ACADEMIC SURFCAMP 2024 (ASCA24)

We connect students of the French, German and Italian part of Switzerland, of different universities and disciplines in one unique Surfcamp. Get on board with us and connect with likeminded people. 

Our legendary project goes into round 6! Based on the experiences of the last four years, we have sat down in the team and revised our concept. More than 1000 hours of volunteer work, feedback from past projects and a lot of creativity are in the upcoming Academic Surfcamp 2024.

As always, all proceeds go directly into the project to automatically offer you better value for money than a commercial provider ever could. Our dream is to connect students through surfing. In the Academic Surfcamp we bring together the EPFL mechanical engineer, the medical student of the UZH, the economics student of the HSG over the art student of the University of Bern up to the astrophysics student of the University of Basel. We break down bubbles, allow you to network, which is unfortunately denied to you at most universities and bring everyone to a common ground: surfing. 

WEEK 1: 01.09.2024 - 08.09.2024
BOOKING OPENS SATURDAY, 24.02.2024

WEEK 2: 08.09.2024 - 15.09.2024
BOOKING OPENS SATURDAY, 24.02.2024

The Academic Surfcamp in a nutshell

As you can see from the description above, the main goal of the camp is to connect students from different disciplines and different parts of Switzerland through surfing. This is also the purpose of our club. So this is one of the core projects of our club. We put special emphasis on the fact that you get more for your money than with a commercial provider.
The offer is traditionally packed into the Basic Package, which includes almost everything except courses and travel. For courses there is the Course Package - the travel is done individually or in groups (we are happy to help you here). Below you will find a list of what is offered to you.

The Surf 

The most important thing first, of course! Galicia, located in the extreme northwest of Spain, was considered the end of the world until the discovery of America. Still this remote part of the Iberian Peninsula is an insider tip and largely spared from mass and surf tourism. In addition, the area is considered the most wave-safe area in Europe.
No Joke: There are comparatively few other people in the lineup except for participants of our camp. This is a luxury you get in Europe only in winter. With about 5 km of beach, there are also various peaks and the whole thing is partly protected from the wind by cliffs.

  • No crowds & relatively empty lineups! Galicia is largely spared from mass surf tourism
  • Kilometer long bay with beach break only 150 meters from our accommodation. 
  • Shooted Sessions. Our media team also gets you in front of the lens while surfing.
  • The most wave-safe area in Europe. In addition, we are on site in September, which is generally a wave-safe month in Europe
  • Moderate to no current

Accommodation: Razo Beach here we come!

We are at Praia de Razo in a hostel that we book completely for ourselves. The best? The distance to the beach is only 150 meters! The almost 5km long sandy beach with picturesque dunes and cliffs is waiting right outside our front door.

  • Sleeping places in beds without exception (no tent sites or similar)
  • Chill area and community space. Here you can let your soul dangle.
  • Only 150 meters from the beach.
  • Free Wifi
  • Situated between the Atlantic coast and mountains with breathtaking views
  • Camp own Skate Ramp and Wave

Galicia: The Surrounding 

Just the beauty of the area where the Academic Surfcamp takes place is stunning. If the waves are flat, we organize trips to the surrounding area. Praia de Razo offers everything the surfing heart desires and offers a 5 km long bay with picturesque dunes and cliffs, a landscape with Galicia flair. In addition, A Coruna and Santiago de Compostella, the largest cities in the area, are within reach.
 

After Movies of the last years 

On Instagram we are giving away a Basic Package worth CHF 649 including a surf course worth CHF 249 until Saturday 24.02.2024 09:00 AM. Eligible are students or alumni of a university who are 18 years old at the time of the camp and fulfill the actions mentioned in the video description. The prize is personal, non-transferable and cannot be paid out. If any of the mentioned actions are not met the prize is void and a new drawing will be held. Winners will be notified by DM and must respond within 72 hours. Friends who have been tagged will automatically be entitled to a place in the camp if the participant wins. The ASC reserves the right to make adjustments based on the situation or to suspend or not complete the competition if there is an important reason for doing so. The prize is also linked to the fact that the camp takes place. If the camp does not take place, the prize is also void. 

FAQ

Who can come to the camp?
All current and former students of universities according to Swiss Universities.
Member of Swiss Universities

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 French.

Which degree programs are most represented?
Medicine, mechanical engineering, business administration, economics and law are the most represented. 

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. 

Can only ASC members to the camp?
No. However, we give ASC members priority to the seats in case of doubt. ASC members also get along cheaper. 

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 most of the students are done with their internships etc. then. 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.

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 out to make a 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. 

Why doesn't the ASCA organize a bus from Switzerland to the camp? Why do you have to travel individually?
We have organized the first two camps a transport (then still to France). The big problem is that hiring a one-time bus company is insanely expensive and unfortunately not worth it for so few weeks. Unfortunately, the club would have to pay for it. However, we are happy to help you plan your trip and organize shuttles from the airport to your accommodation. We can also put you in contact with other participants who are looking for travel buddies. 

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 enroll?
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 definitely like to be on the staff or come along as a surf instructor.
For our camp staff we give priority to those members who have worked at Academic Surfcamp before. Thus the team is mostly complete. If you still think that you have to become an irreplaceable part of our team, you are welcome to apply for the camp mail. Maybe you will be lucky.
Nevertheless, we are always looking for people who would like to help us expand our camp offerings. If you want to organize a camp yourself, you can apply for it.

Any questions ..?

If you still have questions, you can ask them here:

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. 

Board

Samuel Liechti
Simon Lieffering