 One of surfing’s biggest appeals for me is the fact that it’s a relatively simple pursuit. At its core it’s just you, your surfboard and the ocean. No price of admission, no need for a licence and no limits to how long you can stay out for.
Of course, it becomes more complicated when we factor in the myriad of ever changing conditions to consider, differences in wetsuit technology and transport to and from the beach. But my favourite places to surf are always those that allow you to catch and ride waves with little to no frills. Southwest France is one of these places. More specifically though, southwest France during that magical time of the year when seasons collide in September. The water is still warm enough that you can get away without wearing any neoprene. The heat of the sun can be felt on your skin but you’re never in danger of being fried. Dormant banks come to life as more and more powerful swells arrive, showing flashes of what’s to come in winter. For the travelling surfer there are plenty of waterborne and earthly delights to sample, such as the smell of croissants as you sprint down the beach for a dawnie or the fact that everywhere is within cycling distance. But we’ll start with the many beaches in and around Hossegor, Capbreton and Seignosse. La Graviere seems to get better with every new pulse. Soon enough this sleeping giant will be punishing many and rewarding a select few with stand tall kegs that detonate only metres from the shore. And while you wait patiently, hoping to be one of these few, you can fine tune your skills at Plage des Estagnots, Les Culs Nuls and Santocha. Each of which offer gentler, much more manageable rides for the everyman or everywoman surfer. Then when you’re sick of jostling for waves or you’ve racked up an admirable tally and can paddle no more, you can rinse off, dry off and take off in search of a post-shred feed. French bakeries are a famously good option, with warm flan, freshly made baguettes and decadent pastries that are guaranteed to fill you to the gills. But there’s also places such as Le Surfing, Chez Minus (for clams by the bucket) and Makai Beach Food & Bar when it comes to sit-down options. Need to knock over some work before a late arvo dip and rip? You’ve got Wojo Spot at Jo&Joe Hossegor or Capworking in Capbreton. If excellent coffee is high on your list of priorities when it comes to finding the perfect office-away-from-home, you could also try café Volt. Located in The Zone – an area rife with food trucks plus outlet stores and surfboard manufacturers looking to hock their wares at discounted prices – it’s the go-to spot for digital nomads in the know. For accommodation you can’t go past Southwest Surf House in Seignosse. It’s spacious, well-stocked with boards, wetsuits and bikes and defined by a kind of vibe that makes you feel like you’re hanging at a mate’s beach house. Easy to love, hard to replicate, it’s a lively joint in a serene residential setting. The healthy all you can eat breakfasts and dinners, which are prepared fresh daily by a professional chef, only enhance what’s already an epic little spot. It nearly goes without saying that Hossegor and the surrounding areas tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people. And even though the WSL will no longer be holding any major surf events there, surfing and by default surf culture will never die in this part of the world. Do yourself a favour and start planning your French surf trip itinerary for next year. And remember that even if the waves let you down, the bakeries will never break your heart. Bali's New Digital Nomad Visa
Update 12 September: Wahyu Tarfiq, initiator of the Digital Nomad Visa for Bali and the whole of Indonesia, is currently in Jakarta to meet with parliament, and hopefully with President Joko Widodo himself.
Since international travel suddenly stopped, the Balinese are having a tough time. Many shops and accommodation are closed. I interviewed the creators of Bali's Digital Nomad Visa proposal. How could it help the Indonesian people who have previously relied on tourism so much? Watch the full interview here.
Current visa options:
Visa on Arrival (VOA) - over 160 countries can just rock up to the border here and buy a visa for 30 days on the spot. This is exclusively for leisure. If you buy the extension for $30, you can stay for 60 days. After the 60 days are over and you want to stay longer, you will have to do a visa run. That means you'll have to fly out of the country so you can re-enter and buy the visa on arrival and the extension again. Social Visa - This is created to help the local economy. You can stay in Bali and Indonesia for 6 months with this visa. You have to renew it every 6 months. Business Visa - On this visa you can come for business trips. You are allowed to attend conferences and events, but you're not allowed to work. KITAS - If you're hired by a local company, created your own company in Indonesia, or are sponsored by a university, you can get a KITAS visa, which allows you to stay in Indonesia for 6 months and work.
Digital Nomad Visa - 12 month visa that allows you to both run your own digital business(es) from Indonesia, and to set up new digital businesses with locals. The goal is to allow more international collaboration so Bali can shift out of its dependancy on tourism. Hopefully it can take a place as the tropical Silicon valley.
In my opinion the remote workers visa for Bali is the single best step they can take as a country, and I wholeheartedly hope they see that too. I just want the best for all the amazing locals here :) Pier The Airbnb of the future: How to turn your Airbnb into a remote work friendly ‘Coliving space’8/29/2020 How to turn your Airbnb into a remote work friendly ‘Coliving space’
Due to the pandemic, remote work development that we expected would take an absolute decade, happened in a week. All companies were forced to stay at home and figure out how to organise themselves remotely and stay productive while working from their houses. Since the borders have started opening up again in Europe, we’ve seen a massive increase in bookings. Now, things have changed. People who are new to remote work due to the pandemic, want to combine work with travel. Our partner space in Ericeira who used to get 5% of their booking requests from remote workers - gets 100% remote worker bookings right now. Here’s how you can (prepare to) host remote workers in your Airbnb: Desks in rooms As people go after different types of experiences, there are different kind of coliving spaces. Some are more community focused with lots of events and a tight, family style community, and in others, the guests prefer a little more privacy. In either case, people will need to be able to work to feel productive. It can be intense to live with a bunch of other people, so next to having a desk in your room to get more work done, it’s also a good way for people to charge their social battery and have some quiet and private alone work. Bright rooms - Good lighting Some of your guests will have to make calls in the middle of the night to other parts of the world. They will really appreciate it if you provide them with enough lighting options so they’re nicely visible on camera, feel comfortable in a nicely lit room, and won’t be working in the dark. Wifi You already know, but unstable wifi will be shooting yourself in the foot. People need wifi to ultimately pay you, so be sure you get it stable and with good speeds. Think about a minimum of 50 mbps download and upload. Community This is a whole topic on itself. I’ve stayed in and created a whole bunch of coliving spaces. In the end, if you’re hosting your space and community, the community is going to be a reflection of you. As the ‘leader’, you set the culture and rules, even if you’re unaware of it. Those can be anything - whatever is most sustainable and pleasant for you. In the previous space I organised, I really wanted to create a group of friends - a family - with tight relationships. That worked out super well, and it were amazing months. Now however, we all moved out and started new chapters and I feel like I need to just be in my room and work. I’m slowly starting to create another community around me with creatives (musicians, designers, tattoo artists, etc) but this time i’ll do it differently. More calm. Only people who stay in Bali long term staying people (6 month+) so they have a slower life and less of an urge to explore everything before their time runs out, which can become tiring. All in all, your community is a reflection of you. This might seem intimidating, but it’s also wonderful. If you are the average of the 5 people you spend most time with, who do you want to have around you? What are you curious about? What do you want to learn? You can create your space around everything; from surfing to music, to rock climbing to drawing, design or writing. Whatsapp group. This is just the easiest way to help the community host themselves. Let people connect with each other easily so you don’t have to be there (of have the feeling you have to) be there all the time. Monthly pricing This is a bit of a different pricing strategy than hosting short stay guests. There might be a golden ratio for you. Also depends how much time you want to spend on hosting the community. If you’re ok with a lower profit, but people staying for months and months on average and are fine with buying their own furniture, that works, or you might want to have a higher turnover and higher profit margins. The average stay is a month, so keep that in mind. In general, it’s cheaper to have a returning customer than to have to market again to find a new one. Would you rather have one person to stay for 6 months, or 6 guests who all stay for one? Digital nomad jobs: How to stay for free at any surf camp or Airbnb in the world
Short version: Find the perfect spot near surf that needs marketing help Offer to build a coliving community Create a page on Coworksurf Help to create and host the community - this is where you create the added value and what you can get paid for! Give it some time, love and fun :) With the bookings you get, you can either have the owner pay you for every booking / give you a discount on your room, or you can pay the owner the price he / she wants per room per month, and keep the rest yourself. Done. More detailed version: We all know it’s hard to attract people for your accommodation now. In most places, the only people who are left are either living on their savings, in someone’s debt, or they have somehow managed to pull money out of the internet.Places are struggling, and many business owners don’t see the remote work world and it’s massive potential, nor what’s needed to attract those people and turn them into long term staying customers that will help them stay afloat.Especially in places where remote workers are the only ones around, your knowledge about remote work, how to scout the right location, and how to host a community is worth gold.Here’s how you’re going to get that gold out of your mind and into your pocket. Or rather, in the space owner’s pocket so you can stay there for free.
Make your price a ‘wow’ factor that people share. Prices were too high. 6 million IDR a month. 5 if you're a good negotiator. They were understandably trying to get the most out of every potential customer, but that’s a strategy for a market where you can take a risk. All the accommodation in the area has amazing offers. The place I'm at had no guests for the last 4 months. I was the only one. It's an amazing place, the family that runs it is the best, and it was hard to see how they were struggling to get guests. You need to stand out. In this case, it’s better to make your price part of your marketing. The story that your current guests should share is: ‘Yo I’m staying in this amazing place. It’s beautiful, close to the beach, has big bright rooms and fast wifi, and is only $200 a month.’The $200 a month point is worth sharing. It's actionable. It increases the chances of people wanting to make a visit. And you might be thinking: ‘Wow, but that’s so cheap!’ Yes, it is, and that’s exactly the point. For some places it may not be worth it and they've closed. But if you have no choice other than to stay open, it’s better to make $2000 dollars per month out of your 10 rooms, than $400 out of one room and the rest sitting empty. Once the community is strong and you get more requests than you have rooms, you can start raising your prices again. On top of that, a lower monthly price allows people to stay there for a loooong time. Saves you marketing, time and energy each month. Hopefully they use a bit of the money they save to invest into making their room cosy and homey so they'll stay even longer. Make your price a ‘wow’ factor that people share. At the moment, we are now staying here with 5 people. That's 20 million IDR per month with pretty much the same running costs as for one. Much better than one person that might pay 5 million for one month, and 6 if you're lucky and don't scare them off. Alright, you did it. Great. What’s next? People need to get their work done. It would be fantastic to add nice and big desks and good chairs in the rooms so people can (imagine themselves) working there comfortably. You don’t have to buy everything at once, you can start with one room, rent it out, and react to the demand as you get the bookings. It’s fine if there’s no table for the first two days, as long as you’re communicating with your guest that you’re working on it. Wifi is just a non negotiable. If people can’t work, they can’t pay you. Simple as that. Get super fast internet. Just add the costs into your monthly pricing.Ok, now you’re sweet. So here’s what you’re going to do next.Build a page on Coworksurf and share it in some groups. You can definitely start there. Fun marketing tips:
Finding analogue love in a digital worldI’m a 33-year-old English guy that happens to live in Australia. Born in the 80s to a working-class family — home was a fairly rural and somewhat gritty area. Our 20-inch TV, which resembled a small cabinet along with our trusty VHS player, was, well the cornerstone of my childhood. Fast forward 25 years or so years and here we are. Technology has well and truly advanced. Perhaps Skynet and Judgement Day doesn’t seem so silly anymore, does it? The kid once sprawled on a pink shag pile rug wearing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pyjamas back in 1992 is sometimes at a loss to it all. Especially when it comes to our new era of online dating. (Or specifically, Tinder.).  look familiar? I’m currently in a very happy relationship but around 4 years ago I became single when my then partner left me. Hard times followed and I well and truly had my own little ‘pity party’. At this time a roommate observed this debacle and suggested I download and set up a Tinder profile. My initial reaction was to dislike his suggestion. However, after 2 more drinks, I was downloading the app and my friend was helping me source suitable profile photos. He showed me how it worked, we swiped right, and I then forgot the whole episode and went to bed. The following day upon opening the app again low and behold I had acquired 12 matches and 5 women had sent me greetings. ‘Wow,’ I thought, somebody out there still must find me attractive and may or may not want to sleep with me. Score! My first arranged ‘date’ was an odd affair. Lucy came across as a fun-loving cool chick that had a nice sense of humour, her photos depicted her as a gym-loving brunette with a couple of tattoos, a fluffy dog and youthful glow. We arranged to meet one night and go for a drink in my local neighbourhood. To cut a long story short we met and well, Lucy was not as I imagined or anything like her pictures either. It is still a little mystery to me but all I can say is that Lucy’s online profile was a great work of fiction. She was not like the girl I had been messaging. To put into context, imagine ordering the fish chowder next time you are out and having the waiter then bring you a rare blood dripped T-bone steak. Our conversation was slow and quite one-sided, mostly about her little dog, Timmy. Yes, I remembered its name. For some time later I was quite put off by the whole episode, but within a couple of weeks or so I had decided to give it another go. This time I experienced another harsh aspect: the fun game of messaging back and forth and then completely out of the blue…nothing. No reply. Nada. This isn’t really cool now, is it? You believe you are building rapport and then it just ends. Abruptly. You send a few messages to entice a reply but the more you do the more you die inside. One example was a girl I was messaging, and she suddenly does this. I am then out one night and I see her and she sees me. I act cool and decide that I won’t ignore her, but I won’t initiate a face-to-face conversation unless she approaches me. She doesn’t. The following day though she messages me. “Oh, hey sorry I don’t look at this much”, hmmm right. “Would you like to catch up for some wine next week”. The girl has got me, as I am quite the lover of fermented grape juice especially anything French. I message back and we arrange a Wednesday night date the following week with an undefined time. And guess what. POOF. She has disappeared, again.  The Shakespearean 'Super Like' So, where does this leave a ‘Xennial’ like me? Fully embracing social media but still half remembering a time when it wasn’t there. If you wanted to contact someone you either went and found them or rang their house and asked their mum if they were in. I am still a little lost when it comes to finding romance, and definitely not a romantic in any sense. Yet surely this level of interaction isn’t healthy as a society? I remember often a Sherlock Holmes quote, “No man burdens his mind with matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so” And I didn’t have one. I certainly didn’t cry myself to sleep over the ‘wine girl’ or seek counselling for my encounter with Lucy, but it did leave me feeling a tad deflated and jaded — ultimately with romance in the modern-day. Since then I have decided words and face-to-face encounters are the way I want to play it. If I see someone in the flesh that looks and sounds of interest then I will put my best foot forward, more than often aided by a beer or two. With this new attitude, I have had more frank and real conversations with girls who don’t flake or simply disappear like Harold Houdini’s handcuffs. It’s also how I met my fantastic partner — who I now get to wake up next to every day. I do miss that shag pile rug and 1992 though. Words by Alex Mitcheson  Once upon a time your typical surfer fit a relatively rigid mould. Physically they were lean and bronzed with an athlete’s silhouette, and in earlier days they rocked short shorts and sported seemingly ruffle-resistance hair. As times progressed, surfers became wilder, more unruly. And their looks followed. No matter what but, they were always marked as perennial beach bums or outcasts whose life revolved around chasing waves and hanging out by the ocean. You could pick a surfer out of a crowd with absolute certainty. These days though, surfing is a pursuit enjoyed by a lolly bag of participants who come in all shapes and sizes and from different backgrounds and religions. Don’t get us wrong, it still has a long way to go before it can be considered as diverse as other sports. And it’s all that accessible due to the cost of equipment compared to soccer or basketball (don’t even get us started on travelling with boards… yuk). But as this same equipment becomes more affordable and surf camps, surf hostels and surf retreats become more competitive to keep up with the growing “learn to surf” trend, increasing numbers of people will be able to take to the waves, which means there will be more people touched by this potentially life-changing pastime. Alas, knowing how to surf doesn’t necessarily make you a surfer in the same way that knowing how to drive a car makes you a formula one driver or owning golf clubs makes you a golfer. This brings us to the interesting and often character revealing question that many of us ask ourselves at least once in our life – what type of surfer am I? The Weekend WarriorThe Weekend Warrior spends most of their time in the inner city, but while your body is in the office your mind is elsewhere. You spend all week dreaming of empty waves and sunny days between tedious meetings and boring business lunches. Once Friday rolls around you hit the highway, checking every little spot on your way down or up the coast. Your business attire is swapped for boardies and a singlet. The only suit you wear for the next few days is made from neoprene. You’re on a mission to make the most of your weekend and nothing that can stop you now. Well… nothing except maybe a call from your boss asking you to explain why the company credit card has been billed for something called a “Magic Seaweed annual subscription”. Other than that though, the Weekend Warrior will surf just about anything that looks like a wave… because even the worst day surfing is better than the best day at work.  The Dawn PatrollerAn early riser by nature, the Dawn Patroller loves waking up before the sun and slipping into the water for a few quick waves at dawn. Whether the waves are worth getting out of bed for is somewhat inconsequential. You prefer to avoid crowds and the sight of a stacked carpark makes you sweat behind the knees. Happy to surf with mates but also just as content to paddle out solo, you’re used to surfing on your own schedule. Often the first one to sneak off during late night parties. If the Dawn Patroller isn’t the first one in the water their day is ruined. Somewhat similar to the Eternal Frother when it comes to keenness.  The Core LordA boardrider-level ripper, the Core Lord has been surfing since before they could walk. Dropping everything to chase swell is normal, as is blowing off work at the slightest whiff of a wave. The Core Lord doesn’t care about the latest trends or wearing surf-brand clothing. All they need is petrol money, a swell chart and a great excuse to feed the boss. You may never know your local Core Lord’s name and you’ll always be too afraid to ask, but whispers of their feats in the water are passed amongst other mere mortals in a tone that borders on reverence. As their name suggests, the Core Lord is a surfer in the truest sense of the word, addicted to the thrill that only wrangling a big wave spot or throwing themselves over the ledge on a mutant slab can provide. Could be accused of taking surfing too seriously, but that’s hard to argue if they absolutely rip.  The SocialiserThe Socialiser of your crew is the one who surfs just because everyone else is doing it. They admit that they’re not the best in the water, but their form when it comes to on-land antics is legendary. The first to shout a round, the loudest of the bunch. They’re an integral part of any crew and they do their best work when organising the accommodation or sorting out where to have drinks post-surf. There is, however, a dark side to the Socialiser’s presence, and it comes in the form of incessant requests for selfies. A selfie in the car, a selfie in your wetsuit, a selfie as they wax the wrong side of their board. The Socialiser never misses an opportunity to whip the phone out for a shot. Totally harmless though… as long as they’re not snapping selfies with a secret spot in the background.  The Over-Enthusiastic LearnerKelly Slater is your favourite surfer, you’ve got the lingo down pat and after a few lessons in crumbly knee-high waves, you’re ready to purchase a brand spanking new Channel Islands epoxy. Perhaps your skills don’t exactly match your ambitions, but what the heck. You can stand up all by yourself and you once rode a wave all the way to the shore, which means it’s only a matter of time before you’re charging Chopes. Believes that the best surfer “is the one having the most fun” and probably has a sticker on their van that says just that. If it’s not Rip Curl, Billabong, Quiksilver or Hurley, you don’t wear it. Doesn’t have a problem dropping some serious cash on flights and accommodation and flying all the way to Bali just to surf the lumpy burger at Old Man's.  The Eternal FrotherYou live to surf and everything in your life revolves around the waves. You may be married or in a committed relationship, but whoever your partner is, they know that surfing is and always will be your first love. You learned to surf with mates as a kid and family holidays were always to surf spots. Your dad taught you how to ride your first wave, just as his dad taught him. Perhaps you entered a few contests when you were younger, but they always proved too regimented, too limiting. You prefer to surf when you want, where you want, which could be anywhere within a few hours’ drive on any given day depending on the conditions. You surf because you love it, not because its seen as cool or trendy. You fish, you dive, you spend as much time as possible in the water. When you’re old and slow you’ll still hit the waves, albeit on a 9-foot plank. Why? Because the Eternal Frother never dies… they just gets a little greyer.  Surf culture has always had relatively firm roots in conservation, hinged on awareness of the natural environment and the effect we humans have on it. Our arenas where we choose to engage in wave riding are important to us — we want to look after them. But, did you know it’s likely most of the equipment that you have lovingly garnered enabling you to ride those pristine sheets of water are not always sustainable - or made with environmentally conscious practices? Big surf brands may appear to have environmentalism on their agenda, but most of the time chasing sales targets and profit margins make it inherently difficult for greener practises to take place. It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially if doing ‘your bit’ is something you take seriously, and you feel strongly about. But, fear not – there are solutions. We take a look through the essential gear for surfing and how eco-friendly alternatives are out there enabling you to hit the water with a clearer conscience.  WetsuitsThe Problem Let’s talk about neoprene. How do you feel about that admirable coiled up pile of black material sitting in the boot of your car or the bottom of your wardrobe? Nothing but warm feelings — quite literally I’d imagine. However, could you feel the same after learning how much energy and human cost goes into producing this petroleum-based material? The emitted gases from making neoprene are incredibly dangerous, chloroprene being the biggest concern. The town of LaPlace in Louisiana sits in the shadow of one such plant in the USA and has shocking air quality statistics as well as an obscene number of residents developing cancer. The Solution Moving away from petroleum-based neoprene is the necessary first step. Looking at natural rubber and how an ethically sourced and environmentally made alternative will replace it is the second. Yulex is an American corporation making huge changes in the wetsuit industry, albeit at a slow pace. By using sustainably sourced natural rubber in place of energy-intensive neoprene means up to 80% less climate-altering CO2 is emitted — and a resulting material which actually outperforms conventional neoprene. Patagonia leads the pack in this field and have some great products and innovative methodologies. There are though a small number of other brands using Yulex in their wetsuits - if you look hard enough you will find them.  courtesy of Notox Australia Surfboards The Problem Producing conventional high-performance fibreglass (polyurethane blank) surfboards is bad for the environment. Period. There are no two ways about it. Put simply, fibreglass uses intense amounts of energy to be made and polyester resin releases Volatile Organic Compounds capable of causing serious damage to the environment and humans alike. And once you’ve had your fun and your board is done- what then? Well, being unrecyclable its either going in the bin or destine to the back of your shed/garage to gather dust The Solution Have you ever heard of flax linen? Don’t worry if you haven’t, because not too many people have. This versatile and robust material is, in fact, one of the world’s oldest cultivated fabrics. Grown and harvested with little human interaction, the raw product requires no water, heat or chemicals in the refining process— it is simply blended in sophisticated high-tech machinery. Under the microscope flax is very similar to fibreglass, being close cell and with good dexterity in thermal and acoustic insulation. It takes an impressive 20% of the energy to produce in comparison AND is half the weight. No brainer? There are a handful of small surfboard manufacturers that integrate flax into their shapes with varying degrees. Notox who have factories in France and Australia take this material and sustainable board making to another level —definitely worth a look. Conclusion Surfing is a love affair with nature. Unfortunately, with the abundance of chemicals, synthetic dyes, and fragrances in irresponsibly manufactured products that we are bombarded with daily— we approach this relationship in a false manner most of the time. Let’s not forget other sundry items like surf wax and sunscreen either, these too are part of the bigger picture. But there is hope. Next time you find yourself looking at a new wetsuit, surfboard or needing to grab a block of wax on the way to the beach —Take the time to look at your options. You’ll be surprised that green alternatives are out there and more accessible than you’ve perhaps been lead to believe. Words by Alex MitchesonThe life of a location independent freelancer and that of a surfer go hand in hand. Not only does the freedom afforded to you as a freelance contractor allow you to surf whenever the waves are good, but being location independent also means you can post up at an exotic surf destination for days, weeks or even months at a time, with one eye on the swell forecast and the other on your email inbox. Of course these are just a couple of reasons why the freelance lifestyle works so well with the lifestyle of a surfer. In reality though there are actually a whole bunch of reasons that prove being a digital nomad who surfs is like living life in a waking dream. Check them out below and let us know in the comments section what you love most about being a digital nomad who surfs.  1. Strike missions become much easier to pull off Convincing your boss to let you hightail it towards the horizon on the hunt for swell rarely goes the way you would like it to when you’re fixed to an office chair… but you’ve got options. Option one is that you sub in a mannequin to sit at your desk and pray to Huey that your employer doesn’t notice you’ve skipped town for the day. Option two is that you rock up early with a bottle of Epicac and take a couple of swigs shortly before intercepting your boss on his or her way to their office, with the hope that your violent upchuck of stomach contents is enough to get you sent home. Neither of these options are fool proof. In fact, they're far from it. As a freelancer who answers to no one though, strike missions are much, much easier to coordinate. Simply book those flights or load up your car and point your nose in the direction of where that swells gonna hit. After all, what's the point of being your own boss if you're not going to take advantage of your freedom. 2. Flat days on surf trips don't seem so bad It’s day 3 of your 7-day surf strip to an exotic island chain in the Pacific and you’re yet to see a wave break over 30 centimetres. Your best mate has taken to drinking away his or her misery and has nearly consumed a weeks worth of beer within the first few days. Your other friend has been refreshing multiple swell forecasting websites simultaneously every 5 seconds in the hope that something, anything, will materialise. You on the other hand, while also ruing the lack of surf, have been somewhat productive with your downtime. Emails are being answered, new projects are being started and you’ve even managed to fire off some info to your accountant. But the best thing is that you’re doing this all in a beautiful setting and actually making use of your time. 3. There are plenty of coworking spaces that cater to freelancers who surf When I first started freelancing, coworking spaces most definitely existed, but they were generally located in cities or other major population hubs. With the boom of the #digitalnomad lifestyle, there’s been a massive uptick coworking spaces opening up in surf communities all over the world. Take our very own Coworksurf for example; a coworking and coliving booking site, community and ethos that offers more and more spaces to hit the keys and the pillow at night with numerous locations around the world. Here you can kick back, connect with likeminded individuals and surf your brains out in some of the hottest surf destinations on the planet. Oh… and you’ll even have plenty of opportunity to work, given the fact that most locations offer comfortable workspaces with solid Wi-Fi and ergonomic chairs in a productive environment.  4. You don't need to don business attire post-surf
Once upon a time I was a real estate agent. During this time I wheeled and dealed with the best of them, only to be chewed up and spat out like a wad of well-dressed gum. It was fun and exciting until it wasn’t. I blame an industry that’s so hell bent on appearing like they’re honest, they forget that being honest involves telling the truth. That being said, I didn’t like a lot of things about the job. One of which was the fact I had to wear a suit and tie, which means whenever I ducked off for a surf at lunch or stayed out a little too long in the morning, I’d have to rinse off and change straight into a suit. Gross. I’m happy to report though that as a freelancer, I don't wear a suit, shoes, tie, collared shirt or freshly pressed pants. And if I was to ever wear one again, say to meet a client at my office or conduct an interview, I would remain in board shorts and pluggers and just throw a blazer and shirt on for a business up top, ready to surf down below kinda look. 5. There are opportunities to turn surf trips into paid pressers This is flat out the dream scenario for anyone who writes copy for surf camps, surf lodges, surf hostels and surf schools around the world. An all expenses paid trip to an exotic surf destination where all you need to worry about is meeting deadlines and not overdosing on fresh juice while sampling quality waves from a buffet of world-class breaks. It’s something only a select few of us will be offered during our freelancing career, and it's an opportunity that you should seize with both salt encrusted hands. Being paid to write, film or photograph surfing whilst also surfing? Sign us up...  The current population of the USA stands at over 328 million people and every day all of those people must eat — it’s a fact of life. Agriculture though along with meat and dairy production has come to be the third biggest contributor to greenhouse emissions around the globe. It is calculated that approximately 150,000 tonnes of food are discarded across the nation daily. 
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 'High five for life' - @guroo |  'Endless gratitude.' - @lysssanicole |
We want to be the best curated selection of coworking and coliving spaces near surf, and to prepare for a big launch pretty soon we got a whole lot of cool stuff in the pipeline. Keep an eye out for us!! :))
This month, we have freshened up the site and added 4 👇 new epic partners:
This month, we have freshened up the site and added 4 👇 new epic partners:
Good ol friend Made is back in Bali, and his space is friggin pumping
Jonathan and Moa were so excited to join Coworksurf that they gave themselves a little too hard of a high five in Ericeira, Portugal. (Good one Moa on hiding your cast.)
Holy wow. Anna has totally nailed her space and community in Tenerife. Check it out - it's gorgeous.
And Radical Rita joined from Cascais, Lisbon
She's also great at hide and seek. Can you find her in this picture?
Plus Rui joined us with a bang from Areia Branca (near Peniche) securing his first team retreat already for October.
Lastly..
We're launching Coworksurf's world only 'Dream jobs around the world'!! Don't have one yet? Get yoself set up!
Questions for you:
Know a space we should add to our selection? Please let us know here!
We want to be the cutting edge newsletter magazine around community, (remote) work and surf.
Got cool remote work & surf videos, articles, podcasts or other tips that are happening? Share them with us by replying to this email (joe@coworksurf.com) + your preferred social media account for a feature :)
okthatsitthankyou.
MAKE.LIFE.EPIC.
Pier and Joe
Know a space we should add to our selection? Please let us know here!
We want to be the cutting edge newsletter magazine around community, (remote) work and surf.
Got cool remote work & surf videos, articles, podcasts or other tips that are happening? Share them with us by replying to this email (joe@coworksurf.com) + your preferred social media account for a feature :)
okthatsitthankyou.
MAKE.LIFE.EPIC.
Pier and Joe
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The 10 Best Coworking & Coliving Spaces Near Surf in 2019
Community, wifi and waves. Do you need more in life? What are the best coworking and coliving spaces near surf in 2019? Let’s dive right in. 🌊
From your friends at Coworksurf :)
📸 by Teddy Kelley
10. Outsite Haleiwa - Coliving near surf 🌏 North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
This is a fully-equipped villa with 5 bedrooms, 7 beds, 3 bathrooms and everything you need to experience a beautifully balanced beach lifestyle, including: comfortable beds and luxury linens in a private or shared rooms, spacious workspace with high-speed Wifi, a large kitchen and open air shaded workspace, as well as information and access to fun local activities. - Outsite
💰 $2010 US per month for a single private room
🏡 7 people
💻 134 mbps
🏡 7 people
💻 134 mbps
9. Coworkite - Coliving near surf 🌍 Cape Town, South Africa
CoworKite offers a unique opportunity to combine coworking and coliving with a lifestyle connected to the beach and the ocean. Our mission is to make co-working inspiring, good for your soul, place where you can network with like-minded people and feel like you belong. Deep and focused work is absolutely exhausting. We believe that people are not only happier, but also more productive when they can release some stress with a bit of kitesurfing after work. - Coworkite
💰 €960,- per month for a single private room
🏡 4 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 On the beach
🏡 4 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 On the beach
8. Selina - Coliving near surf 🌏 Bocas del Toro, Panama
Wondering where to stay in Bocas del Toro? Selina Bocas del Toro is at the epicenter of Isla Colon, Panama in the heart of Bocas Town. Hotels can’t compete with our friendly group of global travelers and locals. Fall in love with our community and share the good vibes by volunteering with Selina Gives Back. Come by for our super-popular happy hour every afternoon (especially fun on Friday!), the perfect introduction to our Selina family. - Selina
💰 €1440,- per month for a double 👥 private room with shared bathroom
🏡 50 rooms
💻 High (exact speed unknown)
🏖 On the beach
🏡 50 rooms
💻 High (exact speed unknown)
🏖 On the beach
7. Coworking in the Sun - Coworking near surf 🌍 Tenerife, Spain
After work, the dream island of Tenerife is yours to explore and enjoy. The year-round spring-feel of the island will give you that holiday vibe and, apart from having the opportunity to make the most of the Spanish way of life, you will be able to go diving, surfing, climbing, hiking, paragliding…or just watch the sun sink slowly below the horizon with an ice-cold drink in hand. - Coworking in the Sun
💰 €160,- per month for a fixed desk
🏡 20 fully equipped desks
💻 600 mbps
📆 Full weekly group activities calendar
🏖 15 minutes from the beach
🏡 20 fully equipped desks
💻 600 mbps
📆 Full weekly group activities calendar
🏖 15 minutes from the beach
6. Dojo - Coworking near surf 🌏 Canggu, Bali
Dojo is located one minute walk from Echo Beach, Canggu on the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. Our vision is to create a thriving, collaborative community of conscious co-workers that believe in work-life balance, shared knowledge, productivity and positive social and environmental change. - Dojo
💰 €85,- per month for 50 hrs of coworking
💰€940,- per month for a queen room (unlimited coworking and surf lessons included)
🏡 100+ people coworking, 12 coliving rooms
💻 300 mbps
📆 Full weekly activities calendar
🏖 1 minute from the beach
💰€940,- per month for a queen room (unlimited coworking and surf lessons included)
🏡 100+ people coworking, 12 coliving rooms
💻 300 mbps
📆 Full weekly activities calendar
🏖 1 minute from the beach
5. The Stoke Works - Coliving near surf 🌏 Aljezur, Portugal
The spacious coworking & coliving villa is located in a lovely, laid back location just two kilometers from the ocean. It has a super relaxed, welcoming vibe. Surrounded by the Costa Vicentina Natural Park it is embedded in a beautiful coastal landscape. Your dip in the pool is just an arm’s length from your coworking space! - The Stoke Works
💰€824,- per month for a 2-bed shared room
🏡 8 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
🌊 2 high class surf spots within a 5 minute drive
🌊 20 surf spots accessible within a 40 minute drive
🏡 8 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
🌊 2 high class surf spots within a 5 minute drive
🌊 20 surf spots accessible within a 40 minute drive
4. Surfing Nomads - Coliving near surf 🌏 Canggu, Bali
Come and stay at our beautiful villa located 300m from some great surf spots here in Canggu, Bali! We cater towards remote workers, freelancers and nomads of all types with coworking areas and a mixture of private and dorm rooms within our coliving villa. Morning yoga surfing lessons, family dinners, events & activities are just a few thing that are included with your stay, so what are you waiting for? - Made from Surfing Nomads
💰€460,- per month for a neat 4-bed dorm
🏡 12 people
💻 50 mbps
🏖 300 meters from the beach
🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive
🏡 12 people
💻 50 mbps
🏖 300 meters from the beach
🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive
3. SunDesk - Coliving near surf 🌏 Taghazout, Marocco
SunDesk is founded with the aim to give students, entrepreneurs, and professionals the opportunity to travel and work. Whether you’re a seasoned digital nomad or just someone looking for a focused getaway, we provide a quiet space and the facilities for you to be at your most productive. Keep in touch with your clients, maintain your sales and meet fellow coworkers from all over the world. - SunDesk
💰€768,- per month for a single private room (Daily breakfast and workspace included)
🏡 15 people
💻 200 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
🌊 10+ surf spots accessible within a 20 minute drive
🏡 15 people
💻 200 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
🌊 10+ surf spots accessible within a 20 minute drive
2. PipeDream - Coliving near surf 🌏 Peniche, Portugal
Just a short stroll from the beautiful beaches of Baleal, near the Portuguese fishing town of Peniche, we have the perfect coworking + coliving space for you. This is one of Portugal's top surfing locations with a thriving surf community, only 1 hour drive from Lisbon.
The space consists of a four bedroom property with private rooms and two annexed apartments joined by a sunny spacious courtyard with hammocks, palm trees and a shaded chill out area. The property has a very sociable layout, but provides privacy and space when needed. Our black cat Neo (straight out of the Matrix) is also great company when he puts his cat mind to it :)
The main coworking space consists of a long wooden table with ergonomic office chairs and hammock for taking that much deserved nap in between work and surf! We also have a standing desk and a few other more secluded spots around the house for your private phone or video calls.
We are so close to the ocean, you can hear it when you close your eyes and listen out! You will feel its energy calling all your senses as soon as you arrive. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it. - Paul from PipeDream
The space consists of a four bedroom property with private rooms and two annexed apartments joined by a sunny spacious courtyard with hammocks, palm trees and a shaded chill out area. The property has a very sociable layout, but provides privacy and space when needed. Our black cat Neo (straight out of the Matrix) is also great company when he puts his cat mind to it :)
The main coworking space consists of a long wooden table with ergonomic office chairs and hammock for taking that much deserved nap in between work and surf! We also have a standing desk and a few other more secluded spots around the house for your private phone or video calls.
We are so close to the ocean, you can hear it when you close your eyes and listen out! You will feel its energy calling all your senses as soon as you arrive. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it. - Paul from PipeDream
💰€1250,- per month for a private double 👥 room
🏡 10 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 A stroll from the beach
🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive
🏡 10 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 A stroll from the beach
🌊 5 surf spots accessible within a 10 minute drive
1. The Arctic Coworking Lodge - Coliving near surf 🌏 Lofoten, Norway
Come check out our coliving/coworking space in Lofoten, Norway! Surrounded by Norway´s most awesome nature, we´re located 5 minutes away from the world-class arctic surf spot of Unstad. If you are seeking community/coworking, surf and awe-inspiring nature experiences - there is no where better! Come get inspired in our beautiful playground. - Rolf and Stian from the ACL
💰€1720,- per month for a private double 👥 room
🏡 12 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
🏡 12 people
💻 100 mbps
🏖 5 minutes from the beach
And those are our top 10 coworking and coliving spaces around the world this year! Did we miss any? Let us know!
We hope you found what you were looking for. :)
Stay stoked! 🐙
We hope you found what you were looking for. :)
Stay stoked! 🐙
The Undiscovered Waves of the Pacific, Panama
La Barqueta
“For the past 15 years me and a handful of friends from the area around David have been coming down here on the weekends to surf. Sometimes just to get wet and wash of our week of working, sometimes to surf perfect waves all by ourselves. On good days now there’s maybe ten to fifteen guys out there, that’s what we call a crowded day”
- local surfer Adolfo
La Barqueta breaks on all swell directions and is part of Panama’s less explored coastline, with only a handful of others in the water on a busy day. It's an exposed beach break with a consistent but sometimes challenging wave and very little crowd. It’s somewhere competent intermediate & advanced surfers should be flocking to as a playground of improvement and relative solitude. La Barquata works best around mid tide, high tide turns into a shore break and low tide closes out but the whitewash could be surfed by beginners on a calm day.
Its only down side is that it can't really hold swells larger than 5ft without a lot of water moving around, leading to sometimes challenging or unsurfable conditions.
La Barqueta gets waves all year round but works best in the dry season (December till May). During the rainy season it only works in the mornings as the wind changes from a light offshore breeze to a strong onshore wind around noon messing up the surf.
Since La Barqueta is a beach break and the sand is constantly moving the break changes every day. Usually the best spot to surf is in front of the big white building, just a bit left from the beach entrance, this is where you’ll find some friendly locals in the water on weekends.
From all the spots in the area La Barqueta catches most swell, if it’s flat you’re not going to find any waves in the area.
There’s only one surf shop in the area, Full Drop, David. They pretty much sell everything you need for surfing, from wax to rashguards. However they don’t rent out boards and will only have a couple for sale starting at 600$. There’s no other places to rent boards a La Barqueta. Bring your own board!
Las Lajas
Las Lajas is a beginner proof beach break in the area is Las Lajas, within an 1.45 hour drive of La Barqueta. This long stretch of beach offers great conditions for beginners and intermediates to improve. Las Lajas runs best from mid to high tide. You can rent foam boards at Johnny Fiesta’s hostel for 10$ a day, they also offer accommodation starting at 10$ a night. If you’re looking for a shortboard you can check with the local surf school, they’re only open on weekends for lessons but there’s usually someone around to get you set up with a board.
Coco beach
To get to Coco beach you have to cross through two checkpoints at the Costa Rican border, don’t forget your passport! There are no places to rent a board.
Coco beach is the perfect place to go when the swell gets too big for La Barqueta to hold (over 5 ft) and it’s just a big mess out there. It’s only a 1,5 hour drive from La Barqueta. The peninsula stop most swell coming in which makes it usually about half the size of La Barqueta. The waves get better & bigger on southern swells.
If you’re looking for an awesome weekend trip both Bocas del Toro & Morro Negrito offer some world class breaks that are definitely worth checking out when you’re here!
- text by Isabelle Eijkelkamp, picture by Sandra Reep-Gruber
“For the past 15 years me and a handful of friends from the area around David have been coming down here on the weekends to surf. Sometimes just to get wet and wash of our week of working, sometimes to surf perfect waves all by ourselves. On good days now there’s maybe ten to fifteen guys out there, that’s what we call a crowded day”
- local surfer Adolfo
La Barqueta breaks on all swell directions and is part of Panama’s less explored coastline, with only a handful of others in the water on a busy day. It's an exposed beach break with a consistent but sometimes challenging wave and very little crowd. It’s somewhere competent intermediate & advanced surfers should be flocking to as a playground of improvement and relative solitude. La Barquata works best around mid tide, high tide turns into a shore break and low tide closes out but the whitewash could be surfed by beginners on a calm day.
Its only down side is that it can't really hold swells larger than 5ft without a lot of water moving around, leading to sometimes challenging or unsurfable conditions.
La Barqueta gets waves all year round but works best in the dry season (December till May). During the rainy season it only works in the mornings as the wind changes from a light offshore breeze to a strong onshore wind around noon messing up the surf.
Since La Barqueta is a beach break and the sand is constantly moving the break changes every day. Usually the best spot to surf is in front of the big white building, just a bit left from the beach entrance, this is where you’ll find some friendly locals in the water on weekends.
From all the spots in the area La Barqueta catches most swell, if it’s flat you’re not going to find any waves in the area.
There’s only one surf shop in the area, Full Drop, David. They pretty much sell everything you need for surfing, from wax to rashguards. However they don’t rent out boards and will only have a couple for sale starting at 600$. There’s no other places to rent boards a La Barqueta. Bring your own board!
Las Lajas
Las Lajas is a beginner proof beach break in the area is Las Lajas, within an 1.45 hour drive of La Barqueta. This long stretch of beach offers great conditions for beginners and intermediates to improve. Las Lajas runs best from mid to high tide. You can rent foam boards at Johnny Fiesta’s hostel for 10$ a day, they also offer accommodation starting at 10$ a night. If you’re looking for a shortboard you can check with the local surf school, they’re only open on weekends for lessons but there’s usually someone around to get you set up with a board.
Coco beach
To get to Coco beach you have to cross through two checkpoints at the Costa Rican border, don’t forget your passport! There are no places to rent a board.
Coco beach is the perfect place to go when the swell gets too big for La Barqueta to hold (over 5 ft) and it’s just a big mess out there. It’s only a 1,5 hour drive from La Barqueta. The peninsula stop most swell coming in which makes it usually about half the size of La Barqueta. The waves get better & bigger on southern swells.
If you’re looking for an awesome weekend trip both Bocas del Toro & Morro Negrito offer some world class breaks that are definitely worth checking out when you’re here!
- text by Isabelle Eijkelkamp, picture by Sandra Reep-Gruber
They just went. The explorers. The pioneers. The CWS scouts of remote work and surf spots.
Our epic little crew in Panama is on a mission to explore the land in search for the best spots to work and surf. All they have is a Jeep, some boards and each other. What they find is as exciting as the trip itself. Enjoy!
Our epic little crew in Panama is on a mission to explore the land in search for the best spots to work and surf. All they have is a Jeep, some boards and each other. What they find is as exciting as the trip itself. Enjoy!
To be continued..
These legends are launching Coworksurf Panama in October!
CWS Panama is our new luxurious coliving resort with solid wifi, the best weekend adventures and waves breaking 100 meters from your window. If you manage to grab the limited launch offer, these are the legends you'll be staying with.
CWS Panama is our new luxurious coliving resort with solid wifi, the best weekend adventures and waves breaking 100 meters from your window. If you manage to grab the limited launch offer, these are the legends you'll be staying with.
Coworksurf is a coliving space for people who travel and work on the road and value being near the waves, having other awesome people around and are wanting to surf or learn how to surf. We offer accommodation in beautiful locations with a homey community feel, solid shared workspaces and grab & go surfboards.
One of the main reasons why people book with us is the friendly community. Now we are partnering with a resort in Panama to create a sweet coliving paradise there. Check out the beautiful Coworksurf Panama location with more info here.
Since La Barqueta's uncrowded wave breaks 100 meters from your balcony, it's a perfect match for a central-american Coworksurf.
Since La Barqueta's uncrowded wave breaks 100 meters from your balcony, it's a perfect match for a central-american Coworksurf.
But, there is one issue: there is no remote worker community... yet. We're building it from scratch. And so we've organized a team to create an instant vibe, make it homey AF and and spread the word. They will be the Coworksurf Panama beta tester. The explorer. The Columbus of remote work. And the right hand of Donna and Juan to turn their over 80 room resort into a pumping Digital Nomad village. Most importantly, they will be your fam & crew when you're there.
Meet the amazing CWS Panama launch crew:
Meet the amazing CWS Panama launch crew:
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Lukie
Freelance Marketing & PR from Amsterdam I'm a freelancer who loves to surf, so I'm eager to explore the possibilities of working from another country. I'm full of energy and always on the lookout for fun stuff to do. I can easily get along with people and enjoy initiating and facilitating group events. Would love to share a workplace with other freelancers, while improving my surf skills :) www.getlukie.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukiestalenhoef. https://www.instagram.com/get.lukie/ |
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Thega-Alem
Digital Marketing Coordinator from San Diego I love exploring this world and meeting new people and learning about new cultures and philosophies. I enjoy creating a space where people feel comfortable being unapologetically themselves. I love traveling and being outdoors in a community and alone and I think Coworksurf will finally allow me to work on my goal of learning to surf by going out into the water consistently. www.linkedin.com/in/Thega-Alem-Berhe-713053137 https://www.instagram.com/thegaalem/ |
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Nancy
Fashion photographer and docu vlogger from Amsterdam I love to surf and to photograph the beautiful country, nature, people and of course the co-working space. Looking forward to work with great inspiring and adventurous people! www.nancyschoenmakers.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZZCUCJKidSv2Lg4VgsjQPg https://www.instagram.com/nancyschoenmakers/ |
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Avery and Sam
Both work in Sales from Arizona I (Avery) stayed at the CoworkSurf in Canggu and loved it! The constant brain storming and growth, developing & creating with the coworking environment was amazing. I was constantly inspired and loved building something with so many different creatives from all over the world. Coworksurf is the perfect combo of work and play. We are from Utah & Arizona and are so excited to come to Panama because we love central america, and we are stoked to learn from you legends! https://www.instagram.com/avemarin_ https://www.instagram.com/samspencer00 |
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Isabelle
Surf Instructor and all round legend from Netherlands I starting surfing four years ago and fell in love with it since day one. The last year I’ve been traveling and surf coaching in Indonesia and Europe. I’m super excited to go to Panama and experience a different culture, meet some amazing people and great food. https://www.instagram.com/isabelleijkelkamp |
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Sandra
Educational design coordinator and freelance photographer from Netherlands Frenchy living in the Netherlands who tries to travel as much as possible. Travel and business photographer (FotoGenoten) who loves life and the challenges it offers. I love working with and being around young(er) ambitious people in the midst of their professional (and personal) development. And I like to help people grow in a way that fits them and their culture and that helps them make sense if themselves and the world around them. Apart from being a photographer, I’m also an educational designer with lots of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation education (hands-on and conceptually sound). Educational design: check out www.inholland.com/IBIS fotogenoten.com https://www.instagram.com/FotoGenoten |
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Jennifer
Branding and Yogi from Richmond Virginia I have been into solo travel for a few years and Central America has been my favorite, this mid-west girl is slowly getting better at surfing each time. I have an advertising background and just finished my masters degree with a premier graduate program in Business and Branding, the VCU Brandcenter. I am looking to start independent consulting (and be a digital nomad myself). I am excited for the beach and time to reflect on how I want to communicate my business. I am excited about the group of people going, I think I can learn a lot from them already working freelance in creative fields. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennroot/ http://www.jennroot.work https://www.instagram.com/jenn010r |
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Ainhoa
Photographer, blogger surfer and skater from Barcelona. My name is Ainhoa and im from Barcelona. I love take photos and write around the life. I have a blog " walkingwithnhoa" and my dream is walk around the world. when no im walking i am surfing the city!! se u soon for walk together!! https://www.instagram.com/ainhoa_garcia |