Is 40 Too Old to Learn to Surf? An Honest Answer

Short answer: no. Forty is not too old to learn to surf, and neither is fifty or sixty. Surf schools in the area take absolute beginners of all ages — one nearby school simply says there is no upper age limit at all. What matters far more than your birthday is a couple of sensible things.

What actually helps an older beginner?

Three things, none of them youth: being a confident swimmer, starting on a big stable longboard rather than a twitchy shortboard, and picking small, gentle beach-break days. Instructors will tell you surfing rewards technique over strength, which is exactly why later starters do fine — it is a skill, not a sprint.

Will I embarrass myself?

No more than anyone else in a beginners' lesson — everyone is falling off together, and standing up for the first time at any age is a genuine thrill. A good school pairs you with soft foam boards and waist-high white water, not the big stuff.

Where would I actually do it?

On the wide, sandy Atlantic beaches of Cantabria, near Casa Agara — beginner-friendly surf in beautiful, uncrowded surroundings, with local schools that welcome all ages. Summer brings the smaller, warmer, most forgiving conditions for learning.

What if I try it and hate it?

Then you have a great story and a lie-down on the beach. Most people are surprised how quickly the fear turns to grinning.

*Fancy giving it a go? Tell us, or see the weeks Spice Escapes runs in Green Spain →.