51yo mum books surf lessons in Morocco

[Spiceup]

For various reasons I shall be holidaying alone next year (assuming we're allowed).

It's my first time and I want something not too long where I'll be kept well occupied.

I've seen a short break advertised. A few days of surf lessons and yoga in Morocco. I'm very tempted, although it's well outside my comfort zone.

Concerns:

• I'll be twice the age of the rest of the group.

• I'll struggle fitness wise. I'm fit, run regularly, but I'm not strong, especially in the upper body and it's all relative. I'm still a menopausal woman!

• I can swim but I'm not a strong swimmer

• DS1 is worried there's a terrorist threat for Morrocco.

• Then there's the Covid thing and aggravation of last minute changes etc.

Mostly though its the age and fitness thing. I'd hate to be holding the group back.

What do you think? ATM I'm thinking how bad can it be for a few days, but usually the bar is higher than that for a holiday

If I do book, what would you do between now and then to prepare?

Are you going with a group? Otherwise how do you know you’ll be twice the age of the others?

That sounds brilliant!

I've never surfed but I'm sure you need good core and upper body strength, can you start doing yoga/Pilates classes a few months before you go?

@Bathtoy

Are you going with a group? Otherwise how do you know you’ll be twice the age of the others?

Looking at the photos of previous groups

Did you check if it’s suitable for surfing beginners?

I don't think Morocco are letting Brits in at the moment due to covid rates here. That would be my main reason for not booking at this point.

Is it Gutsy Girls?

Either way, go go go! Yoga/pilates /swim will all be good between now and then.

Have a couple of swimming lessons if you're worried.

If not now, then when?

Morocco is a great place for a holiday, no problems for us in 2 holidays there. They aren’t letting British flights in at the moment, but we can’t wait to go back.

Yes it's for Easter, I wouldn't book just yet.

It says it's suitable for beginners and intermediate. A mixed group.

I'm 56 and wouldnt let the idea of who else would be there put me off. You can't hold a yoga group back, you do what you can do. Same with the surfing, no one will be an expert, you falling off your board won't impact on anyone else

In my 40s I did several adventure holidays, all under fairly tough conditions. I wasn't always the oldest but I was usually the most unfit. It didnt matter, if I got there later than the others, I always arrived !
If I were you I'd look for a Bodypump or other weights class to start building some muscle strength.
The obvious thing to do would be a yoga class to work on your flexibility, balance and its also good for core strength.
The other obvious thing would be to swim a few times a week, swimmers always seem to me to have decent upper body strength.
If you work on your core strength that will really help with the surfing part
My advice is to not worry about who else may or not be there - go for it

How exciting , go and enjoy it

I'd absolutely do a group holiday like this on my own (and have done before - the group was a mix of ages from 19 to 70+!). Morocco on my own though? No. I wouldn't want the endless hassle from handsy, annoying men. That kind of thing has wrecked previous holidays in the ME and N. Africa for me and I wouldn't go again.

You can still get to Morroccan though, just need to transit through somewhere first (like Turkey).

@BlowDryRat

she wouldnt be on her own though, she would be with a group

I've travelled in Morocco, Mali Tunisia and Egypt with groups of varying sizes, and on my own in Gambia and never had any issues significant to ruin the holiday and certainly nothing to stop me going back.

I would definitely do it! I mean you aren’t getting younger so if you say you can’t do it because you’re too old then you’re basically saying you’ll never do it.

I guess I need to wait a bit to see how the Covid thing goes but I'm definitely minded to do it, if only to see the look on people's faces when they ask what I'm doing for my holidays

@Spiceup

I guess I need to wait a bit to see how the Covid thing goes but I'm definitely minded to do it, if only to see the look on people's faces when they ask what I'm doing for my holidays

Nah, go for it!

I got hassled by men a lot in Morocco, and wouldn’t go back for that reason.

what would you do between now and then to prepare?

Swim, go swimming a lot.

i don't fancy surfing at all but otherwise sounds great!! I'm sure you'll have a fab time. Age is only a number.