Guiding Through the Wild Waters of Ferrol
By: Nordes Surfhouse Guide | Date: April 1, 2025
Introduction
There’s something about the mornings here in Ferrol. The way the first light breaks over the rugged coastline, the air cool and salty, whispering hints of what the waves might be doing. I’ve lived here long enough to know that no two mornings are ever the same.
The Nordes Surfhouse is waking up. Coffee brewing, boards waxing, laughter breaking through the morning haze. Yesterday was all about the clean lines at Doniños, but today, I’ve got somewhere else in mind. Somewhere raw. Somewhere a little more off the beaten path.
The Morning Ritual at Nordes Surfhouse
The crew’s already up when I walk into the common room of Nordes Surfhouse. A mix of excitement and sleepy eyes – that perfect blend of anticipation and caffeine. They’re buzzing about yesterday’s session – those glassy peelers over at Doniños – but today, I’ve got something else in mind.
I can’t help but smile as I watch them chat over breakfast, already itching to get back in the water. What they don’t know is that I’ve got plans to take them somewhere a little more special. Somewhere where the waves roll in with that wild, untouched energy Ferrol is famous for.
Finding the Hidden Gems Along Ponzos
We pile into the van, boards strapped to the roof, and head out. The conversation is light – stories from last night, the clattering of fins against waxed decks – but as we wind down the narrow roads, the mood shifts. They’re starting to trust me now. I can feel it in the way they settle into their seats, knowing that I’m taking them somewhere special.
Somewhere along Ponzos, where the coastline twists and turns, we pull up to a spot that’s tucked away just enough to stay off most surfers’ radar. I’ve surfed here dozens of times, but it never feels the same twice.
Chasing Waves at Ponzos
By the time we reach the spot, it’s clear we’ve hit the jackpot. Four-foot sets rolling in, clean lines cutting across the bay, not a soul in the water. There’s that moment – the one where they just stare out at the ocean, grinning like kids who’ve stumbled on a secret.
I give the lowdown – how the wave breaks on the inside, where to paddle out to avoid the rip – but they’re already pulling on their wetsuits. I can’t blame them. I’d be doing the same. We paddle out together, the sun just high enough to glint off the water, and the first set rolls through.
Watching them catch their waves – some of them on their feet, some wiping out but laughing like it’s the best fall they’ve ever taken – I’m reminded why I do this. It’s not just about finding the perfect wave. It’s about that connection – to the ocean, to the place, to each other.
Surf guiding isn’t just pointing at a map or reading a forecast. It’s about knowing the rhythm of a place, feeling the pulse of the waves, and sharing that with people who might not get to feel it otherwise.
Connection Beyond the Surf
Back at the surfhouse later, the stories flow over beers and shared meals. Someone asks me how long I’ve been guiding, and I shrug. “Long enough,” I say, “but not nearly long enough.” They laugh, and I know they get it.
Ferrol isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place that gets into your bones, like the salt crusted on our wetsuits, like the sand we’ll be shaking out of our bedsheets for days.
What’s Next?
And tomorrow? Who knows. Maybe we’ll head north to Valdoviño, chase the break if the swell shifts. Or maybe we’ll just roll out at Doniños again, where the beach stretches wide, and the waves are a little more forgiving.
Either way, I know they’ll be up for it. After all, they’ve tasted the wild side of Ferrol now, and that’s something you don’t just shake off.
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