ACADEMIC SURFCAMP 2026 (ASCA26)

THE ACADEMIC SURFCAMP WILL GO INTO ROUND 8 BUT ALSO BACK TO ITS ROOTS...

After four years in Spain, the Academic Surfcamp returns to France, back to the Ocean Shelter, where the first editions of this camp took place. It's located just a few minutes north of Hossegor, nestled in the beautiful “Landes” forest in Seignosse, where you'll experience a stay in comfortable guest houses and deluxe glamping facilities. The accommodation also has a swimming pool where we can practice duck diving and a hot tub to relax after long surf sessions. As for the surf, the accommodation is located on a 20 minute walk from a beautiful and empty beach with an uncrowded surfspot for all surflevels.

The Surf

From the accommodation, it is a beautiful 20-minute walk through a shaded forest to a long, empty beach where you can surf. It is suitable for all levels to enjoy during free surf sessions (surfing outside of the surf lessons). The surf lessons included in Package 1 will not take place on this beach, as we are working with a local surf school located about 4 km up the beach. For the lessons, you will be picked up from and brought back to the accommodation.

Surf Levels We Offer:

Bloody Beginner: You have never surfed before, or maybe only once a long time ago.

Beginner: You have surfed before, but you are still practicing in the whitewash.

Intermediate: You have surfed green waves and want to start learning maneuvers.

Advanced: You can already duck dive and perform basic maneuvers, and you want to improve your turns.

New this year is our Guided Surf offer, with limited spots, designed for intermediate and advanced surfers only. With this package, you will go in search of the best waves. We will drive around and look for the best spots based on current conditions. This is not an official surf lesson, but you will receive theory about different spots, how to behave in the lineup, and hopefully gain more confidence and improve your surfing.

All-Inclusive Trip

This year we will all travel together to France and back on a private bus. This way, we can already get to know each other on the way there. We also have the option without the round trip for those who are going to stay longer or come from different places.


During the camp, you'll get breakfast, lunch to-go, and dinner. There will also be snacks in between meals and all non-alcoholic beverages included as well. Alcoholic beverages will also be available but have to be purchased separately.


As always, there will be many other activities that are included, like our camp games, the legendary surf pong, surf theory and surfskate lessons, yoga, and last but not least, our official camp party. We will have plenty of activities so you will always have something to do, with most activities being optional so that you also have enough free time to check out Hossegor or the Outlet City.

Registration

Registration for the camp starts on the 16th of February, and it is open to all students and alumni, not only ASC members. The surf camp will take place during the following two weeks:
 
Week 1: 29.08. - 06.09.2026

Week 2: 05.09. - 13.09.2026

The camps are limited to 50 spots each, and like always, it is first come, first served. The spots for the guided surfing are limited to 8 people. For all registrations that come in after the camp is full, you'll be placed on a waiting list in case some people have to cancel.

The packages we offer this year are:

Package 1: Includes 5 surf lessons, surfing equipment, return trip, accommodation, all meals, and a camp shirt
Price: 980.-

Package 2: Includes 5 guided surf sessions, return trip, accommodation, all meals, and a camp shirt
Price: 850.-

Package 3: Includes surf equipment, return trip, accommodation, all meals, and a camp shirt
Price: 780.-

Package 4: Includes only accommodation, all meals, and a camp shirt
Price: 550.-

There are also some open spots for the camp crew, including tasks like cooking and photography. We're also looking for trainees who could take over the camp next year (more below). If you're interested in any of this, check the boxes at the bottom of the registration form.

 

The Academic Surfcamp in a nutshell

The main goal of the camp is to connect students from different disciplines and different parts of Switzerland, sometimes even different parts of the world through surfing. It is that passion for riding waves that brings us all together. This is also the purpose of our club, with the summer camp being one of the core projects every year. ASCA is the most popular camp of the ASC, so if you have not yet experienced it (or want to again and again) secure your spot in time and come join us!


We put special emphasis on creating an awesome experience for every surfer, wether you've been surfing since a few years or want to try it out for the first time, our goal is that you get more for your money than with a commercial provider.

Join our Team - Trainee(s) wanted!

To ensure that not only this year, but also in future years camps can take place, we are looking for volunteer surfers who are up for the challenge to organize a future camp on their own! So every year we are offering one or two young motivated individuals the opportunity to support us in running this year's camp and gain important insight into everything it takes.

The goal? With the experience you gain, you'll be more than ready to organize the next camp yourself and make sure it will be a full-on success! 

Are you interested? If so, don't hesitate and get in touch with us as soon as possible! Reach out to any board member you know within the ASC network or just hit the "Ask questions" button at the end of this page.

After Movies of the last years 

Legal Informations 

The Academic Surf Camp is a joint project of all ASCs together and is structured as an association in the sense of the Swiss Civil Code. The association operates on a non-profit basis. Members are all Academic Surfclubs while the board is arranged by members of different Academic Surfclubs. 

FAQ

Who can come to the camp?
Members of the ASC and any other student or alumni. But: ASC members receive the booking link earlier than non-members to make sure that our members have a chance on a spot. At a later time the booking is available for non-members too, but with a small surcharge. Of course any student or alumni can immediately become member with us! There is a lot to experience apart from the camp plus you're saving money when you book the camp - a classic win-win situation ;) Just let us know in the booking process that you applied for becoming a member and we will grant you the lower prize and check your membership status a few weeks later.

What is the average age in the camp?
The average age in the camp is 24 years. However, we have a very wide age range in the camp, from 18 to over 34 years old.

What language is spoken in the camp?
The main language is German and English with the staff from the Surf School. But we also speak English and some French.

I am traveling alone. Does it even make sense to go solo to the camp?
Absolutely! Our offer is designed so that you quickly meet new people. It is absolutely no problem if you come to the camp alone or with friends. 

I would very much like to come. But the camp is advertised way too early. Can I reserve a place? In addition, I do not know exactly what I will do next year in September, it may be that it does not work out for me. And what if I can't come to the camp after all?
The reason why we advertise the camp relatively early is the non-profit character of the project. Precisely because we calculate cost-covering, we are dependent on an early receipt of bookings to be able to pay for accommodation and other things. Unfortunately you cannot "reserve" a place. But you can try to book and hope that you will get a place.
Also, we have deliberately set the date for both camp weeks to the last weeks of the semester break, since by then most of the students are done with their internships, exams, papers etc. The chance that you will not be able to attend the camp is therefore rather small. If you enroll and the worst case happens, we will replace you with a person from the waiting list if possible, but of course we can't promise anything.
Cancellation is very easy: We have a new "Rider Zone". There you will find the cancellation option. Just fill out the form and we will take care of the rest. 
If your spot cannot be taken by anyone from the waiting list, we cannot guarantee a refund because of our cost-covering calculations. Please read through our AGBs for this.

What does non-profit mean? Are you really not making a profit with the camp?
Non-profit means for us that the project is calculated to cover costs and we do not pay wages. OC and staff work on a voluntary basis. Amounts that remain overflow directly into association projects such as the renewal of our infrastructure (e.g. new material) or projects such as the SUC, which are very cost-intensive. This way we can guarantee that we are not making profit and that we can calculate everything in such a way that you get more for your money than at a commercial surf camp. Our finances are also transparent in the annual accounts. 

I have contacted you via the contact form and have not received a response yet. What is going on?
We are a volunteer association and not a company. Therefore, it may take a few days until you receive a response. We ask for your patience. 

How do I book?
At the top of this page you will find a button called "Booking Request". If this is no longer available, there should be a button called "Waiting list". Click on it and you will get to the relevant forms. If none of these buttons are present, the project is not officially advertised yet. 

How are the places in the Academic Surfcamp allocated?
Basically, the principle of first come first surf applies. However, one of the guiding principles of our project is to network students from different faculties throughout Switzerland. Therefore, we also make sure that the university ratio is fairly balanced. If, for example, in the first 5 minutes only students from University X register and in minute 6 a student from University Y joins, we give this student priority. However, if the time difference between the registrations is more than 10 minutes, this does not matter anymore, because we always give priority to people who have waited for the registration and who register quickly. 

I did not get a spot in the camp and put myself on the waiting list. When will I finally be contacted?
The waiting list is basically processed chronologically according to the receipt of registrations. Whenever someone cancels, we can thus replace someone and contact you as soon as it is your turn.

Do you still need people in the camp team? I would love to be on the staff or come along as a surf instructor.
This year we are looking for trainees that are willing to commit to organizing next year's camp! Like this you can join our camp and get some important guidance, insights and experience a year before your own camp would be taking place. We are currently also looking for someone willing to shoot our surfers during their surf lessons and overall get some nice pictures and videos in our camp. If you can offer us any other important talent that we should definiteley consider, do let us know and we will see what could be possible :)

Any questions ..?

If you still have questions or want to be a part of the camp, reach out to us here: