12. – 18.6.2026 – Sirens Surf Week – Blue Health Edition

surfing waves of resilience

The ocean as a space for resilience, recovery and collective care.

Surfing and being immersed in the sea can be a powerful resource for mental health, not as a individualised wellness tool, but as a practice rooted in embodiment, regulation, grounding and collective care


We can connect to the water around us, the rhythm of the tides, the waves, the ocean and last but not least to ourselves and the Sirens surrounding us. It brings us back into the body: into feeling, failure, pleasure and play.

Are you ready to transform into a Cold Water Siren?


open to women, non-binary and trans

Overview

General Information


Surf Conditions in Cold Hawaii

The beautiful Thy region is located in northwest Denmark. The coastal villages Vorupør, Vangså, Klitmøller and harbour town Hanstholm are at the heart of this region, known as Cold Hawaii, and offer a wide range of surf spots for all levels and in (almost) all conditions.

When is the best time to surf in Denmark?

You can surf in Denmark year-round, while in fall and winter, the waves tend to be bigger and more powerful. Most people come between June and October for milder temperatures and longer daylight hours. In June there’s the possibility to surf almost at midnight 🙂

We are always on the search for more mellow options with fewer crowds and more joy in the water.

Since we can’t control the ocean, we can’t promise perfect waves, but we guarantee to make the most of whatever conditions we get!

person floating underwater surrounded by fish.

What if there are no waves?

No problem! We’ll focus on other key elements of our program or add new ones, like:

  • Wild Water Swimming – to enjoy all the benefits that the Ocean has to offer
  • Excursions– to learn more about environmental issues and blue spaces, we visit local NGOs
  • Yoga and Breath Work – to enhance flexibility and awareness, while reducing anxieties and insecurities
  • Theory and Workshop Sessions – on cold water immersion and psychology of resilience, ocean literacy, de-colonial surf her*story, forecast reading, boards & material

We believe surfing is a puzzle made up of many pieces – riding waves is just one of them! 


Program & Catering – What to expect during your surf RETREAT IN COLD HAWAII

Arrival & Schedule

  • Arrival: Planned for late afternoon of the first day
  • Introduction & Goal Setting: A chance to get to know each other, set personal (surfing) goals, and go through the week’s schedule
  • Flexible Planning: Our program is centered around surf conditions – we’ll determine the best times to be in the water based on wave and wind direction, the tide and your personal goals

The program ends on the last evening, so you’re free to leave at your own paste the following day.

Food & Catering

  • Welcome Soup: a warm meal awaits you on arrival
  • Bold Breakfasts: every morning a hearty breakfast provides you with the energy for the cold water
  • Sirens Dinner: delicious shared dinners (vegan / vegetarian) are made for you with love and local ingredients, while there is one night off to discover local eateries
  • Basic Kitchen Supplies: spices, tea, oil and essentials are available
  • Self-Catering: everything outside of what we offer and what you wish for can be prepared in the shared and well-equipped kitchen
  • Local Options: you can find well-stocked supermarkets in the area and fantastic options for eating out

EVENING HIGHLIGHT – COLD WATER SIRENS FILM NIGHT

A curated selection of inspiring films with a feminist perspective – sometimes featuring exciting guest speakers.

Accommodation

For your retreat in Denmark, you’ll stay in a beautiful traditional house in Vangså, a tiny village in between Klitmøller and Vorupør.

There are four private double bedrooms and a large communal space with a cozy fire place.

The house is 700 meters from the water and located right in the heart of the Thy National Park.

Equipment & Rental options

If you don’t have your own board or wetsuit, we are happy to equip you with a beginner board (soft top) or rent some of our own hard tops to you.

If you don’t have a wetsuit, we will find the best local rental options that offer high-quality gear suited to your needs and the current conditions.

Meet our team

These sirens will guide you through the week

Lena

Program Manager, Surf Coach

and Surf Therapy Facilitator

Beitske

Surf Coach and Yoga Instructor

Anna

Systemic Coach

Pricing

OUR GOAL IS TO ACT SUSTAINABLE, FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE

fair wages for coaches and facilitators – we reject the (self-) exploitative working conditions common in the surf industry

supporting local businesses – we avoid big chains and prioritize small, community-driven shops and services

SLIDING SCALE PRICING

Not everyone has the same financial means and surfing is a sport that is not easily accessible to everyone. 
In order to make it possible for as many people as possible to take part in our program, we use a sliding scale system based on the Green Bottle Method, an instrument for economic justice developed by Alexis J. Cunnigfolk. Those with greater financial privilege contribute more, allowing those with less access, to pay according to their means.

TEAM RIDER SPOT – FULLY FUNDED PARTICIPATION

We are facing an ongoing climate catastrophe and the rise of fascism.

From time to time, we offer fully funded Team Rider Spots

for individuals who are disproportionally affected by:

systemic oppression

wars & forced migration

gender-based violence

activism burnout

If this applies to you or

someone you know, please reach out.

What is included

we always plan the weeks around what the ocean offers us and therefore adapt the program if necessary

Accommodation in Twin Room

for a single occupation there’s an extra fee of 199€ / 1.485 DKK

to stay in your own van or in private accommodation please contact us

Catering

Welcome Soup on arrival, hearty daily breakfasts, shared Sirens Dinners with one free night out.

Basic kitchen staples provided, plus a well-equipped shared kitchen

Surf Coaching & Surf Guiding

coachings are in small groups (3-5 participants max)

plus we always tell you where and when the waves are best if you want to surf outside the classes

beginner / soft boards are included

Surf Theory & Ocean Literacy

inputs on forecast reading, de-colonial & feminist surf her*story, material & boards

Breath Work & Relaxation Techniques

practical exercises to create mindfulness, trust and awareness, being it in the water, on land or at the office!

Psychology of Cold Water Immersion & Resilience

theoretical inputs on the effects of cold water immersion, psychology of resilience and blue health and Mental Training

Additional Activities

feminist movie night, sauna excursion, visits of local environmental NGOs or a sea witches fire at the lake rounds up our program

Not Included

  • wetsuit material
  • hard top boards
  • (local) transportation (!)

How to Get To Cold hawaii


The region of Cold Hawaii is both 450km away from Hamburg or Copenhagen, making it easily reachable by car within about 5 hours. To Hirtshals, where you arrive with the ferry from Norway, it’s about two hours from here. Vangså is next to Klitmøller, a small coastal village with a supermarket, cafés, and surf shops.

External link to Google Maps: Klitmøller Beach

CARPOOLING & LOCAL TRANSPORT

  • Carpooling: Before your surf week starts, we’ll set up a chat group so you can arrange shared rides.
  • On-site transport: You should be able to carpool to reach the surf spots that are not within walking distance.

TRAIN & SHUTTLE OPTION

Prefer public transport? You can take the train to Thisted, the closest station. From there ,we can arrange a shuttle for a small fee. You can also combine train and bike for a more sustainable journey!

“I am so grateful for this transformative experience”

Read more

“The combination of surfing, yoga and systemic coaching gave me a week full of self-reflection and inner growth. The opportunity to pause and connect with the ocean, the waves, the tides and my own inner experience during the shared surf sessions, yoga and coaching was simply magical.

Through this pausing, I was able to recognize and let go of my old patterns of behavior while surfing. This week together has strengthened me and filled me with a deeper sense of safety and connection with myself and those around me.

I am so grateful for this transformative experience and can recommend the time with the Cold Water Sirens to anyone looking for a holistic and enriching (surfing) experience away from performance pressure.

A big thank you to the Cold Water Sirens team for the loving organization and support on my personal surf journey!”

portrait of female participant in black and white

Jule