1. Our coaches are the best of the best!
Our coaches have all completed the International Surf Association (ISA) instructor training coursework, and simply put, that training has helped them to be better teachers. Our coaches also happen to be some of the most fun, easygoing guys you’ll ever meet. You may very well find yourself hanging out in town with them after your surf sessions. Not only do they know all of the local surf breaks inside and out, but they also know the best post surf spots to hang too!
We work exclusively with the team from Sand Bar Surf (formerly La Escuelita) a locally owned surf school run on-site by Head Coach Wesley Bermudez, who also happens to be our hotel manager. Wes, a seasoned surfer who grew up in San Juan del Sur, leads our team of dedicated surfer instructors whose passion for surf and commitment to teaching is unrivaled in the area. These local guys grew up surfing here, and without question, they absolutely love to share their stoke. As coach "Chu" says, "There's nothing I love more than seeing the big smile on someone catching a wave, especially when I'm their teacher!" (Check out this link for more about Sand Bar Surf and the team.)
The truth is, just about anyone that knows how to surf can show you how to pop-up on your board and then take you out in the water to push you into the waves, but we do so much more here at Verdad. Rest assured that after you complete a week of surfing with the Sand Bar coaches, you won’t need someone in the water with you who tells you when you need to pop-up to catch a ride because you’ll be surfing confidently and independently on your own instead. If you already know a thing or two about surfing, these guys will take your skill level up a notch or two by the time you go home.
NOTE: ISA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the governing authority for the sport of surfing and the ISA instructor courses are all internationally recognized. Our coaches not only understand water safety, but they know and understand the tried-and-true scientific methods of surf coaching, thanks to the courses they’ve taken with ISA.
2. Our lessons are tailored to you and only YOU!
Our methods are not geared toward large groups, but instead, are tailored to each individual surfer. One thing we can promise you is you will get a lot of one-on-one support when you surf with us. Well before we take you out to the surf break, we take time to assess your skill level, getting to know you as a unique surfer. No two surf lessons with Sand Bar are ever exactly the same, because we are dedicated to helping YOU where you need help. We aren't formulaic.
We will never do what many surf schools do: give you a quick demo on land, then take you out in the water where we push you into the wave shouting "UP" when it's time to pop-up. We will always take the time to meet you where you're at, and we will focus on honing your skill set. Our ultimate goal is to help you progress every step of the way, so that ultimately, you are surfing on your own, and you aren’t dependent on a teacher to catch a ride.
We also firmly believe that being a good surfer means much more than popping-up on your surfboard and riding waves. Although of course we’re stoked to teach you how to do that, we want you to gain a deeper understanding of everything surf while you're at it.
To that end, our surf packages incorporate theory, surf etiquette and technique – all taught right here at Verdad in our new surf ranch on property. It’s a chill space dedicated to everything surf we built this past summer, and we’re excited to share it with you. The new rancho is where you'll learn surf theory, so you understand the wave, the way it moves and how to get into it. And, it’s where we do our video review of you riding the waves (more on that below).
We also believe it’s super important to know the rules of the water, so you aren’t getting chewed out by seasoned surfers on the break, or chewed up by a wave that wasn’t meant for you! Just like you had to learn the rules of the road when you learned how to drive, we guide you through the rules of surfing, and give you a strong foundation from which to soar. (That's if you're of driving age of course, because we teach kids too!)
3. We get you in the groove of carving waves in new and novel ways!
Practicing your surf moves on the water, is, well, kind of hard to do. That’s why we simulate several different surf techniques on land that make busting those moves out on the water a whole lot easier. All the techniques you practice on land translate when you're on your surfboard, because your body already “knows the drill” so to speak– the feel of surfing gets ingrained into your body on land.
Surf skate is our favorite way for you to get the sensation of carving waves, but with your feet firmly planted on a skateboard! We use skateboards that are specially designed for surf-skate. At first glance, the board looks like a regular ol' skateboard, but it's actually quite different. The “active” front truck (steering system) sits higher and looser, allowing for a greater range of movement that enables the rider to “surf” on land. Our students really love going to the skate park in San Juan del Sur and grooving on a skateboard when the tide is low, and the waves aren't cranking. It’s a real “in body/out of body experience that lets you feel what carving a wave actually feels like from the relative safety of being on the ground,” according to a recent student.
Wes heads up surf mobility/movement classes in our yoga/fitness studio on-site as well. Surf stretch classes loosen you up, giving you more mobility in the water. Wes himself designed the classes to target the specific muscle groups that are important for your pop up especially, so expect lots of hip openers. 😉
Another land drill we like to utilize is a simulator surfboard for drills that enable you to practice the unique balance you need on your surfboard. The simulator is attached to large Bosu balls, making the board feel as if it's floating on water. Once you get the hang of balancing on the simulator, the feeling of a wave underneath you is more natural and comfortable.
4. We have a dedicated surf photographer recording your every move during your lessons.
Our video analysis truly sets us apart from other surf schools. We have noticed that since we started doing video analysis several years ago, other surf schools around town started to follow suit. But analysis is only useful if the person shooting knows what to shoot, and the person analyzing knows what to point out. Our coaches and our resident videographer, Garbriel Espinoza, have been working together for several years. Although Gabriel was totally green working behind the camera when he first started out, he has honed his skills, and now knows exactly what to shoot,
and where to shoot from. Plus, he doesn't just take a shot or two and call it a day – we literally take tons of video and photos of you when you’re out in the water with your coach.
Video analysis is an integral part of what we do and how we teach, so our photographer is on shore the entire time you are in the water, capturing your performance, as if you were an Olympic champion! So, be ready for your fifteen minutes (and more) of fame when you book a surf package with us.
Before your video review sessions, our coaches sift through the footage of your wipe-outs and triumphs and then work with you to help you see exactly what you can do to improve your surfing skills. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words – students really love this aspect of our lessons, and learn so much from it. There's nothing quite like seeing with your own eyes how you move on the water, and then having a qualified surf coach breakdown what's working, what's not, and why.
5. You get to stay in the #1 boutique hotel in the area where you can chill in relaxed comfort in between surf sessions.
Verdad has bragging rights. No other surf school in the area can make the same claims. We are rated in the top 1% of hotels worldwide based on all our reviews on Trip Advisor. We've also received TA's Travel's Choice "Best of the Best" award three years in a row, and we only opened six years ago! There just are no better accommodations than Verdad – we are simply the best in the area. Not just because we say so, but because our guests do.
A few of the things that make Verdad stand out.
Stellar ocean views from pretty much everywhere on site, even from your casita shower.
Fine linens on your bed in your bathroom. (Our bath and beach towels are 100% cotton, and our sheets our 500-thread count, of course.)
On-site restaurant serving delicious local fare exclusively for our guests. Our chefs prepare all our meals taking advantage of the local bounty. We serve meals family style, in our dining room overlooking Playa Escameca.
On-site open-air yoga and fitness studio fully stocked with functional fitness and yoga gear for guests only. The space is yours to use whenever you wish, either on your own or we can bring in an instructor to teach, if that’s more your speed.
On-site massage studio which also happens to have an amazing view, not that you’ll care when you're getting a massage, but it’s still a knock-out view!
Ensuite bathrooms in all our accommodations, so you have complete privacy. No shared bath, or hostel style rooms here, we pride ourselves on affording you relaxed comfort.
Swimming pool with a fully stocked honor bar and plenty of room to lounge. Sometimes you've just have had your fill of the beach, and that's where a hang by the pool is just the right anecdote. Garb a drink or snack from the honor bar whenever you wish.
100% local. We’re super proud to support the local community by hiring only people who live in the area, and sourcing just about everything here locally, be it the hand-crafted furniture in your room and around Verdad or the fresh fish and produce sourced directly from fishermen from town and the local farmer's markets.
Off-the-grid solar powered. We do what we can to limit our carbon footprint, so we installed a small solar field on our hillside that powers just about everything we do.
Dedicated staff on site 24/7. The Verdad team is what truly makes us stand out. Most of the staff has been with us from the beginning and we simply would not be who we are without the commitment and joy they bring to work each and every day. We can't thank them enough for all they do!
So what are you waiting for? Book your best surf package at Verdad Nicaragua here!