Welcome to Trancalmate

A week dedicated to ladies surfing with breast cancer, where women came together to explore the waves, breathe deeply, share stories, and embrace the ocean’s energy. My name is Angie, I am a surfcoach at NOMB Surf and co-founder of NOMB Changes and once more this year I had the honor of being part of the 4th Trancalmate camp in Galicia.

What a week it has been! Trancalmate felt like stepping into a bubble where everyday worries faded and the ocean set the rhythm. From the very first welcome coffee and trip intro, curiosity and excitement filled the air. Everyone arrived with their own story, but we quickly discovered how much we shared – the wish to try something new, the courage to get into the waves, and the openness to enjoy whatever adventure the week would bring.

Sunrise Yoga and Ocean Adventures

While I spent my mornings preparing for surf sessions, the group started gently with Anna’s sunrise yoga. Watching them stretch into the day, breathing together as the sky turned orange, was a beautiful reminder of how important it is to find calm before the rush of the day. Later, they rolled out mats again – sometimes on the roof terrace, sometimes directly on the beach at sunset. I might not have joined the sessions, but I could feel their effect: more relaxed faces, more laughter, and an energy that carried into the lineup.

Surfing with Breast Cancer – Riding Waves, Finding Joy

And then there was the surfing. Oh wow, the surfing! Galicia spoiled us with beautiful waves at different surfspots. Each wave had its own character – some gentle and forgiving, others cheeky and challenging. From the first surf intro and material hand-out to our geeky surf theory sessions about tides, forecasts, and sandbanks, we learned to see the ocean with different eyes. For many participants, surfing with breast cancer was not only about learning to ride waves but also about rediscovering trust in their bodies.

Surfing with breast cancer, just as surfing without cancer, is about the joy of feeling the board glide, about reclaiming space in the ocean, about celebrating the small wins that actually feel huge. One of my favorite moments was watching the women paddle out, look back at the beach, and then give it a try – standing up for the first time, arms wide, faces lit up. The cheers from the lineup, the giggles after a wipeout, the determination to try again: it’s hard to put into words what that does to you.

Food Made with Love by Campchef Ray

After so much saltwater, it was Chef Ray who brought everyone back to shore. Her breakfasts became legendary: colorful fruitplattern that made sure we had energy for hours in the water. Dinners were a festival of flavors, with pesto nights, fresh veggies, and plates that made us linger at the table long after the food was gone. Food at Trancalmate was more than nutrition. It was comfort, community, and a reason to laugh and chat until late.

Little Moments That Made It Big

Yes, we surfed and practiced yoga – but the magic also happened in between. A cafecito at the “Abierto todo el año” café after a chilly morning session. Long walks through dunes where conversations flowed as easily as the tide. Time-lapse sunsets filmed from the rooftop. Shopping trip to Pontevedra and the tourist market in La Toxa. A pool party that had everyone getting wet, and a silly Schabernackwichteln gift exchange that left us in stitches. Even the flat tire became a story we’ll probably laugh about for a long time.

These little adventures made the week feel real, layered, alive. This camp wasn’t about ticking off a programm for women surfing with breastcaner; it was about letting life unfold, and enjoying both the calm and the chaos together.

Why Trancalmate Matters

Trancalmate showed me something powerful: when women with or after breast cancer come together in a setting like this, something shifts. The ocean challenges and rewards, yoga offers a way back to the body, food nurtures, and shared laughter builds invisible threads between people who might never have met otherwise. By the end of the week, I could see it – the sparkle in their eyes, the way they carried themselves differently, the sense of belonging that had grown wave by wave. I feel honoured that the chicas gave me their trust in guiding them through the waves.

Join Us for Future Camps

Again Trancalmate has left me deeply grateful and inspired. It confirmed what I’ve always believed: surfing can open doors to strength, joy, and community in ways nothing else can. Breastcancer is horrible just by itself, surfing with breastcancer can promote so many positive experiences.

If you’d like to know when the next camp is happening, sign up for our newsletter – that’s where we’ll share all updates. I can’t wait to welcome more women into this journey of waves, emotions, and moments that last a lifetime.

Sea you in the ocean soon, Besos Angie