Why book a GTP surfing lesson in Sri Lanka?
Welcome to your surf camp in Sri Lanka!
I think we can all agree that this is not what you signed up for when you booked your expensive two week surfing vacation in paradise, but this is the harsh reality of the surfing industry today - overcrowded dangerous line ups populated by western surf camps and low skilled surf instructors pushing people into waves. Fortunately within this sea of unskilled surf instructors and crowds of beginners there are a few great local surf instructors who we at "Gliding Through Paradise" are here to support and promote their services.
What makes a great surf instructor?
As I'm sure you have discovered the random local selling surfing lessons on the beach is not usually a good instructor (and in some cases can not surf or even swim), and not every local instructor at a surf camp is enthusiastic at their job and is often burnt out by the sheer numbers passing through the camp on a weekly basis, but sometimes there's that guy or girl who has that genuine passion, skill, great personality and true love of surfing - these are the ones who we want to be in the ocean with.
The problem with western surf camps and western surf instructors
Often you can have a great experience at surf camps meeting new people and being waited on hand and foot by the lovely local staff, but beneath the manicured surface, seas of fresh smoothie bowls, yoga classes and good intentioned beach clean ups is a business built on cheap local labour, often illegal, badly housed, over worked and unpaid foreign workers drawn in on false pretenses and the big profits for their foreign owners which is in no way reflected in the salaries of the local staff (and often your money doesn't even enter the local economy as its paid into foreign bank accounts) - I'm sure this is not where you want your money to go!
What makes using a GTP surf instructor the better choice?
Only the best ISA qualified surf instructors qualify to be listed we have a careful vetting process and use a rating and reviews system to keep the standards high and give you the best experience possible.
Your surf instructor gets 80% of the money you pay for your surf guiding (we take a small booking fee from you to reserve your lesson and take only 4% from the instructor for their promotion and marketing) - surf camps generally pay their local surf instructors around $12 per lesson, you'll be paying them $48 per lesson and help them to build a better life for themselves and their families in a passionate and honest way doing what they love.
You get more waves and much better surf lessons - we stick to max 3 persons per group (of your friends) as we believe this is the safest and best amount per instructor so you get the most out of your session!
Your trip will be way cheaper and a much more authentic experience!
You will make local friends for life and you will be far more welcome in the water by locals and other surfers - no one is stoked when a large group in matching rash vests paddle out and ruin everyones session.
You will actually learn how to surf and learn how to conduct yourself in the water, unfortunately being pushed into waves for a week is fine as a complete beginner but if you are beyond that point a surf camp is often a useless experience if you want to take the next steps and not get stuck.
But I'm a good surfer already I don't need a surf guide do I?
Maybe, maybe not? The reality is we are usually not as great as we think we are and even the pros have coaches. If we are new to a country or a spot a surf instructor is essential to get the most out of your trip - by booking a GTP surf instructor you will gain the same inside knowledge that you have of your local break and by using a local surf instructor you will be far more welcome at that spot (there's a reason why Kelly Slater has close ties with the main locals and their families at every epic wave around the world), you will gain an invaluable amount from their local knowledge of the area and maybe just maybe they will share their hidden gems away from the crowds and score perfect empty waves!
