get hit by a wave and held underwater, never panic and scratch hard for the surface! It doesn't matter if you only managed to get just half a lungful of air, you'll be alright if you just simply relax. In the words of a surfer:

“Relaxing may not seem easy when you’ve encountered your first wipeout. Every second underwater might feel like ten, but even on a powerful wave, you'll be underwater for no more than five to ten seconds. So, when the wave is starting to recede, you can come back up and BREATHE…”

Pro Tip: Your Surfboard is your Best Friend!

Don't forget that your surfboard isn't just for riding waves, it is also an excellent lifesaving device and your primary means of getting out of trouble should a bad situation arise. So, don’t ditch it unless it is extremely necessary.

4) Crowding and Surfing Etiquette

Another concept you would want to learn before you get started with the waves is surfer etiquette.

If you take off on a wave in front of someone, you're basically stealing the wave, as the surfer who was already up and riding has to give up the wave or risk having a collision with you.

And not just collisions, one wave ridden by two persons is trouble! If you’re at the back and the surfer in front of you rides away while you’re at the end-side of the wave, you’ll experience a pretty blatant drop-in.

And the easiest way to avoid drop-ins is simple - stay away from crowds! Crowds tend to get competitive, and there are always those in the water who don't care so much about having fun as they do about showing off and catching all the waves they can.

Always give way to the surfer closest to the highest point of the wave (the peak). They have the right of way on the wave.

Surfing for Beginners in Punta Mita doesn’t have to be so tricky! Here’s the 101 for surfing in the area…

Summing it Up

To sum up our crash course, don’t forget to have fun!

The best thing you can do for both yourself and others in the water is simple - just respect others and enjoy yourself! It's hard not to have a good time in the surf, but everyone has a bad day every once in a while.

But hey, don’t worry, be happy! Remember to always stay in a relaxed frame of mind, and encourage others to do the same. Share waves, smile, and give a kind word to both friends and strangers alike. Hoot for others when you see them get a good wave, and soon you'll hear other surfers hooting for you on your good ones too!

We can’t wait to welcome you to the waves!

Peace & love,

Wild Mex

Newsletter Surfing

February 15, 2022 By WildMex

What To Pack For Your Next Surf Trip? – Your Surf Camp In Punta Mita & Sayulita Checklist

What To Pack For Your Next Surf Trip? – Your Surf Camp In Punta Mita & Sayulita

Just signed up for the Wildmex Surf Camp? Oh boy, oh boy! What an adventure this is going to be…

Just imagine gliding across glassy ocean waves, using your power to ride a fast-moving wall of water. You feel the speed, the wind in the face, and are deeply connected to the awesome energy of mother earth.

Now, imagine how it will feel when you master the mellow, white waters and move on to skimming through glassy green waves and steeper sets surfing in Punta Mita’s famous La Lancha!

We’re sure you cannot contain your excitement to get to camp to learn surfing in Punta Mita, Sayulita, and La Lancha! However, with all this excitement building up, packing can seem like a tertiary task… Especially if you’re a newbie to surfing, it can be quite tricky to know exactly what to pack.

So, that’s why our team at Wild Mex has done the hard work so you don’t have to! Here is a list of your backpack must-haves when you are learning to surf in Punta Mita or Sayulita at our Wildmex surf camp. Carry everything essential and nothing extra – you can thank us later!

Packing the Essentials

Surfing in Sayulita and Punta Mita with Wild Mex’s surf camp

We know you want to be equipped with the essentials for the beach, the varying terrain, and your stay at camp. Yet at the same time, the airline fee with the weight limit means you can’t carry a load of stuff!

However, if you do happen to forget something, or simply need a top-up, know that Sayulita town does offer plenty of Mini Marts and markets to purchase essentials and toiletries that you might need, so don’t fret!

There are, however, a few things that you ought to keep in your backpack, so you don’t have to head to the market every time you need something, or in case you do, you have the cash in hand to buy. Check it out below…

Access to Cash

Make sure that you have access to cash whilst at your surf camp in Sayulita for any emergencies. This means carrying an ATM card and money in USD or Mexican Pesos in case your ATM card fails or you cannot access an ATM in the moment needed.

Travel Essentials

Make sure you’re carrying your airline tickets in a bag where you can access them whenever the need be. You should also have a valid passport with at least 3 months to expiration in case you would want to extend your stay. (Something which many of our surf campers decide to do!) We also recommend booking a flexible ticket, you know, just in case!

Once you’re enjoying pumping surf days, seeing rapid improvement, and taking part in the gnarliest surfing in Sayulita and Punta Mita, the enthralling ocean waves will keep you from going back to routine… Sorry, not sorry!

Accessories and Clothing

Pack the most comfortable and rugged pair of sandals, Crocs, Gators, Tevas, Reef Walkers, Birkenstocks or similar water shoes that can get wet without being unpleasant. When you are learning to surf in Mexico, it’s not uncommon to walk through luscious jungle trails to get to the best waves. You may also experience getting on and off boats to surf epic waves in the middle of the Pacific, dreamy right? Sure is when you pack the correct footwear!

For the November to March season, surfing in Sayulita can be a little chilly. You won’t feel cold in the water, but once you get out of the water and the winds blow on your wet body, you are likely to feel cold. So, make sure you pack a sweatshirt or fleece jacket, shorts, at least two bathing suits, and any other beachwear you may need.

When learning to surf in Sayulita or our nearby beaches, the sun in the afternoon can be scorching, So, you should be carrying a sun hat, sunglasses, sarong, or pareo (for females), and any other beachwear you may need. A small flashlight along with your necessary medications are also essentials when learning to surf in Mexico. We also recommend bringing a watch or an alarm to ensure wake up for sunrise surf sessions and a camera to capture all the insane moments you’re about to embark on.

If you are doing our Yoga/Surf camp, we recommend bringing shorts over pants and any essential yoga-wear or comfortable gym wear you’d like to use to partake in these sessions.

Sunscreen

When purchasing sunscreens, make sure that you buy the waterproof kind. This is usually +5% zinc or titanium dioxide with an SPF of over 30. For the body we recommend HIC 2X sun block, Alligator, Hawaiian Blend Sport with Zinc, or La Roche-Posay Helioblock S Athelios SPF40.

You should also go for an additional face block which is necessary for swimming and surfing. We recommend Vertra, Shiseido Sun Protection Skin Foundation SPF 35, HIC 2X sunblock, Zinka Nosecoat, Headhunter Surf Screen, and UV Natural Sport. Old sunscreens can separate and burn your skin so make sure you buy a new one before you head out to your Surf Camp in Sayulita or Punta Mita!

We do not recommend Coppertone, Bullfrog, or most Banana Boat products due to their poor quality. Also, whilst buying sunscreens, remember that SPF 70 can be the same as SPF 30 and any greater SPF is really just a marketing scam. For the nights, you should also keep an insect repellent. Up to 20 or 30 % DEET should be fine, after all, if your surf camp is in Punta Mita, you’ll be staying right next to the tropical Mexican jungle!

Packing the Surf Gear

Surfing for beginners in Sayulita can be tough because of the rough terrain of the surf area in some areas, make sure you bring the correct gear such as…

While essentials like surfboards will be available for you at the camp, do make sure you pack your surfing gear that will prevent any rashes from surfing.

Surf shorts provide more protection from the sun and the surfboard compared to regular shorts. Also, carrying a rash guard, which is an athletic shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester is great.

Rash guards are most often worn in surfing when the weather is too warm for a wetsuit. It also prevents wax-based chafing from sliding on and off of the surfboard. The board’s wax can accumulate sand from the beach which is the reason for the rashes.

Packing the Optional Surfing Gear

Surfing for beginners in Sayulita can be tough because of the rough terrain of the surf area in some areas. You’ll find sand as well as rocks, so protecting your feet from getting scraped is essential, especially in the beginning when you are adjusting to the new feeling. So, surf booties are the way to go if you want to avoid cuts and grazes. However, make sure they fit snugly in the store as they stretch in the water.

You would also want to keep 100 % lycra or spandex running or swimming pants for keeping your legs from getting sunburnt. If you put sunscreen on the back of your legs, it might make the board slippery, therefore the swimming pants will greatly help in securing yourself on the board as well as preventing sunburns and rashes.

While you might not look quite as “cool”, you’ll feel much cooler after day three when you are the only one without a sunburn ;).

Summing it Up

Here’s your backpack checklist for surfing in La Lancha, Sayulita, or Punta de Mita.

There is a lot to do when you are in Mexico, surfing in La Lancha, Sayulita, or Punta de Mita. This includes getting into the water, chilling at the beach, and going for challenging waves that will ensure that release of adrenaline and endorphins, making you feel, oh so alive!!

Even though there are a lot of amenities and facilities available at the Surf Camp in Sayulita, you will need to bring in some essentials, so you are equipped to dive in as soon as you get here!

Yep, you guessed it, we’ve gone one step further and created a printable packing list for your surf trip!

Yeeeew! Good luck and see you soon!

Peace & Love

Wild Mex

Newsletter Surfing Travel Trips

January 5, 2022 By WildMex

Getting Tubed is a “PARADISIACAL EXPERIENCE” only Surfers know

Surfing In Punta Mita 2022

Paradisiacal, heavenly, and angels seemingly in chorus; this is how surfers describe the experience of being in a tube. Since getting tubed is an experience only known to surfers, let us mesmerize you with a string of words woven together that capture the beauty of the moment from Javier Chavez, the owner and founder of WildMex Surf & Adventure:

“Getting tubed is that ephemeral moment when one gets engulfed in the water. The feeling that the giant of a wave can wipe you out with one wrong move gives an adrenaline rush that adventurous people yearn for.

The view, if only cameras could capture the entire beauty of the barrel! A blend of blues, greens, and the sandy browns moving all at once, yet seemingly not at all.

The silence is the virtue of the barrel, yet the auditory experience of the water is an encounter that is rightly termed as PARADISIACAL! – The longing for this transcendent to never end but concurrently being mesmerized by the light at the end of the barrel is an incomparable feeling.”

Are you still reading? This means you are awe-struck by just the string of words that describe the transcendent experience. Wonder what it would be like to actually experience getting tubed? Read on to find how you can catch your first tube surfing in Punta Mita this 2022.

What Does It Mean ‘Getting Tubed’?

Getting tubed or barreled means that a surfer finds safety amidst a big wave. There is a dredging feeling that it might break upon itself and a possibility that you’d get trapped between the lip and the wall of the water, which is how you get tubed.

However, there is a technique to do this successfully. Surfers spend a lot of time waiting for the perfect moment to get barreled.

Simultaneously, it takes a lot of skill to maintain balance within a barrel; one wrong move and the wave crashes on you, leaving you amongst the heavy white wash with your surfboard out of control.

So, what’s the best way, place and time to get tubed and surf in Punta Mita?

The Surfing Scene Around Punta Mita

Mexico is home to some of the most incredible surfing spots in the world, with beaches like Sayulita and Punta Mita amongst some of the popular spots for surfers, (with good reason!)

Winter is the best time to surf in Punta Mita. From November to March, with surfing in Punta Mita being an experience of a lifetime. You’ll catch slow peeling waves on smaller swells to giant and medium barreling waves that can go up to 8ft or more on bigger ones.

The summer season at Punta Mita gets more consistent swells, but you can expect just about anything in winter, and that’s a true adventure as a surfer, right?

And if you are lucky enough, you can catch those rare 5-6 waves a season swells that will mark one of the most tremendous experiences of your life!

Tips For Catching Your First Barrel

Learning to Surf in Punta Mita as an intermediate or an occasional surfer is also a great experience. This is because you get ISA certified instructors, pro surfboards, and a remarkable experience at the WildMex headquarters.

Surf lessons in Punta Mita can equip you with the skills you need to catch your first tube. And boy, you can bet that the first time you catch your first barrel will be unforgettable!

Here are some of the tips you’ll get to learn at our surf camps…

Surf Camps in Punta Mita

The holy grail of surfing is getting tubed. Registering for a Surf Camp in Punta Mita with WildMex can be the first step in getting this experience. If you are an intermediate or even the experienced but-out-of-touch kind, registering for a surf camp can be a great way to catch the wintertime barrels at Punta Mita.

Building Confidence When Surfing In Punta Mita

What our surf camps in Punta Mita will do is build your confidence! More often than not, people close their eyes in their first barrel, where they lose out on the best of the experience.

You’ll learn to build your confidence by being comfortable, learning how to safely fall away from your surfboard. The trick is to be confident yet cautious when entering the barrel. Our ISA certified instructors will teach you just that.

Picking the Right Board

One secret that our surf camp will teach you is picking the right board. Finding barrels on a longboard is challenging. Therefore, surfing on a shortboard is the key to getting the barrel right.

First things first, it fits right in the confines of the barrel. Secondly, it is much easier to control the direction and speed, which are key components to succeeding the barrel.

Even when surfing Punta Mita in the winter season, catching that perfect barrel requires patience. Till then, why not polish up your surf until that seasonal rare barrel comes that you’ll get to treasure for a lifetime?

Finding The Right Line

When you’re learning how to get tubed, the hardest part is judging whether a wave will break or not. And this ability comes in due time.

Put simply, the more you surf, the better your judgement becomes on how waves break, and so, the easier it becomes to position yourself to catch that barrel!

Stalling The Right Way

Stalling your board the right way to get barreled is the one technique you WILL need to learn. The easiest way is to apply pressure onto your rear foot that diminishes your speed just right to get the barrel.

Another way is to drag one or both of your hands in the face of the wave to slow down.

There are also some trickier approaches that pro surfers use, which you may also get the chance to learn either at a surf camp or within an intermediate-advanced surf lesson in Punta Mita – just ask your instructor!

All in all, getting barreled is an experience that one cannot weave into words. And once you get the hang of it, you will never get enough of it!

Tubing Till The End

Once you’re in the tube, the rush of adrenaline and fear is likely to get you to misstep or close your eyes. Don’t make that mistake!

You’ll end up getting crushed by the wave, or you’ll miss out on the epic wave riding experience.

While soaking up the visuals and audio of the tube, keep your eye on the prize, the end of the tunnel, and get out a champ’!

So, what are you waiting for? The best time to surf in Punta Mita is right NOW, and trust us, you don’t want to miss out on your moment.

Newsletter Surfing Travel Trips

December 21, 2021 By WildMex

12 OF THE BEST SURF SPOTS IN PUNTA MITA & SAYULITA

The Punta Mita & Sayulita surf spots is a mecca of surfing...

Picturesque surfing location with truly astounding surf spots you just can't find anywhere else.

With swells suitable for beginners all the way through to professionals, Punta Mita & Sayulita marks the ideal place to catch a wave, no matter the time, day, or your experience level.

We’ve saved you the trouble of locating the best surf spots by putting together one EPIC surf guide, with the top-rated surf breaks nearby!

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20100%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-13950" data-lazy-srcset="https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-300x300.png 300w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-150x150.png 150w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-768x768.png 768w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-540x540.png 540w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9.png 1080w" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-lazy-src="https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-300x300.png" /><noscript><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-300x300.png" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-13950" srcset="https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-300x300.png 300w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-150x150.png 150w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-768x768.png 768w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9-540x540.png 540w, https://wildmex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/984417ce-32cd-dadc-15f8-f6586cb548c9.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></noscript>" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">

You can thank us later! 😉

OR If you like balmy temperatures, consistent waves, friendly atmospheres, and outstanding landscapes, check out our surf break map featuring over 12 of the BEST local surf spots

SURF BREAK MAP

So, whether you're a frequent visitor or you're planning a trip for the very first time, surfing in Punta Mita & Sayulita is a must if you want to fully experience what these pack a punch locations have to offer.

Sign out of Netflix, throw on your wetsuit, and embrace your inner Kelly Slater - for some of the gnarliest waves via these truly authentic Mexican surfing spots…!

Come and share with us the lifestyle we live and love, come to Punta Mita and Sayulita!

Nature & Wildlife Newsletter Surfing Travel

December 21, 2021 By WildMex

When Should You Move On From A Soft-Top Surfboard?

Whether your first board was a second-hand “foamie” or your gramps old longboard, we’re here to tell you that the “foamie” or soft-top surfboard offers more than what meets the naked eye, PLUS how you’ll know when you’ve outgrown it and when you’re ready for bigger and better things or smaller, in this case - should you desire.

Keep reading to find out more…

Let’s face it, too many of us start on boards we have no business waxing up! But Wildmex is here to help you avoid that.

We believe there’s a board for every surfer, especially the newbies!

Why Learning On A Longboard Is Best?

Increased wave count = you’ll catch more waves = accelerate your learning
You’ll paddle faster and easier
You’ll get easy take-offs and longer rides
You’ll feel more stable and balanced to stand up
You’ll be left with a positive experience and more motivation to go out again
Bigger board = More waves = Less frustration
“Foamies” are forgiving, meaning, your takeoff timing is not as critical!

When You Know You’re Ready For A Shorter Board

You're catching green waves mostly when you want
You know how to read waves
You're successfully riding around 70% of the session
You can paddle out and make it out the back
You can surf down the line
You feel in control of your board in a crowd and in whitewater
You know and follow surf etiquette

LEARN MORE

Too often, people unknowingly start with the wrong boards and never learn because they can't catch any waves! Beginner surfers and surf schools enjoy the use of foamies as a fun and versatile surfboard for everyone. You betcha...Everyone.

The more time you spend learning on longboards, the faster you'll progress to funboards > hybrids > shortboards - if that's your ultimate goal.

At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun and connecting with mother nature! Stick to this path, and you’ll be the most stoked person in the water, every session.

See ya in the lineup… YEW!

Where Is The Next Sayulita?

jump HERE for the latest on our blog

Newsletter Summer Surfing and Weather at Sayulita and Punta Mita, Mexico Surfing

December 17, 2021 By WildMex

6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared Of Longboarding

We were taught that bigger isn't necessarily better but, in this particular case, it just might be. Here’s why you shouldn’t shy away from longboarding this season…

It’s safe to say that the art of longboarding is timeless.

You could easily say that longboard surfing is a state of mind, a meditation or that place of ‘zen’.

So, as die-hard wave chasers, we at Wildmex are here to tell you exactly why you SHOULD opt for a different wave riding experience, like longboard surfing!

WHY WILDMEX?

Here’s Why You SHOULD Join The Longriding World

1.Wave-catching advantage

With a longboard it’s way easier to catch waves, meaning, you'll end up riding more waves than many others.

2.New challenges

Take on a new challenge learning complicated tricks on the nose of the board.

3.Small waves are still fun

One-footers? Don’t sweat it. Your longboard will still work its magic.

4.Longboards are ideal for making friends

Invite new friends to catch some party waves or why not try tandem surfing? After all, sharing is caring.

5.Make a comeback with ease

Getting back into the ocean after an injury or some time off? It's waaaay easier when you’ve got a longboard.

6.Don’t take surfing too seriously

Take off, pop up and relax, enjoying the ride in its purest form.

Ready to explore long deck surfing in Punta Mita & Sayulita?

EXPLORE HERE

Newsletter Summer Surfing and Weather at Sayulita and Punta Mita, Mexico Surfing

December 17, 2021 By WildMex

What to Expect From Christmas Surfing in Punta de Mita, Mexico?

So, why not dump the cooking, prepping, hosting and cleaning this December and add a sprinkle of spontaneous surf, sunshine and luxury to your calendar?

So, no matter your holiday style, Punta Mita truly has something for everyone. A travel haven and an adventurer's playground - the ultimate location to recharge after a loooong year!

So, whatever you’re after – adventure, surf, culture or cuisine – you can make this Christmas experience your own!

Reach Out

If you have any questions or are looking to take the hassle out of planning and booking your last-minute Christmas surf adventure, reach out NOW!

Newsletter Surfing Travel Trips

DAY PACKAGE	PRICE USD	BOOKING LINK
2-DAY PACKAGE	$225 USD	BOOK NOW!
3-DAY PACKAGE	$325 USD	BOOK NOW!
4-DAY PACKAGE	$425 USD	BOOK NOW!
5-DAY PACKAGE	$525 USD	BOOK NOW!
You and your instructor 1 on 1, same instructor through all your coached surf sessions Guaranteed and full access to our board inventory at both our shops during and after your session

Category: <span>Surfing</span>

Your Pre - Surf Camp Training Guide

Surf Camp Sayulita and Punta Mita

Why Is Training Before Your Sayulita Or Punta Mita Surf Camp Important?

Swimming

Guide to Building Strength, Endurance, and Balance

Yoga

Strength

Best Exercises

Endurance

Balance

Summing it Up

What Intermediate Surfers can Expect from the Wild Mex Surf Camp?

What will you learn at your intermediate surf camp?

Topic 1 - Surfing conditions

Topic 2 - When to use which board

Topic 3 - Binary wave selection

Topic 4 - Positioning on the wave

Topic 5 - Generating speed

Private Surf Camp Prices Sayulita & Punta Mita

Topic 6 - Bottom turn & Top turn

Topic 7 - Cutback

Topic 8 - Identifying your weak spots

Summing Up the itinerary of your Intermediate Surf Lessons in La Lancha

Learning to Surf

Learning to Surf

Learning to Surf

Topic 1: Etiquette

Topic 2: Reading Waves

Topic 3: Pop-Ups and Functional Stances

Topic 5: Mastering the Whitewash

Topic 6: Mastering Unbroken Waves

Surf Camp Sayulita

Topic 7: Angling your Take-off

Topic 8: Finding the ‘x’ Spot

What if I can’t keep up with the pace of the surf lessons in Punta Mita and Sayulita?

Practice Makes Perfect

Summing it Up

Surf Lessons In Punta Mita!

The Basics of Surfing: All the Theory with a Twist!

1) Learning the Wave Directions

The Direction of the Wind

Tide

The Best Kinds

Lefts and Rights

Rip Tides

2) Sets

3) Wipe Outs

4) Crowding and Surfing Etiquette

Summing it Up

Packing the Essentials

Access to Cash

Travel Essentials

Accessories and Clothing

Sunscreen

Packing the Surf Gear

Packing the Optional Surfing Gear

Summing it Up

Surfing In Punta Mita 2022

What Does It Mean ‘Getting Tubed’?

The Surfing Scene Around Punta Mita

Tips For Catching Your First Barrel

Surf Camps in Punta Mita

Building Confidence When Surfing In Punta Mita

Picking the Right Board

Finding The Right Line

Stalling The Right Way

Tubing Till The End

The Punta Mita & Sayulita surf spots is a mecca of surfing...

Where Is The Next Sayulita?

It’s safe to say that the art of longboarding is timeless.

You could easily say that longboard surfing is a state of mind, a meditation or that place of ‘zen’.

Here’s Why You SHOULD Join The Longriding World

Let’s face it, winter season at home can be long, cold and flat, and we’re not just talking about the swell!

Get Spontaneous

Reach Out

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