Reykjavík Grapevine - 08.10.2010, Page 36

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 16 — 2010
Travel | Surfing
AdventureBox runs a wide range of outdoor
sports courses and day trips. For more info
see www.adventurebox.is or call
00354 571 2900
”Surfing is the last thing that comes to your mind
when you think about
Iceland
Words
Eimear Fitzgerald
Photography
Eimear Fitzgerald
It’s hard to imagine ‘hurling yourself into freezing
North Atlantic waves’ would be near the top of
many peoples’ list of ‘things to do at nine am on
a Sunday morning in Iceland’. Or even near the
middle. Well, in an epic attempt to grab life by the
balls, I decided to forego the stodgy breakfast and
strong coffee this particular Sunday morning, and
replace it with a mouthful of seaweed and a slap of
icy water across the face.
Hooking up with ‘surf.is’ owners Leifur Dam
Leifsson and Steinar Bachman at their Kópavogur
base, I was trundled into the fun bus with seven
other eager beavers, all Icelanders and all newbies.
Leifur and Steinar started the surf school last year
with the goal of bringing surfing to Iceland and
proving all the doubters wrong. “When we started
this, we had no idea if it would be a success or not,
or whether we’d just be stuck with expensive surf-
ing gear gathering dust. This is why this project was
so exiting to us. Surfing is the last thing that comes
to your mind when you think about Iceland.”
A thirty minute drive led to Þorlákshöfn on the
south coast, its long, black sandy shore empty bar a
few old soda bottles in the distance, rattling around
in a stiffening breeze. Leifur tells me that introduc-
ing surfing to the locals has been a difficult task.
The words ‘no wonder’ spring to mind. However
their heroic efforts at convincing both locals and
foreigners that Iceland in fact is the Hawaii of the
north are beginning to pay off. “We’ve been doing
really well this year; hundreds have gone though
our course and rented gear. We knew the ace in
our pocket is the world class waves we got here,
not to mention the diversity of wildlife”. World-class
waves AND a motto of ‘If you can dream it, we can
do it’. Forget the weather, I’m sold!
Psyching myself up, I set to the task of stripping
off and getting suited and booted. As I tugged up
zips and struggled with hood and gloves, the guys
assured me that I was donning top of the range
gear that would keep the cold at bay. Guess I’d
know soon enough. Making our way down to the
beach, we passed several disbelieving stares from
a group of gore-tex'd Americans. It struck me just
how trippy nine amphibious looking creatures in a
desolate car park might look to your average morn-
ing walker.
Once assured that everyone could swim, we hit
the beach for surf lessons 101. The company runs
surf lessons from May through autumn, finishing
up around the beginning of November, depending
on conditions. They also rent gear all year round.
We were guided through basic moves and positions
as well as safety and rules of the water, each stu-
dent gripped by a golden glimpse of surf-bum glory
on the horizon.
After a quick jump around and warm up, the fun
times commenced. Under the shadow of sleeping
Eyjaflallajökull across the bay, the sea was soon
a mush of arms, legs and boards, with everyone
struggling to practice the instructions and catch
their first ride. There were a couple of triumphs but
most of the time was spent either under the waves
or laughing at each other as we resurfaced red-
faced and spluttering. It was fun. Steinar and Leifur
really looked after their brood too, keeping an eye
on the currents and swells and gathering us in if we
wandered off.
And amazingly, it wasn’t cold. At all. Well, maybe
a little.
Exhilarated and knackered (though none of the
locals wanted to admit to feeling tired or cold... nat-
urally) we dragged our boards up the beach after
an hour’s session. Not being a super macho Ice-
lander, I felt perfectly comfortable with my screech-
es and oohs and ahhs as I peeled off my wetsuit
and pranced about trying to dress as quickly as I
could without losing my towel in the snapping wind.
Wiped out I fell asleep on the ride home, my hot
chocolate and snúður sugared drool serving to fur-
ther cement my loser status among my hardcore
compatriots. Ah well, I’d proved enough for one
day. My shivers might have drawn eyeball rolls, but I
reckon everyone secretly felt that surfing at Þorlák-
shöfn had earned them a serious step up the kudos
ladder.
Oh, and for the record—the stodgy breakfast
and strong coffee tasted a hundred times more
glorious when I got back.
Going Surfin
You take your car to work, I’ll take my board.
Always best price online.
Various online-offers to all Air Iceland's destinations.
www.airiceland.is
websales@airiceland.is / tel. +354 570 3030 Contact Air Iceland or
travel agent for reservation.
ÍS
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