Facing blank pages - Privacy policy

At Waves & Freedom / Facing Blank Pages, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it and how we protect it when you visit our website, make a booking, join a retreat, complete one of our forms or communicate with us.

1. Information We Collect

When you interact with our website or book a retreat, we may collect information including:

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Country of residence
• Booking and payment information
• Travel and flight information
• Emergency contact information
• Passport information where required for transportation, accommodation or local administration
• Surfing experience and ability
• Dietary requirements and allergies
• Relevant health, medical or injury information that you voluntarily provide for retreat safety
• Responses submitted through retreat forms
• Messages and communications with us
• Photos and videos taken during the retreat

Technical information relating to your use of our website, such as browser, device, cookies and website activity We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide our services, organise your retreat, communicate with you or operate our business.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use your personal information to:

• Process and manage your retreat booking
• Communicate important retreat information
• Arrange accommodation and transportation
• Coordinate airport transfers and boat transportation
• Prepare our coaching team for your surfing ability and needs
• Accommodate dietary requirements and allergies
• Support guest health and safety
• Respond to questions or requests
• Process payments and refunds
• Provide surf photos and videos
• Improve our retreats, website and services
• Send newsletters or marketing communications where you have consented to receive them
• Meet legal, administrative, safety or regulatory requirements
  
  

We will not use sensitive information such as health information for unrelated marketing purposes.

3. Health & Sensitive Information

Because surfing is a physical activity and some retreats take place in remote locations, we may ask you to voluntarily provide relevant information about medical conditions, injuries, allergies, medications or other health considerations. This information is collected for the purpose of supporting your safety and wellbeing during the retreat.

Where reasonably necessary, relevant information may be shared with retreat coaches, accommodation providers, medical professionals or other appropriate personnel who need the information to support your safety. We aim to limit access to this information to those who reasonably need it.

4. Payment Information

Payments may be processed through third-party payment and booking providers. We do not normally store your complete credit or debit card details ourselves. Payment information is handled by the relevant payment provider according to its own security and privacy practices.

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share limited personal information with trusted third parties where reasonably necessary to organise and deliver your retreat, including:

• Accommodation providers
• Transportation and boat operators
• Surf coaches and retreat staff
• Photographers and videographers
• Payment and booking platforms
• Website and form providers
• Email and communication platforms
• Professional advisers or service providers
• Medical or emergency services when necessary
  
  

We only aim to share information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant service.

6. International Data Processing

Our guests come from around the world and our retreats may operate across different countries. As a result, your information may be processed or accessed in countries other than your country of residence.

Where applicable, we take reasonable steps to work with reputable service providers and protect your personal information when it is transferred internationally.

7. Photos & Videos

Photography and videography may take place during our retreats, including surf photography, group photographs and lifestyle content. Some images or videos may be used for retreat memories, our website, social media or promotional materials where appropriate and subject to any consent requirements that apply.

If you do not wish to appear in promotional photography or video, please inform us before the retreat so we can reasonably accommodate your request.

8. Marketing Communications

If you subscribe to our newsletter or consent to receive marketing communications, we may send you information about retreats, programs, guides, content and other Waves & Freedom / Facing Blank Pages offerings. You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in our marketing emails.

Unsubscribing from marketing communications will not prevent us from sending essential communications relating to an active booking or retreat.

9. Cookies & Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Make the website function correctly
• Remember preferences
• Understand how visitors use the website
• Measure website performance
• Improve our content and services
• Support marketing and advertising where applicable
  
  

You may be able to manage or disable cookies through your browser or our cookie settings where available.

10. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, alteration or disclosure.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

11. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including providing our services, maintaining appropriate business and financial records, resolving disputes and meeting legal obligations.

Sensitive information that is no longer reasonably required will be deleted or securely disposed of where appropriate and legally permitted.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and the laws that apply, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you

• Ask us to correct inaccurate information

• Request deletion of certain information

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

• Object to or restrict certain uses of your information

• Unsubscribe from marketing communications
  
  

Some rights may be subject to legal exceptions or record-keeping requirements.

13. Third-Party Websites & Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. Those businesses operate under their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party service you use.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, business practices or legal requirements.

The most recent version will be published on our website with the updated date shown at the top of the policy.

15. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or would like to make a request concerning your personal information, please contact: Waves & Freedom / Facing Blank Pages Email:  hello@facingblankpages.com

By using our website, submitting your information or booking our services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy.