The Bay of Life surfing school on East Coast Road promises a summer of easy lessons on surfing and stand up paddling
With summer just a couple of months away, any activity that involves the sun, sea and fun is always welcome. Which is why Bay of Life surfing school is likely to get more registrations than they can handle. Operating in Muttukadu and Kovalam on the East Coast Road, the school was started in August last year and is the brain child of Madhumathi Ravi, who has an advertising and communications background. Also on the team are Showkath Jamal, an adventure lover and wildlife enthusiast and Krishna Chidambaresh,an engineer and entrepreneur, who have been childhood friends and business partners (they have been running a call center together) for about eight years.
How it began
“It all started when the tsunami struck the coast in 2004 and we got close to the fishermen in Kovalam,” explains Jamal, recalling their rehabilitation efforts. “Later, foreigners came to the area with their surf boards and the sport was picked up by the locals and fishermen. In no time, they became skilled surfers as well. That’s how the sport spread,” he continues. The team then came up with the idea of starting a social enterprise that would also benefit the local communities. The school was started with three skilled trainers Appu, Vicky and Venkat, along with Jamal – surf class inductor and paramedic. Jamal explains that Bay of Life is the first and only surf school in Tamil Nadu to be accredited by the Surfing Federation of India.
When to begin
Bay of Life currently offers surfing and stand up paddling lessons. According to Jamal, beginners can start any time of the year, though the best season for the pros is from February to November. The pro seasons start from the month of March onwards. And for stand up paddling, the going is good all year. “Stand up paddling is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. It can be practiced on ocean waves, flat water, rivers, lakes, back waters and even whitewater. It’s a great way to explore water ways. It’s like a big surf board with a paddle to paddle on!” explains Jamal, who took to the sport in 2009. The course modules cover all the elements of surfing and stand up paddling, including classes on ocean safety, reading the currents and and swimming in the ocean. Students are also taught about marine ecology and beach life.
No age bar
Bay of Life provides world class equipment, prescribed by international governing bodies. After a couple of classes, if you want to take your sport to the next level, you are welcome to invest in a a surf board. “Age is not a factor when it comes to learning to surf. We get a lot of people from schools and colleges, as well as corporates who are looking for a healthier, sportier lifestyle,” shares Jamal, adding that he has students from six years to 56.
Mind the course
“Our trainers are currently India’s No 1 and 2 champions at the India Surf Festival 2012- Odisha,” says Jamal. The standard structured lesson is for three hours a day, and they have packages with four and eight lessons. These lessons can be spread across a month or two, or can be taken back to back, depending on the student’s work or academic schedule and interest. They are open to customisation for couples, groups and corporates. Also, Bay of Life is open to sponsoring your training sessions if you are are competing at any SWAT, SFI or ISA level events. Course fees start from `1,500 for an hour-long introduction session (Discover Surf). The First Wave Structured Lesson is `2,500 (3 hours) and the packages range from `7,000 a month.
Details: bayoflife.com
Slice of Life 