Frequently Asked Surf Lesson Questions

Yes. Although beginner lessons are not out of your depth and your surf instructor is a qualified lifeguard it is still important that you are able to swim for safety reasons. This is greatly due to the fact that the sea level rises and falls as groups of larger waves reach the shore and the water from those waves then drains out to sea. Although rare it is possible for you to be waiting for your wave and then find the water level has risen and you are out of your depth for a moment. You need to be able to swim 50m, children supervised in the water by an adult only need to be able to swim 10m.

All you need is a towel and a swimming costume, we provide all the rest.

The great thing about surfing is the fact that is doesn`t matter if its raining, you`re going to get wet anyway! As other people are hiding from the rain or hidden under an umbrella you will probably have forgotten the sun isn`t out. Seriously though, if the weather is really nasty and will make learning too surf too uncomfortable then we will do our best to arrange another lesson as soon as you are available. If that is not possible then you will receive a full refund.

Fortunately on the North coast of Cornwall we get the most consistent waves in England, however very occasionally the sea does go completely calm. When this happens we either, explore other beaches for bigger waves, go Stand Up Paddleboarding or postpone the lesson for another day. If you can not make another day then you will receive a full refund.

Surfing can be dangerous as can any water sport if you are unaware of how to spot the dangers.  However all our surf instructors are qualified lifeguards and under their expert guidance you can be sure you are surfing safely.  Your instructor will make sure you have the right equipment for the day, that the beach you are surfing at is safe and suitable for you and you are surfing in the right area on the beach. On top of that you have the continual watchful eye of your instructor making sure you stay safe throughout the surf lesson leaving you to enjoy learning to surf.

Part of your surf lesson also includes how to spot dangers whilst surfing and what measures to take to keep risks to a minimum whilst still enjoying this exhilarating sport.

From Spring to Autum the water temperature is 11-16 degrees Celsius so you are very unlikely to get too cold and in August you will be wanting to get in the water to cool off!

The wetsuits and wetsuit boots we provide for the surf lessons and hire are excellent quality and keep you toasty warm. At the very start of our season in Easter and at the very end in December some people are cold by the end of the two hours learning to surf but it very rarely puts them off.

Fitness helps a lot with surfing check out the page on preparing for your surf lesson on this website for some ideas on what to do to get the best out of it.

However the answer is no.  So long as you can push yourself up from lying down without assistance or using the momentum of your body you can get up on a surfboard.

We have a variety of surfboards and wetsuits to fit larger customers so please do not be put off if you are over weight.

Surfing can also be a great way to get fit and it is a whole lot more fun than a gym!

Different seasons have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the size of waves you want to ride, how much you feel the cold and how much the crowds bother you.

Winter obviously is cold and the waves are at times too big for a learner surf lesson. However we have great wetsuits and local knowledge to find calmer spots.  On the plus side you are likely to have the lesson and often the whole beach to yourself as there are not many people around.

Spring is great because its starting to warm up, there is plenty of surf and the beach is not normally very busy. However the sea is a couple of month behind the land in warming up and is still a factor to consider if you are prone to getting cold.

Summer time is great for learning how to surf because of the weather and the sea temperature.  There is a chance to the waves being to calm for a lesson but its very rare.  The crowds put some people off coming down in the summer but if you don’t mind a busy beach and fear the cold then this would be the best bet for you.

The minimum age for children to join in with the kids only groups is 7-8 depending on their size and/or experience in the sea. Children can join in with the family group lessons from 6-7yrs but need an adult in the water with them who is no taking part in the lesson. 

We have found children under this age tend to get just as much from playing in the sea, swimming or bodyboarding and you don’t need to pay us to do that!