A-Frame Story
New Year's Eve 1999, Arne is in El Palmar for the first time
He had started surfing six years earlier, then gave his first courses in 1996 - and now here he was. On his travels, he kept coming back to the "Andalusia" chapter in the Stormrider Guide. The landscape, the weather and, of course, the waves - he wanted to go there. And stay.
But first he went to university in Hamburg and spent the summer months working as a surf instructor in France. In 2004, he visited Andalusia for the third time and a year later he had the idea for a surf camp in El Palmar on Fuerteventura. The beach is right on the doorstep, the waves are great and the small, friendly town opposite Morocco offers pure relaxation.
In the meantime, Arne shared his ideas with his girlfriend Katrin, who worked as a yoga teacher. And so the surf camp became the surf and yoga camp.
The opening of the A-Frame surf camp in El Palmar
In the fall of 2005, the two opened the A-Frame surf and yoga camp. Named after the A-Frame that breaks right in front of the camp. It was the first ever surf camp in El Palmar and in southern Spain, not to mention yoga. The motto was simply to try it out. If no one booked, we'd just go back to Hamburg.
First season. Employees: 2. Arne gave surfing lessons, took care of the office and the shopping. Katrin gave the first yoga classes. Guests: you could easily count them on one hand.
This is what it looked like. Arne held his "theory" surf course on the camp terrace, sometimes for just one guest. And Katrin cooked for the small group in the evening. This is how pioneers must feel.
Over time, the A-Frame Surf & Yoga Camp grew. In 2007, Toni started as a cook and the first surf instructor could be paid. Juani has grown very close to our hearts. She has been a part of our small company since the very beginning and it's hard to imagine life without her.
Katrin and Arne have now been at home in El Palmar for more than 10 years. They now have two children. Their dream has become a place where their guests feel at home. That was the idea.