Private 1-1 Surf Coaching in Sagres

10+ Years

Coaching Experience

500+ Surfers

Coached

5 Rated

on TripAdvisor

Quick Session Overview

Private surf coaching sessions in Sagres with just you and your coach, fully focused on your technique, goals, and long-term progression. Participants should have basic swimming skills, reasonable fitness, and either previous surf lessons or at least 1 year of surfing experience. Open to all genders.

Surf Level

Improving Beginner & Intermediate

Duration

4 Hours

Price

€190 per person

Age

16 and above

What's Included in Your Private Surf Coaching Session

Each session combines in-water coaching, video analysis, and land-based drills, everything needed to improve faster and surf more independently.

In-Water Coaching

I start every session in the water with you. We work on confidence, wave selection and positioning, understanding the ocean and line-up, paddling technique, crowd management, and real-time feedback between waves.

Video Analysis

Once you're surfing comfortably, I move to the beach to film your rides. After the session, we review the footage together, identifying technical mistakes, analysing timing and turns, and focusing on 1–2 clear improvements for your next surf.

Surfskate Drills

When needed, we add land-based practice using a surfskate to simulate turns, posture, and weight shifts before heading back into the water. This combination of water time, video feedback, and repetition helps surfers improve faster.

What to Bring to Your Session

You do not need much. Here is a simple list of what to bring on the day.

Swimwear
Sunscreen
Water Bottle
Your Own Board (Optional)
Flip Flops
Towel
Board and wetsuit provided if needed.

What You'll Work On

This isn't a surf lesson. It's proper coaching focused on helping you surf with more confidence and independence in the water.

Building confidence in the waves and developing a positive mindset

Reading the ocean and line-up more independently

Boosting your wave count

Understanding optimal wave selection and positioning

Improving speed generation and basic manoeuvres

Progressing toward bottom turns, top turns, cutbacks, and floaters

All coaching takes place in and around Sagres, Algarve, at beaches like Cordoama, Beliche, Mareta, and more. We always choose the best surf spot depending on the conditions that day.

Where to Surf in Sagres

Cordoama

Beliche

Mareta

Why Surf in Sagres?

Sagres is one of Europe's most consistent surf destinations. In over 10 years living and coaching here, I have personally never seen a completely flat day. With west and south-facing beaches only minutes apart, we can always find the right waves for your level year-round. It's the perfect place to stop guessing, surf more independently, and make lasting progress.

Gallery - See Us in Action

Take a look at what a Waves Wizard coaching session looks like in the water.

Testimonials - What Our Surfers Say

Don't take my word for it here's what real surfers say after coaching with me in Sagres.

         Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Excursion03790453212 
 
 
 
 Verified If you what to progress in your surfing, he is your guy!
I had a great experience, from the first contact to the session itself it was amazing. I can highly recommend doing a coaching, helped me a lot with my positioning and learned so much. Willy is such a nice guy, really chill and did a great job explain what to look out for. It was a recommendation from a friend and 10/10 would recommend the coaching to everyone else. Have fun out there!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Alberto B 
 
 
 
 Verified Willy Works Different
Finally someone who really knows what he’s talking about! I’ve taken lessons at many surf schools across Europe, but this one is truly different. Willy’s knowledge, experience, dedication and fun way of teaching took the lesson to another level. In just one week of coaching and video analysis, I learned more than in the past two years of lessons!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Alex Mtv 
 
 
 
 Verified Best surf coaching in Sagres
Superbe expérience de surf coaching à Sagres avec l'équipe : Une recherche des meilleurs spots dans les meilleurs conditions chaque jour avec un débrief vidéo personnalisé de chaque session. Willy analyse chaque session et donne les meilleurs conseils pour une progression optimale toujours avec le sourire :) Merci pour le coaching 🤙
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Yannis T 
 
 
 
 Verified Simply perfect
Good communication from the start, flexible and considerate planning, solid coaching before, during and after the surf from someone friendly with a sports science degree - what more can you expect?
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Loris K 
 
 
 
 Verified Best coach
I spent a few months traveling with my van in Portugal to go surfing. At some point, I ended up in Sagres and was chatting in a bar with some people about wanting to improve my surfing and whether getting a coach would be worth it. That’s how I got the recommendation for Willy. At first, I was a bit skeptical, but I decided to give it a try and it was absolutely worth it! Willy is very professional, explains things with humor, and gave me precise tips that really helped me work on my weaknesses. After a few weeks of practice, I went back to him for more coaching, and each time I learned something new and made progress. I can highly recommend coaching with Willy. Thank you, Willy hopefully see you again soon :)
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Trail45053715943 
 
 
 
 Verified Sagres surf session with Willy
We have surfed just a few times in Sagres and this time wanted to get someone local that knows exactly where to go! Willy timed our session perfectly so we had best conditions of the day and less crowd. We went to Telheiro and had clean and fun conditions. Best session of our holiday for sure
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Connector52939740370 
 
 
 
 Verified Surf lesson and amazing experience
It was amazing, the instructor was super prepared! The video analysis we did was particularly well done and needed, the next day I surfed much better :) A huge plus, we also did surf skate which was super fun
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Johannes C 
 
 
 
 Verified Willy’s surf coaching in Sagres is next level — in the water with you, video feedback, and always ready to help. Can’t r
I’m a surfer from Switzerland traveling through Portugal with my van, and during my stay in Sagres, I had four surf coaching sessions with Willy that truly helped unlock my surfing potential. What stood out to me was that Willy didn’t just film from the beach — he actually came into the water with me. His real-time guidance on positioning and wave reading made a huge difference. Being able to get instant feedback out there in the lineup was incredibly helpful. Back on land, we did detailed video analysis of the sessions. Willy gave me clear, practical tips that I could immediately apply — and will carry with me for future sessions. What I appreciated most is that the coaching didn’t stop there. I’m still in touch with Willy, and whenever I have questions or manage to get footage of myself surfing, I can just send it over — he’s always up for a chat and happy to provide more feedback. Highly recommend to anyone looking to take their surfing to the next level in a supportive and professional way.
  
 
  
  Load more
 
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified that these reviews were published on Waves Wizard Surf Coaching Sagres's Tripadvisor profile. Learn more

About Willy

Hi, I'm Willy, Italian-born, now based in Sagres, Portugal. I've been surfing since 2007 and coaching since 2016. My mission is simple: help surfers stop guessing and start making real, lasting progress in the water.

Languages

Certificates & Licenses

Why Surfers Choose Waves Wizard

Here's what makes us different.

Bachelor in Sport & Exercise Science with Honours.
Coaching backed by real knowledge, not guesswork.
ASI Level 2, ISA, and IPDJ licensed. You're in safe, qualified hands.
Surfing since 2007 and coaching since 2016, helping surfers build confidence, technique, and consistency in the water.
I don't just film from the beach. I'm in the water with you, giving real-time feedback between waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Want to Know About Private Surf Coaching in Sagres

Will you be in the water with me the whole time?

Yes. I begin every session in the water with you before moving to the beach later for video analysis together.

How is a private session different from a regular group surf lesson?

Every session focuses completely on your technique, confidence, and progression without waiting for others or receiving generic coaching advice.

Can one coaching session really improve my surfing if I'm visiting briefly?

Yes. Focused feedback and video analysis help surfers make meaningful improvements they can continue applying long after the session ends.

What happens if surf conditions are poor on the day I booked?

Sagres offers multiple west and south-facing beaches nearby, allowing us to consistently find suitable waves for your surfing level.