Burkie Barbados
Barbados with the pros
The surf
The Atlantic swells make the east coast one of the most consistent, year-round breaks in Barbados. Conditions are glassy and small in the summer months, picking up a size from September to December and ranging up to 20’ in the winter.
In the winter season, the gentler west coast waters get their share of 8’ swells, typically energized by a north swell. Under quieter conditions, the west is a great place for beginners to catch their first waves. The south coast is more consistent yet rarely breaks in the summer months unless influenced by a local storm.
Breaks
The adventure
Surfing in Barbados began in the sixties when beach culture was emerging as a global sub-culture. Bands like the Beach Boys overseas and the Merrymen locally helped popularise the sport, which itself is an ancient and revered art form in the Pacific islands. The members of the Merrymen surfed and used pictures of their surfing on album covers, bringing the sport a wider acceptance in Barbados.
Burke’s Surf School was started to expose the youth and young at heart to the beautiful and unique sport of surfing. Alan Burke, a lifelong surfer and ardent competitor, is a multiple Barbados National Champion and hardcore athlete. He began giving lessons casually and then decided to share his love of the sport by establishing the school.
Burkie Surf School is located 1 mile south of the airport in the Long Beach to Freights Bay area, where there are over 4 locations used in a 2-mile radius. The surf lessons are conducted in conditions suited to the level of the surfer, usually in waves under 3ft. The Surfboard used is determined by the surfer's height, weight, and ability.
We also offer transportation packages to and from hotels, schools, and private residences.
The beginner boards used by Burkie Surf School are designed to fast-track the learning process with a safety element and guarantee you will stand.
Accommodation
We usually suggest our guests stay at Cheez Don Bread is a spacious beachfront 4-star villa-style accommodation located on beautiful Long Beach, just 7 minutes drive from Grantley Adams International Airport.
It includes two queen-sized bed bedrooms with a queen sofa bed (sleeps four adults & 2 kids comfortably), fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops, washer/dryer, wi-fi, cable TV, A/C, coffee maker, full bath with separate powder room plus outdoor shower.
When booking your stay at Cheez Don Bread, you will also get airport round-trip transfers. Check-in at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am.
While we suggest Cheez Don Bread as our preferred accommodation in Barbados, we leave the choice of where to stay to our guests as accommodation is not included in our packages.
Location
Getting there
Burkie
Alan Burke
Multiple National & International Champion, talented teacher & professional surfer, Alan founded Burkie Surf School in 2002 after 9 years of teaching and sharing his love of surfing.
Alan has surfed and competed in Australia, Hawaii, Brazil, California, England, France, Guadeloupe, Japan, Margarita, Niijima, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Florida, North Carolina, Cape Hatteras, Virginia, New Jersey, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Tobago, Durban SA and Venezuela, but he learned to surf in Barbados.
Alan found his sport when he was 9 years old on Burke’s beach (named in honor of his renowned sporting family). His competitive career began in 1984 at the Soup Bowl in Bathsheba, where, in his first event, he placed 4th overall in the Junior Division. In 1985, he won the Juniors & 3rd in Open Men's - when he was 15 years old in 8-10ft waves, making him ‘Barbados sport’s person of the week’. Each year until 2002, Alan has qualified for the Barbados National Team, an achievement shared by no other Barbados surfer.
