With Vincent Guelfi – Coach, competitor & elite surf trainer
Join an immersive longboard retreat in Vieux-Boucau, France, hosted at Atlantic Surf Lodge and coached by Vincent Guelfi, a respected surfer, longboard specialist and high-level coach.
This retreat is a full longboard immersion, combining technique, flow, style, surf culture and real progression, in a positive and supportive environment.
Your coach: Vincent Guelfi
Born and raised in Vieux-Boucau, Vincent has dedicated his life to the ocean and surfing.
He competed at European level in surf and longboard in the early 2000s and has since focused on coaching and performance development.
Key highlights & results
- Vice-Champion of Landes Longboard Master -2024 & 2025
- Champion of Landes Surf Master -2024
- Vice-Champion of Landes Surf Master -2025
Coaching experience
- Over 25 years of coaching experience
- Surf coach since 1999 at Vieux-Boucau Surf Club
- Event coach and organizer for more than 10 years
- Coach of Kauli Vaast, who became Olympic Champion, one of the leading figures in modern competitive surfing
Vincent helps you refine your style, improve wave reading, gain confidence and bring your surfing to the next level :with precision, passion and deep surf knowledge.
Longboard Week Program
- 5 coached longboard sessions with Vincent
→ all sessions filmed
→ personalized video analysis - 1 theory session (technique, positioning, lines, flow & style)
- Visit to a longboard shaper
- 1 surf mobility training session with Salty Coaching Trainer Paul
- Visit to the ADH-Open Longboard Competition with analysis
A complete journey toward better surfing and long-term progression.
Practical info
Dates: 5th to 12 of June 2027
Location: Atlantic Surf Lodge , Vieux-Boucau, France
Level required: must be able to surf
Limited spots available
Retreat price: €400
Longboard. Flow. Style. Ocean energy.
A week to reconnect, progress and surf better.
Booking process
- Select the dates: 5 to 12 June 2027
- Select your room
- Select the “longboard week” under ADD ONS
- Enter your personal details and confirm the request (even if it says Confirm and pay; this is only a request that still needs to be confirmed by us)
Let’s introduce Vincent !
You have been surfing for more than 40 years – what did surfing teach you about life? Why is it so important to you?
Surfing teaches you from a young age to play with the waves, the current, and the ever-changing natural environment, helping you develop your sea legs.
Later on, to continue progressing, you have to adapt and persevere. Competition brings rigour to your training. Travelling broadens your mind and allows you to discover other cultures.
Most importantly, being in contact with the ocean is like a breath of fresh air that allows you to recharge your batteries and boost your energy with each session.
What kind of surfers are you wanting to target with the Longboard Week in Vieux Boucau? How good do I need to surf?
Intermediate to advanced longboarders aged 30 to 65. They are able to paddle out to sea and catch waves independently. They are starting to glide well and control their trajectories. Wishing to continue improving in positioning, wave catching, cross stepping or noseriding.
What’s the first thing you tell people you are coaching? Is there something that is really easy to change that helps them progress much faster? Or more generally asking: How can you help them bring their surfing to the next level?
The first thing is to carefully observe the spot where you are going to position yourself and catch waves. The second thing is to have fun and catch waves, so you need a board that is suited to your level and the waves on the day.
Thanks to some advice and video coaching, you will be able to see yourself on video. This will help you become aware of areas that need improvement and make faster progress.
What are the basics to become a good longboarder?
Have a smooth trajectory to achieve good speed and fluidity on the wave.
Start riding your board up to the nose with style!
How important is style in longboarding? How can you improve your style?
For some longboard enthusiasts, ‘style is everything’.
You can improve your style by trying to position your board on the trim line of the wave and take advantage of the speed. Try to eliminate unnecessary movements, without overdoing it like shortboarders do.
For many years you were the coach of Kauli Vaast who happened to win the first Olympic gold medal in surfing in 2024. You started working with him when he was 11. Did you already know back then that he is a big talent or was it hard work? Or both? What makes the difference between a good surfer and an excellent surfer?
Yes, when Kauli arrived at VB as a youngster, he already had a very good level of surfing that promised him an international future. We set goals quite early on. Despite being a three-time European junior champion, Kauli wanted to continue to improve, train and challenge himself. For an athlete, being determined, listening to your coach and wanting to achieve your goals is the attitude of a champion.
“Talent might make you good, but it s your attitude and work that will make you great”
You are a vital part of the Vieux Boucau surf club, you are organizing competitions/ events, you are a surf coach – what is the best part of your job?
Yes, I coached the young people of Vieux Boucau for 15 years. We organised French Longboard Championships and, for six years, the French leg of the European Longboard Circuit. It was wonderful to have international longboarders at the VB spot, which was a source of inspiration for future champions of the surf club.
The best part of the job is passing on your passion to young and old alike, and seeing them progress and have fun in the waves. Loving surfing and, of course, respecting the ocean.
You travelled the world to compete and to surf and you have seen a lot of beautiful places. Why did you always choose to come back to Vieux-Boucau? What makes it so special to you – regarding the surf and the lifestyle?
Yes, lots of travelling to magical places with amazing waves: Indonesia, Tahiti, Australia, Hawaii… I really like beach break waves where you can really feel the sea, probably because I’ve been surfing in Vieux Boucau since I was very young. The region is quite natural: between the ocean, 180 km of dunes and the largest forest in Europe, life is very good there. What’s more, you can enjoy quiet sessions with friends and eat very well, with duck breast, foie gras, etc.
What’s your favorite place in Vieux-Boucau?
My favourite spot is facing the waves, on the seawall (south beach) of Vieux Boucau, where you can see surfers, fishermen on the seawall and beautiful sunsets.
