Soul & Surf School Ahangama

Sri Lanka’s south coast offers a surprisingly wide variety of waves: from long sandy beach breaks ideal for beginners, to deeper reef breaks that suit improvers and more confident surfers. On the right day, you might even score a cheeky barrel if you’re up for it. Our team chooses the best spot each day based on the conditions and your level, so you get the most from each session, whether you’re catching your first wave or pushing your surfing a little further. Peak surf season here runs from October to April.

All surf lessons include:

• Board, leash, and rash vest
• Transport to and from the beach
• Land-based theory and warm-up
• Around 90 minutes of coaching in the water with our qualified team

We surf in small groups (max 5, min 3) or one-on-one if you book a private.

Yes, absolutely. We welcome outside guests to join our surf lessons when space allows. You can check live availability and book directly online.

We usually take guests aged 12 and up. If you’ve got a younger surfer keen to join, just reach out — we might be able to arrange something.

Here is our kids policy:

• Under 7 — we cannot accept on surf lessons.
• From 7 to 12 — lessons are available if you can demonstrate your child’s swimming ability. Please note however that we require one parent or guardian to be in the water supervising each child at all times, since our instructors will have other guests to attend to. The guardian can not join the same lesson while they are supervising the child.
• From 12 – 16 — lessons are available with a parent or guardian supervising at the same beach. The guardian may join the same lesson if they wish.

We either check the forecast in the early morning or head out on a dawn patrol, driving spot to spot at sunrise to see what’s working. Then we choose the break that best suits your level and the day’s conditions, always aiming for safe, fun, and uncrowded waves.

We mostly surf the breaks around Ahangama, Kabalana, Weligama and Midigama, a mix of mellow beach breaks and more challenging reefs. Having been one of the first surf camps in Ahangama, we’ve spent years getting to know these spots inside out, and we use that local knowledge to get you in the right place at the right time.

It’s our week-long deep dive for beginners and improvers. You get 5 surf lessons, 4 video analysis sessions, daily yoga, surf theory workshops, post-surf breakfasts and lunches, and supported afternoon surf sessions. Ideal if you’re stuck at a certain level or want to speed up your progress with some proper structure.

Level 1 – Beginner

A complete beginner or someone that has surfed a few times but is still catching unbroken waves.

• What will you learn?
  • The absolute basics in a fun, safe and encouraging environment.
  • Safety on the beach and in the white water, how to handle your board and how to negotiate your way through breaking waves.
  • We’ll introduce you to your equipment and explain the basics of a surfboard and what that means to you as a surfer.
  • How to catch forgiving waves and how to understand the basics of controlling a surfboard whilst laying on your belly in the prone position.
  • The techniques to get to your feet and how to maintain stability and build on consistency.
  • Basic manoeuvres in the white water such as speed and control as well as turning right and left on a wave.
  • Your success will come from your willingness to learn new things and not being afraid to fall.

Level 2 – Improver

You’ll be an improver or a low-end intermediate, someone that has had some lessons, is catching white water waves on a regular basis and can perform basic turns left and right. You will also show that you can surf in a safe manner. You may have even caught a couple of unbroken waves and are experienced trimming down the wave.

• What will you learn?
  • Advanced safety, specific to the spots we surf as well as the waves that you may surf at home.
  • We will get specific about your stance, your body position and how it will affect your rides.
  • We will work with you to improve your Pop-Up technique.
  • You will improve the efficiency and techniques paddle strokes enabling you to build on your endurance as well as explosiveness.
  • You will learn how to negotiate the inside breaking waves and how to paddle out to unbroken waves.
  • You will learn the difference between white water waves and unbroken waves and learn how to catch a wave before it breaks.
  • You will understand the difference between forehand and backhand or frontside and backside as well as understanding the basics of trimming along a wave.
  • We will use video feedback sessions to help you take your surfing to the next level – looking at and analysing your surfing. Video analysis is the best way to see your surfing, to look at the positives and to see how to correct any mistakes and improve on techniques.

Level 3 – High Intermediate

You will be a high-end intermediate surfer, proficient in the water, able to paddle through waves unassisted and able to negotiate your way around a line up. You will be able to catch head-high waves and can trim left and right on a variety of different waves.

• What will you learn?
  • We will help you to maximise your wave count and learn how to find the fastest trimming line as well as what type of manoeuvres to perform and when.
  • We will work with you to help improve techniques, body positions, position on the wave, carving turns, cutbacks and floaters.
  • You must be able to swim as a basic requirement to attend our lessons.

Yes, you can rent from us even if you’re not taking lessons. We’ll help you choose the right board and give a quick spot briefing if you’re heading out solo. If you’re a beginner we have a big range of foamies available too. 

We’ve got a lovely little quiver of foamies, soft tops, mini-mals, hardboards and even a couple of logs and alt boards for those who are ready. Everything is kept in good nick. If you’re not sure what suits you, our team will guide you. 

Swimwear you’re comfortable in, reef safe sunscreen, a towel and a refillable water bottle. Everything else from boards and leashes to rash vests and transport is provided.

We meet at the Canteen by Soul & Surf in Ahangama at 6.30am before each lesson. From there we head out together to the chosen surf spot for the day. Find the location here.