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Number one: I've got some holiday at the end of April/beginning of May and was thinking about going to El Palmar in Spain for a week with the family. Obviously the surf is highly weather dependant and also we're in late spring so the chance of swell is somewhat reduced from Winter. Is the town pleasant? Is there much else to do either in the town itself or nearby? How is it for restaurants? How are the people? I'm guessing it's not very big.
Number two: Has anyone had any sucess with online resources for pop-up improvment and gym based muscle training? Even if it costs a couple of quid. I was looking at for instance, Hydromind on YouTube. I am firmly at the beginner level despite many trips to Newquay in my twenties. I went to Croyde last year and trained my popup for six weeks beforehand but discovered I was springing from my toes and not my knees. Since then I've drastically improved my mobility but haven't started actual pop up training.
As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Take it you mean El Palmar de Vejer near Cadiz, not the Murcia one...
I stayed for a week in Conil a few (shite - 15 or so) years ago a few miles up the coast.
I liked the area - the white towns (Vejer de la Frontera, bit of a bohemian vibe, Sidonia. Agh that dates it as a Muse song knights of Cydonia was not long out -2007).
Cadiz is great and a must visit just to wander. Conil is more a resort for the Spanish. Was okay with kids but I'd not go back.
Surfed the beach at El Palmar a few times and it was the best of the local spots I tried, though the local glamour wave (Yerbabuena, rh point, not for beginners) didn't work whilst we were there. As I'm typing I'm remembering my last and best wave of the holiday, a left handed that just kept walling up. And just editing to add that it's not the most consistent surf in Spain. We were there in Easter and apparently it can be pretty flat through summer.
Anyway, pop-ups, mine is going to shite. Let's just say I was mid-40s when we stayed in Conil. And I have tried/should try to train it, but a bit half heartedly.
There's loads of stuff on YouTube on how to popup from the knees, hands further back than you think, angled to rotate you so your stance is right, focus on getting your front foot landed etc etc. And I guess if you can't do it on land you'll struggle in the water. If you're surfing a longer board (I'm close to biting the bullet and buying one) you can pop up from your feet. Main thing is doing quickly at the right time.
I've not rewatched it but I think this vid is okay on applying it on an actual wave. Which is kind of the challenge...