Sierra
·
September 16th, 2018
This past week with Mojosurf on the 7 Day Living the Dream Surf Adventure has been absolutely incredible. To start, the 9 hour train from Sydney to Spot X was a bit long (especially without charging ports on it or anything, be prepared and bring snacks!), but after arriving at camp I knew immediately that it was worth the wait. The accommodation is basic but beachside and gorgeous, and all close enough to feel like a big family. I was definitely impressed with the food, as we weren't limited to small portions at all and it was delish (everybody needed some good hearty grub after being out surfing all day so it was very appreciated). Overall, there was such a friendly and happy vibe around the place. It was easy to get settled in and meet people as everybody, short-termers and long-termers, mingled and were all just happy to be there together. I definitely have to mention how great my guide Bruno was - the guy is hilarious and was very welcoming, great to get us settled, and willing to help with anything we needed for the duration of our time there (while also being a great guy all around!).
Continuing on to the Arts Factory in Byron, the place lives up to its expectation, definitely on the hippy side of things, but still good fun. It was definitely nice to go out for dinner together in the evenings, and good to have food included in the morning and for lunch.
In terms of the actual surfing, I can definitely say that the lessons were helpful and good fun. The setup of lessons at Spot X was so smooth, surfing twice a day was easy as you were right next to the boards and beach. The lessons were genuinely quite helpful and informative, and not just a supervised board rental, which was appreciated. There was a good ratio of instructors to participants so you did feel like you were getting constructive help as you weren't just a number in a crowd. This was a bit different when we moved up to Byron Bay, as the distance to the Mojo shop and beach meant you were gone from 12:30-5pm or so each day, and the groups were bigger, but still many instructors considering the group size so all was still well.
One small suggestion would be to space out different levels more during lessons - not something we had an issue with at Spot X, but more of an issue at Byron, when those on their 5+ lesson were surfing with the beginners, who often were not used to giving space between boards and surfing etiquette, making it a bit frustrating for those of us who knew better and didn't want to run into anybody.
For anybody considering this trip, definitely take the leap, as it's been so worth it to get involved in the surfing world and will make you much more confident to get out on the waves, while also having such a fun week and getting to meet some great people. One important thing to note - you will be exhausted, you'll probably have many bruises and injuries all over, and your muscles will constantly sore, BUT, it will be worth it, without a doubt!
Show moreMojosurf Australia commented on this review
Thanks for your review Sierra. Spot X and Byron are amazing places and we are glad you loved them as much as we do. We hope you are able to come join us again soon.
Trip date: September 2018
The trip I did was 2 days in Byron Bay and 5 days at Spot X surf camp. My initial thoughts of the tour were actually pretty negative. Byron Bay surf camp I thought was not very well run but Spot X was absolutely amazing.
Well, my first complaint was that the tour info stated that the tour was for all levels. This is not really true, it is intended for people who have never surfed before. I had to go through all the beginner lessons which included the very basics and was not allowed to surf anything but the whitewash. I don't blame the instructors at all, I know they have safety requirements they must meet but I do wish that they would have stated in their tour info that it was for beginners. It wasn't until I reached Spot X that they were able to work with me and provide excellent instructions.
The hostel in Byron Bay was not a great accomoodation as the food preperation area was very dirty, the Tipi you stay in is literally just a tipi and you sleep on a futon, and the staff at the hostel was terrible. The staff was often high and would regularly forget my lunch or give me the wrong order. Also our flashlight in our tipi went out and no one knew how to get replacement batteries, they kept pointing me to a different person who had no idea what to do.
So I was pretty bummed about the trip until I got to Spot X. This completely made me forget about Byron Bay. Everything here was great; from the lessons, the surf, the accomodation, the staff, and the vibe. The instructors worked really hard with me to ensure that I improved my surfing ability, which I did in a very short period of time. You surf with the same group of people as well so you form friendships; in Byron Bay it was a new group every day. Lastly, the food was amazing, they work very hard to prepare great meals for you.
I would definitely go back to Spot X and Mojo Surf again. It was one of the best experiences in my life and I formed many long-lasting friendships. I think that the Byron Bay camp could use some improvements but I couldn't really ask for more from Spot X.
Show moreMojosurf Australia commented on this review
HI thanks for your review. I understand how frustrating doing the initial lesson is when you can already surf. It is our safety policy that requires our guides ensure every persons competency level on their first lesson therefore we can put you in the...
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