Surf camp · Areia Branca
Ripar Surf School & Camp
One of the oldest schools on Praia da Areia Branca, running surf lessons and a surf camp on the Silver Coast since 2001.
Ripar Surf School is a family-run business founded in 2001 by Rui Pedro, a local surfer who left a secure job to open it at a time when Portugal had only a handful of surf schools. It teaches at Praia da Areia Branca in Lourinhã, a beach village between Peniche and Ericeira about 65 km from Lisbon.
Lessons
Surf lessons for beginners and improvers, starting with a two-hour beginner lesson, with certified instructors.
The team
The instructors are local surfers from Areia Branca: Pipas has taught since 2005 and mostly takes the improvers' lessons, Gonçalo has taught since 2008, and Diogo, certified since 2017, works mostly with beginners.
Surf camp
Surf camp lodging next to the beach, plus tours, yoga and surf-and-yoga packages.
Spots nearby
Areia Branca
A compact, partly sheltered bay at Lourinhã, between Peniche and Santa Cruz, with a cluster of long-established surf schools. A dependable learner wave that takes the edge off a bigger swell.
BeginnersYear-round; summer smallest and best for lessons
Supertubos
The beach break that made Peniche famous: fast, hollow barrels over a sandbar, both ways with better lefts. Europe's answer to Pipeline and a long-time WSL Championship Tour venue.
Advanced surfersOctober to March, February often the pick
Molhe Leste
The beach break next to the eastern breakwater at Peniche, just along from Supertubos. A more forgiving wave than its famous neighbour, and the spot the crowd moves to when Supertubos is out of control or blown out by the north wind.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring