Surf Sommelier

•The RI.Perspective
A surf trip to Portugal led Strader and Laura to rethink their life in California and move to the Atlantic coast, where they opened Blanco Bungalow. Here, Strader, known as The Surf Sommelier, offers an experience that brings together his passion for the ocean, food and wine. Surf Somm Series is a surf retreat for seven intermediate and advanced surfers, structured as a progression along the Portuguese coast: starting in the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, it heads north through Santa Cruz and Peniche before concluding in Nazaré.

Along the way, different waves offer participants the chance to broaden their experience, with surf spots chosen according to wind, tides and swell. Together with the coaches, they review footage to identify habits and movements to correct, then return to the water to test what they have learned. Preparation that also incorporates breathwork, apnea and mobility, alongside recovery between sessions, helps them surf consistently throughout the retreat. The aim is to develop tools to improve technique and navigate a changing environment with greater awareness. In Nazaré, the progression ends with a jet ski outing for a closer look at the setting of big-wave surfing and the role of preparation in such demanding conditions.

Blanco Bungalow is a private estate surrounded by protected nature, with white houses nestled in the landscape, horses grazing nearby and the ocean a short walk away. Participants gather around the table for chef-prepared dinners made with local, seasonal ingredients. Natural and biodynamic wine tastings and meetings with producers continue the exploration of the coast through the people who live there and cultivate its land.
“Surf hard. Live well”

A retreat by‍ ‍@surfsommelier