Arne has been surfing since 1996 and runs the camp with extensive knowledge from surf trips around the world. He is a qualified and licensed surf instructor from the British Surfing Association (BSA) and the International Surfing Association (ISA) as well as a qualified sports scientist and personal and fitness trainer. With his ISA Level 2 Surf Coach Diploma and many years of experience, he offers professional and holistic coaching.
There were moments of powerful energy and solid surf. Times that asked for patience and trust. And others that reminded us why we started this journey in the first place.
From shared waves and meaningful retreats to quieter weeks that invited reflection, this year gently asked us to slow down, tune in and keep going together.
Here's a look back at the moments that shaped this year at A-Frame Surf & Yoga El Palmar.
The year began with seriously solid surf in February and April.
Clean lines, consistent swell and days that reminded us just how grounding the ocean can be when everything aligns.
Those sessions filled the camp with calm focus and quiet stoke. The kind that stays with you long after you've dried off.
Spring was a mixed bag. Bookings were lighter than we'd hoped, but the vibes remained high. And honestly… that's life. Not every season is about full calendars. Sometimes it's about:
Presence
Shared meals
Unrushed surf sessions
Staying true to what we believe in
We rolled with it. Just like we always do.
April brought something truly special: our women-only Surf the Moment Retreat with Sabrina Bonanati and Solveig Schlüter. This week was about far more than technique.
It was about awareness, connection and being fully present… with yourself, the ocean and the women around you. Together we explored limits gently, celebrated small wins and collected moments of joy that went far beyond the lineup.
A reminder that surfing can be a deeply personal, empowering practice. Especially when shared.
Also in April, we hosted our one-week longboard course with Coko and It's Only Water. Longboarding invites a different rhythm.
Smoother, softer and more playful. With a foundation of surf knowledge, participants immersed themselves in an intensive yet balanced week of water time, movement, rest and connection.
Set against the natural beauty of El Palmar, it became a lesson in flow, in letting go of the urge to rush and even surfboard design!
Spring was also when the reality of our 20-year anniversary truly settled in.
Twenty years of building a life in El Palmar… of welcoming people from all over the world. Of shared waves, yoga practices, long conversations and a lifestyle shaped by the ocean.
It's humbling to look back and deeply motivating to keep going.
In June, we welcomed The Surfing Copywriter to the A-Frame team. A storyteller who writes from within surf culture, not just about it.
With years of experience and a deep understanding of what makes places like A-Frame special, his goal is simple: to make the feeling of this place tangible through words.
Our blog has always been a space for reflection. Now it's also becoming a place for deeper stories that connect and resonate.
This year, we also opened a conversation about our logo. And in doing so, honoured where it came from.
Designed by Stefan, a childhood friend of Arne's, the A-Frame logo became a quiet companion on journeys all over the world.
Stefan passed away a little over a year ago. Remembering him reminded us that A-Frame has always been shaped by people, relationships and shared visions. His spirit remains part of this place… still with us. Always.
In July we released our yoga schedule for the fall season – a moment that felt especially meaningful.
Surfing and yoga have always belonged together here. One challenges and energises, the other grounds and restores. Yin and yang. As surfing pushes us outward, yoga invites us inward.
Releasing the fall schedule wasn't just about classes. It was a reaffirmation of balance, intention and listening more closely to what we need.
July was also about celebration and invitation!
To mark our 20th anniversary, we launched two special offers designed to make it easier for more people to experience A-Frame in the fall.
One encouraged returning guests to bring someone new. Because this place has always grown through shared experiences.
The other offered something we value deeply: freedom. Flexible arrival dates, longer stays and for the first time, a way to make it easier for families to get their saltwater fix!
No rigid schedules. Just waves, yoga, nourishing food and sunsets lived at your own rhythm.
July also brought something a little different: Salty Vibes, our new Spotify playlist.
Because at A-Frame, music isn't just background noise. It's part of the journey.
From the warm harmonies of Amistat to the retro sounds of Allah-Las and the gentle psychedelia of Dope Lemon, this playlist flows like a perfect day by the ocean.
Music with character, salty soul and an easy rhythm. Made for road trips, post-surf evenings or dreaming about your next wave. Hear it. Share it. Live it!
In September our 20th season officially began… with sunshine, 30-degree days and magical sunrise surf sessions that felt almost unreal.
The evenings stayed warm and slow, perfect for shared dinners on the terrace overlooking the sea. And with the summer crowds gone, El Palmar returned to its calmer rhythm. More space in the lineup. More room to breathe. More time to experience the village at its most relaxed and authentic.
Behind the scenes we made small but meaningful changes. Fine details in the kitchen, new ideas in our daily flow and an even more harmonious rhythm in camp life.
You might not notice every adjustment right away, but you'll definitely feel it.
October was about carrying the A-Frame feeling beyond El Palmar.
To celebrate two decades of waves, friendships and shared memories, we launched our 20th anniversary apparel collection. T-shirts, cozy hoodies and sweatshirts for women, men and kids – comfortable, timeless and sustainably made.
These pieces were designed to last and to remind you of salt in your hair, warm evenings and mornings by the sea.
October also brought moments that felt deeply connected.
We welcomed Steffi from OhhhMhhh to our family camp together with her son and daughter, alongside Sarah and her children. A full-circle moment rooted in friendship, memory and care. Surfing became a bridge between past and present, between loss and connection.
At the same time we partnered with Surfers Magazine. We were featured in their Camp Guide and interviewed about 20 years of A-Frame. We also collaborated on a giveaway shared across both our channels.
It was a proud milestone and a celebration of the journey so far!
And then came November… or as we now call it: Surfember.
Perfect swell, golden light and waves that seemed to arrive on cue. From the terrace, guests watched endless lines roll in, coffee in hand, smiling without needing to say a word.
When the ocean grew too powerful out front, we headed to Barbate, our quiet place nearby. Gentle waves, clean sets and space to learn and enjoy surfing without pressure.
If we're being honest, it was an intense month with lots of festivities and waves. But reading your messages and feeling how much your time here meant to you?
That gave us energy all over again.
As we approach the end of our 20th anniversary year, we finally took a moment to look back at everything this special season held for us.
At times it felt like we had to work hard just to keep moving forward. But twenty years of A-Frame have taught us something essential: surfing and yoga mirror life. Conditions change. Moods shift. We adapt. Some moments ask for strength, others invite softness.
This year offered us all of it.
As we close this anniversary chapter, we're already looking ahead. Besides our core programme of weekly surf classes, open yoga and family holiday packages, 2026 will bring new opportunities to move, create and connect:
Yoga & Ceramics Retreat returns in February for the fourth time (with a few spots still available)
Brand-new Pilates, Yoga & Surf Retreat with Solveig Schlüter
Embodied You Retreat in May, which is a fresh and deeper approach to yoga, somatics, breathwork and energy healing (formerly Be You Retreat)
Surf the Moment Women's Retreat for the very first time in November
Monthly longboard packages
And many more shared moments yet to come
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of these twenty years, dear friend. The shared waves, the laughter, the challenges, the energy that carried us into this next chapter… we've loved every single moment.
We wish you a beautiful Christmas season and look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.