Now, here’s a little surprise we didn’t know was on our bucket list, but now that we’ve checked it off, we guarantee it should be on yours! We surfed in Unstad, Norway, the surf town that boasts not just two surf shops, but also more long-haired dudes than you could shake a stick at!
Surf shops
There are two surf shops in Unstad. One named Unstad Arctic Surf, which also has a restaurant, accommodation, and even a sauna! The other one, Lofoten Surf Centre, is our wallet-friendly option. It proudly claims to be the most northern surf shop IN THE WORLD! (cue Jeremy Clarkson voice). We did a bit of research and decided, obviously, that the cheaper option was clearly the smarter choice.
We’ve dabbled in surfing before, but let’s be honest, we’re more “wipeout wannabes” than “surfer dudes,” so we decided to take a refresher course. We coughed up £147 for a 3-hour lesson with a group of 10. (Meanwhile, at another surf shop, they were charging a whopping £310!). The lesson started with some dry-land safety, and then after struggling into our dry suits, we continued the lesson in the water.
The staff were 10/10 everyone knew what they were on about and they all were having a good time which made you have a good time.
The shop itself also has a massive selection of boards and accessories, so if you do know what you’re doing, you can buy all the gear there. Or you can rent boards and dry suits if you didn’t manage to trek your gear there.
How brisk was the sea?
Right, you’re not gonna believe us here, but we had to take our mittens and hoods off after around 15 minutes in the water as we were too hot. Yes, too hot.
We surfed in the middle of July, which is obviously summer, but by no means was that water warm. It sat at around 11°C; if you didn’t have a dry suit on, you’d be mad to spend more than 2 mins in there. Your bits would fall off if you stayed in any longer. With full dry suits, mitts, boots, and hood, you will be plenty warm enough once you get moving.
Staying the night
We would highly recommend spending at least one night in the area as you might not always get the best surf on the day you arrive. You can choose to stay at Arctic Surf, where prices for 2 nights start at £430. Or, you could pay £14 into an honesty box for 2 nights in the car park right next to the beach. Guess which one we picked? Definitely not the one that breaks the bank. There are even toilets in the car park which are free and have views overlooking the beach, a luxury in comparison to other wild camp spots we have stayed in. It was a no brainer really.
Whichever surf shop you choose, whether you go for the aesthetic and more expensive or the cheap and cheerful, it is definitely a must-do activity when you’re passing through the Lofoten Islands.
Although we didn’t rent surfboards from the rival shop, we did indulge in a cinnamon bun that was boldly advertised as ‘the best in the world.’ Now, opinions on that declaration will vary, especially when the price is taken into consideration- £18 for two!
Tight Travellers 