Surfer with raised hands at sunset

So what did 2025 really look like?

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.

  • Surfer pulls into green barrel, backlit by the sun
    A surfer pulls into a bright green barrel that is bathed in sunlight - light breaks through the curved wave wall

A powerful start to the year with solid early spring surf

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.

  • Breakfast buffet with healthy and nutritious dishes
    A stylish breakfast buffet with fresh fruit, wholegrain products, yogurt and other nutritious options

Opening the doors and rolling with it

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.

  • Surfer in wetsuit walks with focused gaze to the sea
    A surfer in a wetsuit walks towards the sea with a concentrated expression on her face

Surf the Moment and the art of being present

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.

  • Group eats and chats after surfing in the garden of A-Frame
    A relaxed group of surfing guests sits at the table in A-Frame's garden, eating together and enjoying the post-surfing atmosphere

Longboarding and learning to slow down

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!

  • Tower of El Palmar seen from the water towards land
    The historic tower of El Palmar rises above the coastline, photographed from the water with land in the background

Reflecting on 20 years of A-Frame

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.

An off-season full of reflections (and optimism)

  • Surfer takes off on a wave, captured by the water photographer
    A surfer takes off on a clean wave, close and dynamic from the water on a sunny day

Growing our voice and welcoming a new storyteller

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.

  • Group doing yoga on the beach under a pink morning sky
    A quiet yoga session takes place on the beach in the early morning, the pink sky creates a peaceful and focused mood

Surfing and yoga as yin and yang

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.

  • Surf camp terrace with guests watching the waves on a sunny day
    Some guests sit on the sunny terrace of the A-Frame surf camp and gaze relaxed at the sea and the approaching waves

Celebrating 20 years by opening the doors wider

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.

  • A-Frame Spotify playlist
    The A-Frame playlist "Salty Vibes" is open in the Spotify app on a smartphone and offers relaxed, surf-inspired music

Salty vibes and the soundtrack of camp life

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!

Autumn and our 20th anniversary celebrations

  • Two girls sit on surfboards, one gives the other a playful kiss
    Two girls sit next to each other on their surfboards in the line-up. One gives the other a playful kiss on the cheek

Opening our doors for autumn and welcoming everyone home

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.

  • Friends of A-Frame pose on the beach in the 20th anniversary collection
    Friends of A-Frame El Palmar pose on the beach, wearing the exclusive 20th anniversary clothing collection

Wearing the A-Frame spirit and celebrating two decades

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.

  • Arne, Katrin and their children pose on the sand dunes for a family photo
    Arne, Katrin and their two children stand together on the sand dunes and smile for the camera - a relaxed family photo for the 20th anniversary interview with Surfersmag.de

Full circle moments and meaningful collaborations

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!

  • Surfer riding a right-hand wave on a clear, sunny morning
    A surfer rides down the front of a clean right-hand wave that breaks behind him - in the light of the morning sun under a clear sky

Surfember and when everything comes together

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.

December and beyond: Closing one chapter and looking ahead

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.

What others have to say

  • Sebastian Münkel

    a month ago

    Absolutely fantastic time we had here, great beaches, lovely staff, fantastic food, -- no really, the food is among the best I have ever had, day after day -- very lovely guests and super convenient distances to the surfing.

    - Surfing: the whole schedule is centered around the surf times, and for good reason. The staff make sure that the groups always get the best waves of the day, even if that means taking a short drive somewhere else. The equipment is great for learners (I cannot judge the hard tops etc) with clean, relatively new, and fitting wet-suits. In addition to the lessons we can always go for more sessions privately, with access to the equipment.

    - Lessons: The teachers are fantastic, their joy is contagious, they made learning super fun. In addition to great individual feedback there are additional offerings in terms of lectures, e.g. on wave theory. The video analysis also really helps to internalize some additional feedback. But again, the teachers are great!

    - Food: Great food, always accommodating dietary restrictions, and with great variety. Every meal is different to the last, the meals are flexible if you're almost an hour late it's still usually fine, and they make sure you have enough of all the food you could want. Unlimited coffee, tea and fruit is also a great addition. Beer and wine cost extra, but at basically no markup. But once again: best food, fantastic, 6/5.

    - Lodgings: Apartments where you will either be with the group you traveled with, or other guests. Clean, quiet, daily cleaning, everything you really need if you want to retreat during the day, or even cook a meal. WiFi is fast enough to fulfill most use cases.

    - Common areas: allow all levels of socializing, provide fantastic views, promote meeting your fellow surfers.

    - Yoga: I am not a fan of yoga, so I didn't do any, but the ones who did said is was great.

    - Additional services: Photos from your surfing adventures and mishaps are available, massages, additional outings outside of the surf lessons (for example surf-skating) are on offer as well, providing a beautiful well rounded programme for the entire day.

    - Vibes: 10/10, chill, social, down-to-earth, helpful.

    Overall, better holiday than for example a ski trip in November (and I love skiing too). Come here!

  • Tobias_ keller.t

    7 months ago

    This has already been our second stay at A-Frame and again it was a super relaxed week and overall a holiday that can‘t be much better. We, a family with a toddler, can ony recommend this place to other families who are looking for a relaxed holiday with yoga, surf and amazing food. The people at A-Frame from surf coach to kitchen staff are just super friendly and you feel very much taken care at all times. Thanks so much to the whole team for another great holiday experience. We‘ll be back for sure.

  • Victor Lombardi

    7 months ago

    Pretty much a perfect vacation. I learned to surf, did a lot of yoga, soaked up the beautiful weather, ate delicious food, and met some wonderful people. I don't speak German or Spanish and the staff switched to English to make everything easy for me. El Palmar is a very chill area and from there it's easy to make day trips to Conil, Vejer, and Cádiz.

  • Yoav Nassau

    a year ago

    Thoroughly enjoyed our stayed at A-Frame. Super friendly and helpful staff. We were always received with a smile and welcoming attitude. Shoutout to the kitchen people who were kind, and did an incredible job of serving tasty, healthy, and varied food that we all loved. We came with three small children and they all had a great time - surf lessons, board games, ping-pong table among other fun activities.

    The house was spacious, well-kept, and clean. Would definitely stay there again if visiting El Palmar in the future.

  • Inga

    2 months ago

    One of the best sufcamps I´ve visited so far. Excellent sufcoaches with a great accomodation and catering nearby the beach.

🥳 Celebrating 20 Years of Surf, Yoga & Community 🥳