Review Time
I participated in one of Pep’s coaching weeks at a fantastic surf villa in Figueira da Foz.
TL;DR: If you’re serious about improving your surf, just book one of these weeks now.
I loved everything about the experience, but here are the highlights:
Pep is first and foremost a great human being who inspires trust immediately. He is empathetic, respectful, and humble. From the beginning, he laid out a framework based on respect, vulnerability, and a willingness to fail while having fun. He completely embodies these values. As a surfer, he absolutely rips, yet he remains remarkably chilled and delightful to chat with.
As a coach, he is both detailed and simple. He provides enough depth to satisfy surf nerds like me without being overwhelming. He gives a few specific things to focus on each day, and because every step builds upon the last, the progression is systematic and digestible. I especially liked his interactive teaching style; it feels like a "discovery together." During video analysis, he often asks "what did you want to do there?" and guides you to understand why it didn’t work out instead of just saying "you should have done this."
The overall vibes with the group - at the villa, in the water, and during analysis - were amazing. There was a lot of encouragement and sharing of our own surf journeys. Besides the excellent coaching, surfing with a committed group of great humans does wonders for your confidence and resilience in challenging conditions.
I definitely want to continue being coached by Pep, and this won’t be my last surf trip with him :)
I participated in one of Pep’s coaching weeks at a fantastic surf villa in Figueira da Foz.TL;DR: If you’re serious about improving your surf, just book one of these weeks now.I loved everything about the experience, but here are the highlights:Pep is first and foremost a great human being who inspires trust immediately. He is empathetic, respectful, and humble. From the beginning, he laid out a framework based on respect, vulnerability, and a willingness to fail while having fun. He completely embodies these values. As a surfer, he absolutely rips, yet he remains remarkably chilled and delightful to chat with.As a coach, he is both detailed and simple. He provides enough depth to satisfy surf nerds like me without being overwhelming. He gives a few specific things to focus on each day, and because every step builds upon the last, the progression is systematic and digestible. I especially liked his interactive teaching style; it feels like a "discovery together." During video analysis, he often asks "what did you want to do there?" and guides you to understand why it didn’t work out instead of just saying "you should have done this."The overall vibes with the group - at the villa, in the water, and during analysis - were amazing. There was a lot of encouragement and sharing of our own surf journeys. Besides the excellent coaching, surfing with a committed group of great humans does wonders for your confidence and resilience in challenging conditions.I definitely want to continue being coached by Pep, and this won’t be my last surf trip with him :)
Do you feel stuck in your surfing journey?Unsure of what you need to do to progress? Dreaming of surfing more challenging conditions but unsure of how to get there? I certainly was. I joined Pepijn for a week long coaching trip in Portugal having surfed bigger conditions a handful of times - never really feeling comfortable and confused on how to progress. Getting out to the lineup efficiently, quickly and using less energy expenditure was a mystery to me - as I was still struggling with the balance of a bigger board for stability vs the difficulty manoeuvring a bigger board in large swell. Most of all, my mindset towards more challenging conditions was mainly one of anxiety due to past experiences, despite my innate desire to be out there!Pepijn acknowledged all of these doubts and more, ensuring that I always felt incredibly safe and supported.His realtime feedback in the water allows for adjustments that lead to quick progression - by the end of the week I was keeping up with the duck divers and felt a lot more confident in my turtle roll. He would sometimes even take a set on the head just to observe me properly for feedback!!His curious mindset always led to personalised advice, as our conversations would lead to enlightening conclusions ie why I feel nervous to take off from the peak and how could I, over time, use positive reinforcement to improve this? His curiosity in how/why you do things means you then understand how to improve, and what is needed to get there.He breaks down the essentials (such as paddling) into theoretical information, and provides insight into how you can improve in/out of the water. You are provided with a 16 week programme prior to the trip which gives helpful advice on training, stretching, and general lifestyle that helps you feel prepared/fit for a week of surfing.I’ve sometimes found that advanced surfers who teach forget what it’s like to be nervous out at sea, but I feel that Pep has a deep understanding of each stage of surfing. His kind and gentle approach inspires personal growth, and the learning experience feels personalised to your own journey. His teaching and advice I’m sure will continue long past the water. I am excited to use this backpack of knowledge I have acquired, and hopefully return to Pepijn to further advance my progression.Surfing is just as much mental as physical, and at times there would be off-days where self-confidence would dampen. Pep is sensitive to emotions and somehow knows the right thing to say - whether it’s a pep talk (hah!) to pump you up or kind words to remind you that rest is important too. Not only was the coaching incredibly productive, but I was surrounded by like-minded people who I also learnt from. I did not stop laughing the whole week, and I’m sure I have made friends that I will meet again for a catch-up.Thank you Pep, for your unwavering sense of belief in me! Until next time.
I have had the pleasure of having a surf coaching session with Pepijn after years of no surf coaching and I am thrilled it was with Pepijn! I have been surfing for some years now but because of a LONG break (pregnancy, motherhood etc.), I have talked myself out of the confident surfista that I once were. Surfing is such a tough and fun sport and you have to constantly train to keep up; physically but also energetically and mentally! Pepijn really opened my eyes again after the first surf coaching session with him! He gave back a big part of my confidence in surfing by being kind, patient, truly interested, technical and very knowledgeable, as he is!! Thank you so much Pepijn and looking forward to the next one! :)
If you want to improve your surfing I highly recommend a trip / session with Pepijn. His technical analysis and coaching are top-notch and explained in a friendly, easy to understand way. You’ll leave with plenty of things to work on for months to come.A full week of surfing in Figueira da Foz, surrounded by amazing, like-minded people. Do I need to say more?
This was my third coaching trip with Pep. The reason I keep coming back is that I take his technical advice with me and apply it for months after the trips.I also keep coming back, because each trip, I see progress in my mindset. I am much more able to let go of frustration, comparison, or self-criticism than the first trip.I would recommend this trip if you’re interested in:1. Learning good technique (well-explained)2. Want to challenge yourself (e.g. bigger waves, higher wave count, smaller board, mindset)What’s more is that, on each trip, the group of other surfers was extremely enjoyable. Everyone wants to work hard, but protects the good vibe of the group. Even when things get tough or scary.This edition, was my first time with a full-time videographer there, Storm. It was kind if hilarious to be filmed all day, but I got to peek at some of the footage.. it looks like these will be memories I carry with me forever.
If you’re looking for surfcoaching that’s dedicated, authentic and fun, Pepijn is your guy. Having already gone on two coaching trips with Pepijn before, I just knew it was going to be amazing! Whether you get lucky with the waves or not (we did!), expect to get lots of new insights, a playful and supportive atmosphere, good conversations and a great house where food and everything is taken care of. Moreover, what makes this trip special is the effort that Pepijn puts into it. He’ll cheer for you when you’re ripping and he’ll help you out when you’re having a frustrating session. He’s always looking for ways to progress your surfing as well as his own coaching. This commitment to development combined with the amount of joy makes for a trip I just want to keep coming back to!
The individual approach, detailed tips and guides documented by daily video analysis, excellent surf knowledge of the coach Pepijn, choice of the best surfspots,... this all makes that I made a substantial progress in only 1 week and loved surfing more than before.Pepijn gives you a confident feeling, thus I had more fun in the water and will be more excited to continue repeating the tools he reached me.I think that's basically what we want : enjoy the time in the water, catching the waves and becoming a better surfer. Well this coaching week is the right experience.Video images are amongs others made with a drone : those videos are wonderful!The relative small group size makes you get a good connection as a group. And I think the setup of this coaching week attracts surfers that are really focussed and motivated to learn and get better - the group is more homegene around the same common theme.My conclusion : a big recommend if you want to improve your surfing!
Forget about your regular surf camp — I just spent a week in Portugal, and I’m already looking forward to booking my next trip (trust me, you will want to go again)!Everything was beyond expectations: the villa, the staff who took great care of us, and of course, Pepijn. His decade-long coaching experience shines through in every aspect of the training — it’s like a gift that keeps on giving.From the preliminary training before the trip to the tailored tips and in-depth analysis during the week, everything was thoughtfully designed to help us improve. Pepijn has a unique way of simplifying complex concepts through analogies and examples, making it easy to understand and apply — you’ll see your surfing improve faster than you thought possible.The video analysis and one-on-one conversations were absolute game-changers. Seeing myself surf on video helped me understand what I was doing wrong and correct it in the very next session. It’s hard to truly know your skill level without that kind of feedback, and having someone as knowledgeable as Pepijn guide you through it helps you set new goals and stay motivated to progress.Last but not least, Pepijn is an amazing human being. He made sure everyone felt comfortable both in and out of the water, creating such a positive and supportive atmosphere. It genuinely felt like surfing with a really good friend — someone who not only wants you to surf better but also to enjoy every moment of the journey.I only wish I had discovered this sooner!
I just returned from a week of coaching with Pepijn and I am already missing it so much! The week has been very special to me. Pepijn is such a great person to be around. He has SO much experience, energy, attention and he is extremely passionate about what he does. I have made more progression than I could have wished for: I became more comfortable surfing bigger waves, became less scared of the peak, started to learn to take turns and make my first cutbacks. My overall confidence (and therefore joy!) in surfing has increased. I now see so much more potential in both the waves and myself. Apart from Pepijn being an excellent coach who works so hard, he made the week unforgettable by giving us a lot of extra's: endless amazing footage, a surfskate lesson, duckdive lesson, 1 on 1 conversations, care (he looks after everyone constantly) and a lot of cozyness and humor at the villa and during free time. If you are serious about progressing your surfing and are open to new experiences, book yourself this week! THANKS PEPIJN! See you next year.
Claim your business profile now and gain access to all features and respond to customer reviews.
Professional surf coaching for the 'not beginner' and 'next level' surfer.
____________________________________
After 2 decades of surfing at the highest level and more than a decade of surf coaching experience, Pepijn has his focus on coaching 'intermediate' and 'advanced' surfers.
____________________________________
He shares the deep and extensive knowledge he has learned throughout his career with the aim of having you take the next step in one of the most beautiful sports on earth, surfing. ____________________________________
Video analysis surf coaching in Scheveningen, organized surf trips and his online course + coaching combination via www.surfacademypro.com are one of the tools he uses to help surfers to the next level.See more
ucogear.com
freeskycycle.com
bighorngolfer.com
trugym.co.uk
www.onelifefitness.com
joysportstore.com
activelearningsports.com
waltherarms.com
wilddancefitness.uk
legacymartialarts.co.uk