When people think of the Algarve, they often picture the golden-yellow rock formations and the calm waters of the south coast. But if you’re looking for the true, untamed soul of Portugal, you have to head to the west coast—the Costa Vicentina. Here, nestled within a nature reserve, lies…
Turtle Roll vs. Duckdive: When to Use Which Technique While Surfing
For many surfers—whether beginners or advanced—getting into the lineup is often the biggest hurdle of the day. You start paddling out full of enthusiasm, and suddenly a wall of white water looms up in front of you. If you don’t know how to…
Evening activities at a surf camp: cooking together, yoga, and making new friends.
Evening activities at the surf camp: When the day in Arrifana really begins A perfect day in Arrifana usually begins with the sound of the Atlantic Ocean and the first view of the waves from the cliffs of the Algarve. But anyone who thinks that the experience...
The best surfing movies you must see.
There are days in Arrifana when the waves break perfectly, the sun sets over the Algarve, and after a long session at our MissionToSurf Camp, you're just tired and happy. But what do you do when your body...
Improve your paddling endurance: Training tips for at home
Every surfer knows this feeling: the waves in Arrifana look perfect, the set of the day is rolling in, but your arms feel like lead. After the arduous journey through the white water, you lack the strength for the decisive moment...
The search for your first surfboard: A guide
The moment has arrived: you've caught your first waves at our surf camp in Arrifana, you've been bitten by the surfing bug, and you're ready for the next big step—your first surfboard. But if you're buying a surfboard for the first time...
Packing list for a surfing vacation in Portugal: What to pack in your suitcase
The flights to Faro or Lisbon are booked, anticipation for the waves of Arrifana is growing, and the stay at MissionToSurf Camp is getting closer and closer. But just before departure, the same question always arises: What do I actually need to take with me?
The anatomy of a wave: What is a peak, shoulder, and impact zone?
When you stand on Arrifana beach for the first time and look out at the Atlantic Ocean, you often see nothing but an impressive chaos of blue water and white foam. But for experienced surfers, the ocean is like an open book. To surf safely...
Paddling technique for surfing: How to get to the line-up more efficiently
Anyone who has ever been in the water at our MissionToSurf surf camp in Arrifana knows the feeling: the waves are perfect, the line-up is tempting, but the way out seems endless. Paddling makes up about 80 to 90 percent of the total effort involved in surfing.
Surfing and environmental protection: Why we must protect the ocean
For us surfers, the ocean is more than just a place to practice sports. It is a habitat, a source of strength, and the heart of our lifestyle. When we look out over the Atlantic Ocean from the cliffs at our MissionToSurf surf camp in Arrifana in the morning, we see the...
