Conquering The Fears of Surfing
Matthew Martin
February 21, 2025
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An In — Depth analysis of everything that scares surfers and how to overcome these fears As
El Salvador Women’s Surf Retreats
Women’s Surf Retreats In
El Salvador
Pixie is a female surf instructor based in El Salvador. She offers women’s surf retreats and surf classes, to help take your surfing skills to the next level on the best waves in El Salvador.
El Salvador Women’s Surf Retreats
Women’s Surf Retreats In El Salvador
Pixie is a female surf instructor based in El Salvador. She offers women’s surf retreats and surf classes, to help take your surfing skills to the next level on the best waves in El Salvador.
Women’s Surf Retreat El Salvador
Why Choose El Salvador For Your Next Surf Retreat?
El Salvador has changed a lot over the years. It’s no longer the dangerous place that news channels have made it out to be. In addition to safety, friendly people, and great food, the waves are consistent and amazing.
285+
Of Sunny Days
- Perfect Uncrowded Waves
- Consistent 2–3f Feet Swells
- Warm Waters
- Beach Accommodations
- Maximum 4 Guests
- Friendly Locals
Reviews
Real Reviews From Surfers
This review feed pulls directly from Google and Facebook so you can see reviews from real surfers who tell it how it is.
Simply the best! I cannot overstate what a huge difference it makes to learn from an experienced, thoughtful, and fun teacher like Pixie. Do yourself a favor and book at least a few lessons a week with her; the learning really builds 🏄🏼♀️
Wow, Pixie Surf School is such a treat. After a very disappointing lesson with some guys from our hotel on Playa de Sunzál, I had low expectations. But after one lesson with Pixie I was catching green waves and even paddled into one on my own during my second lesson where I rode more waves than I can remember.Pixie focuses on the fundamentals of surfing, not just trying to give you the “feeling” of surfing by shoving your board around until you get lucky. Pixie helped me to relearn multiple portions of my pop-up that other teachers had missed.Lastly, Pixie is just a ton of fun. Such a professional and dedicated to making sure me and my wife had a great experience.For best experience book a few lessons (or more if you have the time) with Pixie spread across a couple days to give yourself a chance to practice on land what she teaches you each day.do your pop-ups! and do them right!
Hi,I was booked in for a 3 day course (2 hours a day) with George as my instructor. In my head I thought I would be a natural, in reality I was dreadful!Inside, George must have been totally infuriated with me (as I was with myself) but she remained calm and patient throughout. This patience resulted in me getting one ride before the final lesson was over!More to the point it has giving me the enthusiasm to continue and get better!Thanks George🙃
Our stay in El Salvador this summer was so many things but most of all I felt very challenged with larger surf than I expected. I am incredibly grateful to have spent a few sessions with Pixie who made absolutely certain I continued to push past fear and doubt of my own ability. Facing deep rooted fear is SO uncomfortable and SO worth it- I would come back to El Salvador just to learn more from this legend! 😎💛 She’s the real deal- do yourself a favor and spend some time with this talented and knowledgeable surfer!
Pixie is a wonderfully supportive instructor and a ripping surfer herself! She knows the El Salvadorian coast like the back of her hand. Her instruction was solid and she challenged us to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone. Pixie’s spot is quite and beautiful. There are zero tourists around, and you’ll likely have the break to yourself or just a handful of locals. It’s not necessarily the most beginner-friendly beach, but depending on the swell, it’s a good place to learn and to advance your skills for more immediate surfers.
I just got back from my second trip to El Salvador and second week of surfing lessons with Pixie. I’m already planning on going back in a few months.Pixie is a great teacher- she knows her stuff. She has the patience of a saint (one must, to put up with me for this long). No matter how many times I slip back into crappy paddling technique or other mistakes that I can’t seem to stop, she just keeps pushing me to be better without making me feel bad about the fact that I am in fact not better 😂I am a brand new-pretty-awful-never-surfed before student. I learned soo much over the weeks and might be able to say I’m a surfer sometime in the future.5 out of 5 recommend. The only reason I would want to leave a not stellar review is so that she doesn’t fill up so quickly and not have space for me.
George/ Pixie was a great instructor. I’ve been struggling to get over beginner level. We worked on my pop up and timing my take off. She taught me how to read the waves and take off at the peak. So happy I took a few lessons with Pixie. Now I’m confident to paddle out into different locations.
Pixie a su me mettre en confiance rapidement ! Elle m à transmise sa passion pour le surf 🏄♀️ Elle donne de très bons conseils , toujours avec le sourire , je la recommande sans aucune hésitation , Merci Pixie !!
Pixie is an incredibly insightful, fun and thoughtful coach! She prioritizes safety, had awesome knowledge of the waves, and is an absolute hype woman that wants you to be successful. She had a great way of listening to what you want to work on to improve your surf, but then assessing skills on land and water to tailor the lesson. I had a great time — highly recommend Pixie to anyone looking to improve surf while in El Sal — beginner or intermediate!
Pixie is an outstanding teacher, one I would highly recommend! She has a passion for the ocean, surfing, and teaching, all of which creates for an amazing experience. She took the time to get to know me and tailored the lesson to meet my ability and desires. She has a great depth of knowledge on surfing techniques and an ability to pass it in pre- during- and post- surf sessions. I realized I have saved so much time in the learning process. I’ll continue to take lessons with her.…
Pixie is an incredible surf coach! She has a deep understanding of the ocean, gives clear and actionable feedback, and makes every session both fun and productive. Whether it’s improving technique, reading waves better, or building confidence in the water, she knows exactly how to guide you. Her energy is contagious, and she truly cares about her students’ progress. Highly recommend for surfers of any level
Pixie was very helpful in getting me back into surfing and providing me with tips on progressing into an intermediate surfer. She’s passionate, attentive, and is holistic in her assessment of what improvements need to be made.
Amazing!❤️ Pixie is an incredible and very knowledgable surf coach. I’ve already had some experience surfing but was hoping to get back into the groove of things after a knee injury. Pixie’s retreat is just what I needed, I feel like I’ve gained new confidence. She motivates you and is hella funny! She also taught me new things for example how to read wave predictions. Her place is also great, its peaceful. Imagine waking up everyday to the sound of waves crashing and a beautiful sunrise. Not only that, Pixie is a very kind and genuine human being. She really cares and is passionate. I highly recommend her retreat, thank you Pixie!!!!🤙🏾❤️🏄🏽♀️
Learned a lot staying at Pixie’s Surf Camp! Made good progress. George is really good at explaining what’s going on and what needs to be done. I found the video footage to be super helpful and Pixie’s narration was an added bonus! Tip: if you are tender-footed you should bring some reef booties for the rocks.
If you’re an advanced-beginner looking to level up your surf game and love the rights of El Salvador, join Pixie! This was the most well-rounded, blissful, progression-packed surf experience I’ve ever had.From day one, the vibe was dialed in. Each morning kicked off with a beach breakfast, surf check, and what to expect from the day. At the beginning of the trip we brushed up on reading surf reports; tide, swell direction, wind windows, crowd factor, where to sit in the lineup, etc. All the things you need to feel confident when paddling out. Pixie and her team somehow balanced pushing you just the right amount while keeping everything fun, supported, and safe. I left catching more waves with better timing and WAY more confidence!The food alone deserves its own review, absolutely delicious after long days in the water. Yoga and stretching sessions were integrated perfectly and the boards provided were in great shape, with options for different skill levels.What really sets this experience apart, though, is Pixie’s ability to break down surf progression in a way that makes sense. Whether it was paddle technique, reading waves, angled takeoffs, or confidence in bigger sets, she gave guidance that clicked instantly!I’m already planning my next trip back. Miss our belly laughs Pixie! 🌊☀️🤙
Pixie is the best surf instructor I’ve ever had. I feel like I really leveled up in my week with her coaching. I can better read the waves, have more confidence in the water, and significantly improved my takeoffs and turns. She’s also a kind, compassionate, and fun person who has incredible local knowledge and has developed a deep and sweet community in El Salvador. I had such a great trip and can’t wait to go back.
Pixie is the best surf teacher I ever had! I learned so much with her in just a few sessions and am comfortable now paddling into waves and popping up! She’s super calm in the water and accommodates to her students which made me feel so safe with her. She’s also so supportive and truly wants you to get better super quickly. She’s with you the whole time which is amazing too and really listens to what you need and want to learn. I can’t recommend her enough and I hope I’ll get to take more lessons with her some time in the future!
Pixie is an exceptional surfer, navigating the waves with finesse at one of Salvador’s most stunning surf spots. Her ability to read the waves is truly remarkable, a skill that sets her apart in the vibrant surfing community of Salvador. She can predict the swell patterns, decipher the intricate movements of the water, and expertly position herself to catch the perfect wave. It’s as if she has an unspoken connection with the sea, an intuitive bond that transforms each surf session into a graceful performance.Thanks !
Pixie made me feel more comfortable in the water. I learned a lot about the swell and positioning to chase the wave! Thank to Pixie i’m more confident in the line up. She is a rock and roll surf coach! A plus is that she is a funy and overall amazing human being to hang around with!
Pixie is an amazing instructor! It was my first time surfing so I had quite a bit of anxiety entering the ocean. She was very thorough, covering everything from basic ocean safety to managing the surf board in the water to entry level surfing strategy/technique. I felt very comfortable and confident being in the water with her. Her coaching techniques were clearly effective as I successfully got up on many waves (including my first!), quickly progressed from the impact zone to green waves and got to have several good, long rides to shore. I was even successful in learning to turn into the wave and control the longboard during my very first surf trip! I would definitely recommend Pixie and hope to be fortunate enough to surf with her in the future!
Pixie is an excellent and experienced instructor. I felt safe in the waves with her guidance and clear instructions. She was sure to go over the techniques and fundamentals before we paddled out.Following her instructions, I was able to shred some 4–6 foot waves by the end of my stay! Thanks Pixie!
Had a lesson with Pixie today, she gave me a few crucial piece of advice that I’m sure to be using for years to come. Thanks!
Surf Coaching with Pixie – El Salvador 🌊🏄♀️I had the best time surfing with Pixie. I was specifically looking for a woman surf coach to help improve my technique and take my surfing to the next level, and she absolutely delivered.Her coaching style is supportive and honest, which I really appreciated. She gave me clear, actionable feedback after every session that helped me progress with confidence.Beyond being a skilled coach, Pixie has such a great vibe — chill, encouraging, and always focused on making sure you’re learning and having fun. I left each session feeling stronger and more confident in the water.Pixie is 100% the coach to go with. Highly recommend!
I cannot recommend Pixie’s retreat enough. She took us to beautiful beaches with beautiful surf. She was so encouraging, gave great coaching (both technique and mental!) and put together an amazing week for the four of us — including delicious meals, a waterfall hike, yoga and massages. We’re already talking about going back!
I stayed a month in El Salvador and was able to book Pixie’s Surf Coach Package (Five 1‑on‑1 Coaching Sessions). I received good instruction from day 1, especially useful beta on the El Zonte A‑frame and where to sit. Pixie was flexible and frequently available for booking lessons around my work schedule (9–5), and was accommodating with getting video replay for feedback/analysis, although paying the $30 for someone else to do it was generally better. I didn’t make much progress on my frontside turn, but now understand the mechanics of it so I’m getting there on my own. My backside turns improved, thanks to Pixie’s coaching and a LOT of repetition on those right point breaks. Overall, a good experience and I look forward to seeing her video edit of me! Thanks Pixie!!
Pixie is an excellent surf coach. She’s patient and kind. Her instructional cues are clear and implementable. And she’s super fun. My 16 year old son took off with surfing after just three lessons with Pixie. Me, at 55, I might take a little longer but with Pixie’s support I’m consistently improving. Thanks for all the fun!
Pixie gives a personalized approach in each surf lesson. She really cares about her students’ safety and enjoyment of the experience. She helps her students learn so much about surfing while also teaching knowledge of surf etiquette + reading waves/tides/conditions.
Exactly what I’d been looking for after years as an intermediate surfer; Pixie’s calming voice, straightforward personalised tips and professional attitude were brilliant! Having her as my “eyes and ears” in the water meant I was sending it on waves way bigger than I’d usually go for, and her advice got me tons more waves in a busy lineup. She’s exactly the kind of coach you want in the water with you, whether it’s training turns or getting comfortable in heavier conditions at newer spots in El Salvador. I particularly recommend her 1‑on‑1 female surf coaching.
I recently took my first surf lessons with Pixie, and it was an amazing experience! Pixie made me feel comfortable and confident right from the start. She’s not only super knowledgeable but also incredibly patient and encouraging. She broke down the basics in an easy-to-understand way, from paddling techniques to popping up on the board. Her passion for surfing is contagious, and she made the whole lesson so much fun. I highly recommend Pixie to anyone looking to learn how to surf. Might even head to El Salvador for my next lesson!
I loved every minute of my surf lessons with Pixie. She is a skilled teacher, and so encouraging and genuinely helpful in her comments, that I was able to far exceed what I thought I could do on a surfboard. I had a great time!
Pixie’s retreat was one of the best trips I’ve been on! She is an amazing teacher and guide. I learned so much about surfing, and what specifically I needed to do to improve. Pixie provided super focused coaching, and I always felt safe with her in the water. We also had a great time learning about the local area, ate amazing food, and had lots of laughs.Pixie and her surf spot are true gems. I highly recommend her retreats to surfers of all levels! I’m already scheming my next trip down!
I only had my first lesson with Pixie today and I wanted to recommend her to everybody now already😍😍😍She is really structured and you feel that she does her courses with her heart! Asking indivually what my goals and struggles are and how I can effectively work on that. She asks already before and gives you confidence with her positive and warm actitude. If I compare her to my surfcamp experiences until now,this is a whole different level and I had a lot of key moments understanding what I can work on 🙂
Pixie’s ability to explain surf theory and help students learn how to catch waves (rather than just pushing them into waves) is very special. I learned a ton in just a few lessons!
El Salvador is the perfect place to learn surfing!And i am so grateful that i found Pixie as my surf teacher. As i am staying for a long period of time in here, she have been looking and waiting for the best wave and time for me to go in the water. So i will enjoy my time every time!She really take the time to make you feel comfortable with the water and make you understand how the waves work and the timing, some teacher don’t take the time to do this.So i highly recommend to book with Pixie for an amazing experience in the water!
Amazing One-on-One Surf Lesson with Pixie!I had the best time doing a one-on-one surf lesson with Pixie. From the moment we started, I could tell she really cared about making sure the lesson was just right for me. She took the time to understand where I was at with my surfing and what I wanted to work on, which made everything feel super personalized.Pixie has this awesome way of explaining things that makes even the hard stuff seem doable. She gave me tips and feedback while I was in the water, and I noticed I was improving right away. What I loved most was how encouraging she was—she really made me feel like I could push myself and have fun at the same time!The individual attention was such a game-changer, and by the end of the lesson, I felt way more confident on my board. If you’re looking to really improve and get some quality one-on-one time in the water, I can’t recommend Pixie enough. You’ll learn a ton and have a blast doing it!
Pixie was excellent! Super friendly and accommodating but also knowledgeable and helpful (especially for me as a beginner). Highly recommend her.
Pixie is an amazing coach!! I feel so much more comfortable in the ocean since my lessons! sooooo fun! 🏄♀️🌊💙
Pixie is awesome!! I am an intermediate surfer and took a few private lessons with Pixie last month. I had been stuck on this plateau, not improving at all for what seems like years. She really helped to break down the mental barriers I had built and within one lesson I already had the confidence to start pushing my limits again. She is so encouraging and has a way of articulating technique that really resonates. My month of surfing in El Salvador was wicked, I’m so grateful for Pixies help.
Simply the best !
I did three lessons with Pixie in April. It was great! By day three I was catching waves on my own. This is real surf coaching — not just getting pushed into a wave! If you are considering this, just book it!
We enjoyed learning to surf with Pixie recently, she was brilliant, patient and fun. I really look forward to surfing her again one day.
Pixie is an incredible surf instructor. She does a great job at keeping the surfing experience light and fun and not too scary while also encouraging you to get a tiny bit out of your comfort zone 😉 I have been searching for an instructor with her talent for some time. It’s truly invaluable the surf skills I have gained from her guidance. Thank you Pixie!!
Great surf teacher!
Pixie is such a great teacher! I had only ever surfed on the whitewash before and on my second day with her I caught my first 3 green water waves of my life, she’s calm and collected and really helped me overcome the anxiety I felt in the beginning. I can’t wait to go back down and take more classes with her!
Pixie is an awesome surf coach with a ton of experience in the waves of El Sal. Great communicator and truly dedicated to her students success. Highly recommend!
I took my first 2 surf lessons ever with Pixie and had a great experience. She is down to earth, easy to talk to, patient and encouraging. I met my very modest beginner goal of being able to stand up on the board. Felt safe and supported the whole time. 10/10 would recommend!
surf retreats tailored to you
Custom Surf Retreat Based On Your Skill Level
We customize all of our surf retreats based on your skill level. If you’ve never surfed before, we’ll teach you the basics and then work with you so you can catch your own waves. If you’ve caught unbroken waves before we will work on your turns and generating speed on the waves. And find you the best waves for your ability.
Beginner White to Green Course
Ready to learn? I keep retreats to a maximum of four people. This enables me to work with you directly so you’ll be catching waves on your own much sooner.
Progression Surf Retreats
Here we can be very specific to each student improving their skills like take offs, bottom, turns, top turns, cut backs and generating speed on the wave
More to Do
Other Activities
Normal days will include two surf sessions, but sometimes it’s nice to get some rest, relax, or do some other activities. We have a lot to choose from here in El Salvador.
Why Pixies Women’s Surf Retreats?
Women’s Surf Retreats El Salvador
We Offer Two Surf Retreats
A beginner surf retreat where you go from white waves to green waves and a Progression Surf Retreat that is tailored to your surf level.
Years of Experience
0
+
El Salvador Surf Coach, Surf Retreats
No Limit To What We Can Do At The Breaks
We have a great point break right outside our front doors, but we’re also down the road from other surf breaks to suite all different levels.
El Salvador Surf Retreats
Women’s Surf Retreats in El Salvador
We’re stoked to have you as our guest.
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Latest News & Articles
Check out our articles about surfing, El Salvador, and local news.
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