Sports: Bodyboarding
A more realistic alternative to learning to surf is to bodyboard. It is much easier to learn (you pick up the basic moves in under an hour), less tiring, and you ride the waves longer. All these are arguments in favor of this sport. It loses to surfing only in that surfing has a stable status. At the same time, many argue that bodyboarding is a radical version of surf, while safer.

Riding a wave on a bodyboard is idiotically simple, but instructors can teach you the cool stuff: back flips, rolls, 360 and an endless sea of tribal jargon. Plus, you learn to ride big waves at high speeds. We recommend these guys:

AcaSurf Surf School
Contact: Jose Augusto
www.acasurf.com.br
367-0948 or 9192-1616
acasurf@ig.com.br
equipment included, english and spanish speaking instructors
R$45/hour/person (R$50 regular) discounts for larger groups
Transfer not included.