Lucy (Lucky) McDowell graduated from Boston University in 2000 with an ill-advised Economics degree which she didn’t want to use. She decided to take some time off over the summer and learn to surf, something she’d always wanted to do, before she became a serious economist. At the end of the summer she decided that she just like to keep surfing.

Lucky isn’t a great surfer, however she’s passionate about it and her enthusiasm for it makes her an excellent instructor (especially for beginners), which is useful seeing as she’s not good enough to get paid to surf. Since 2003 Lucky has worked in the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA teaching surfing for a range of surf schools and camps. She’s spent all her extra funds attending big surfing competitions trying to learn as much as possible from the pros so she can take it back to her students. Her favourite spots change every time she moves and with every mood, but her main advice for nomadic surfers is to befriend the locals.

Recent reviews by Lucky McDowell Surf: Costa Vicentina Surfing in Portugal Not as touristy as a lot of the Algarve because it’s a protected area, the Costa Vicentina Natural Park has some of Europe’s best surfing coastline. It’s ... Surfing El Conquistador and around Tenerife Surfing in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain El Conquistador is just one of Tenerife’s big world class wave spots, it‘s long, hollow and lots of fun. Surf comes in in big and powerful at a lot of spots ... Surfing Elands Bay, Elandsbaai or E-Bay Surfing in Western Cape, South Africa This is a bit of a local classic so most experienced surfers will probably have heard of it. It’s basically a hollow left reef point break but it’s pretty ... Surfing around Noordhoek, Cape Town Surfing in Port Elizabeth, South Africa There are about five really good surfing spots around Noordoek, which is on the cold western side - so you need a full wetsuit and maybe even booties and a ... Surfing Kalk Bay Surfing in Cape Town, South Africa This is a good spot for a winter surfing safari. It’s a consistent hollow left reef break with a rocky bottom for a smooth wave surface but no good if you hit ... Lucky McDowell has written 7 reviews. See more »

Lucky McDowell has reviewed 4 countries.