With more than 150 windy days a year, Denmark is, in our opinion, one of the best places in the world for windsurfers. But there's one small problem: no matter how you look at it, the water is a bit cold in winter. That's why eight of us instructors and about 40 of our most surf-hungry students started the 2023 season with a little experiment: What if we took the tent poles out of the frozen Danish ground for a week and moved the entire surf school to one of the warmest and windiest places in Europe? The trip went to legendary Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and the experiment proved to be a dazzling success! "It's been so great. You've just lived in a bubble of happiness, crazines and fun!" - Pernille, student at Copenhagen Surf School.

An island called "strong wind"
The Canary Islands may be part of Spain, but the small chunks of land are actually only about 100 kilometers from the west coast of Africa. Most people probably know the archipelago as a classic charter destination - but don't be fooled! A Canary Island is not just a Canary Island, as they each have their own unique climate and landscape, and "Fuerte" is no exception. Fuerteventura literally means 'strong wind' - and for good reason. You won't find any of Gran Canaria's cool coniferous forests here, as the island lies in the middle of a meteorological hot air furnace that blows warm winds across the coastline. If that doesn't make a frostbitten Danish windsurfer's teeth water, we don't know what will!

A wonderland of sun, sand and gear That's why both instructors and students were tingling when we rolled into the first-star Hotel Meliâ just south of Costa Calma on a Monday evening in March. It was almost unbearable to think that one of the world's best surf spots was only a good night's sleep away. So before bedtime, it was just a quick drink before everyone headed off to bed.

A wonderland of familiar Severne boards in every conceivable type and size, flanked by all the sails any surfer's heart could ever desire. And on the crystal clear water, friendly staff sat on jet skis ready to pick up those who might be drifting a little too far up the coast. Suddenly, it was the locals who had to open their eyes when 42 winter-pale Danes fell into the water with fire in their eyes and their hands raised high above their heads. And after everyone had cooled off, the lessons could begin. Although many were challenged by the medium-sized waves rolling in towards the yellow sandy beach, everyone quickly knocked the winter frost out of their muscles and joints and surfed away.

No surf school without aftersurf
After a few days, the flags at the surf center began to flap more firmly in the dry wind and the waves grew. So for the rest of the week we took turns braving the water and watching from the cliff edge in front of the surf center. In the evenings, caravans of cheap taxis rolled us to Coasta Calma's little eateries, where we compared sunburned noses and blistered hands before heading to a little local gem of a karaoke bar most days. Just like in Strandparken, there's no Copenhagen Surf School without aftersurf, so here we danced the day's last remaining energy out of our sore muscles, while tips and tricks for a good water start mingled with tall tales and outrageously cheap drinks. In that sense, it's perhaps a good thing that we pretty much had the place to ourselves every night, but there are probably still a handful of locals in Costa Calma who don't forget the lyrics to "Himmelhunden" or CV. Jørgensen's "Costa Del Sol" anytime soon. 

The days flowed together in a wonderful cocktail of surfing, togetherness and endless amounts of sunscreen. So at the time of writing, it's a bit quiet on the plane on the way home across the Atlantic. I think all of us instructors had hoped that a trip to Fuerteventura with our own wonderful students could only be a success. But it has exceeded all expectations. Not only did we all get a much-needed shot of sun, sand and wind, but both students and instructors have also sharpened their skills. So when we open the bunker in Amager Strandpark in just under a month for the first courses of the year on Danish soil, it will also be the start of the coolest season ever!