Can I just turn up or do I need to book? We always recommend booking in advance. Each course has a limited number of places due to our maximum instructor/student coaching ratio of 1 to 8. We sometimes have availability at short notice but it cannot be guaranteed. What do I need to bring? The course cost includes use of a wetsuit and surfboard. If you have your own, bring it along but it does not affect the cost of the course. You will need to bring a towel and some swimwear to wear underneath your wetsuit. It’s a good idea to have a t-shirt and a sweatshirt/jumper to cover all weather possibilities. Don’t forget suncream, as even on the not so sunny days you will catch the sun from the reflection off the sea! Are the lessons suitable if I am not a strong swimmer? All of our beginner surf lessons take place in waist depth water. We are experienced at coaching people with varying levels of fitness and find that the great thing about surfing is that everyone can take it at their own pace and still enjoy it. To date, our most mature student was a 76 year old grandmother! All we ask is that participants can swim 50 metres. What time do the courses start? Our usual courses begin every morning with a session from 10.30 to 12.30 and then every afternoon from 1.30 to 3.30, but at busy times these session timings can vary. We will send you details of your start time with the confirmation of booking. Will it be cold? Our wetsuits have the latest technological advances in design and are replaced regularly to ensure they work efficiently to keep you warm and comfortable. We also provide wetsuit boots and gloves if you require them. Is there a minimum age? 8 years is our minimum age for group lessons, however we are happy to arrange private surf lessons for 6 and 7 year olds as our experience has shown that they benefit more from individual attention. Will you have a wetsuit to fit me? We have a large range of wetsuits in all sizes, so whatever height and shape you are, we will have wetsuit to fit. Can I wear contact lenses/glasses while surfing? Glasses can be lost unless well secured, so we recommend prescription swimming goggles. Many contact lens wearers find that soft lenses are fine for surfing, but we would advise you to bring a spare pair just in case. What is the best time of the year to learn to surf? We operate from late March to early November and throughout this time, the surf tends to be consistent and predictable. What happens if it is raining? As there is little chance of avoiding getting wet on a surfing course, you’ll soon find that surfing is the ideal all weather activity. Whatever the weather, once you catch that first wave, it’ll be the last thing on your mind! What happens if the surf is too rough? Fortunately, we are ideally located with three beaches in our vicinity all facing slightly different directions. This means when one beach is too rough others will often be calmer. We surf at Croyde most of the time but occasionally we load up and transport everyone to Saunton Beach or Putsborough Beach, both beaches only five minutes away. What happens if there is no surf? As our beaches face west into the Atlantic, it’s extremely rare for us to have no waves at all, and the days with smaller waves are often the most enjoyable for our students, as they enable greater progress to be made. If we decide the conditions are unsuitable, we will credit you with any lessons you have missed. You can then return and take advantage of any lessons owed on any future date. Do you cater for more experienced surfers? We have Level 2 and Level 3 senior qualified coaching staff which means we can coach surfers right through to elite standard. Private lessons are ideal for maximum progress and we also run ‘Improve Your Surfing Weekends’, if you feel your surfing could benefit from a programme covering topics such as conditioning/fitness training, contest strategy, mental preparation and nutrition, contact us and have a chat with our senior coaches. We can tailor a course to suit your particular requirements. Are there other course options? If you require another course option, please contact us and we will always try to customise your requirements.