Mantra Surf Club

I was 14 when I saw the ocean for the first time, this is when I traveled to Andamans with my parents. It felt like a dream to live by the beach, it was also the first time I saw someone surf (Two men at the Radhakrishna beach, Havelock Island – if I remember it well).

Finally, about a few years back (when I had some funds and freedom to travel) I decided to try surfing. I started doing my research on where should I go to learn. Being based out of Bangalore (3000ft above sea level), meant that the accessibility to both the Indian East- and West Coast is around the same distance.

What finally caught my eye was the ‘Mantra Surf Club’. I instantly felt I belonged here, just as a home. The surf experience was something much more than I could even imagine – emotional and empowering at the same time.

Is it safe?

When our first trip was over, I just kept dreaming about surfing and I knew one thing above all else – I wanted to go back to Mantra again and do a longer surf course. But the question was – is it safe to travel by myself and stay there? After all, I’d  just been there once and Mulki is not exactly on everyone’s lips where I come from. Being a girl, the hesitation from friends and families, their concerns and objections were many.

But my gut feeling said, “Yes – Let’s go. You be you, go feel the freedom girl”. I also did the math and tried to approach the whole thing with some rationality:

• I felt super safe and comfortable at Mantra
• It was easy to reach out and talk to anyone for help
• Everyone is friendly, and the instructors maintain professionalism
• I met a few other solo-traveling girls
• The vibe is great and fun
• Locals in Mulki were warm and helpful

Then I came here for a long course and had a blast, improved a lot on my surfing. Visited a few other times with friends as well and also got a chance to volunteer for a month! This was one of the best experiences in my life. And it doesn’t matter if you are a girl or boy, you get to learn and do the same things. I learned a lot about open water – currents, tides, rescue methods, and more about training students to SUP, kayak, and surf. How to pitch a campfire and tent? repair a cycle? I also used GoPro in water for the first time during my volunteering and made tons of friends.

It’s been over a year now, and with the Pandemic, things shifted into overdrive. Working remotely allowed me to set up in Mulki and join Mantra Surf Club as a part-time instructor